What Is MOQ in Clothing Manufacturing?
MOQ is the smallest quantity a factory will run. On stock fabric we start at 50 pcs per color, 200 pcs mixed, with 7-day samples and 30-day bulk.
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MOQ is the minimum order quantity — the smallest number of pieces a factory will cut, sew and ship as one order. In clothing manufacturing, MOQ is almost never a single number: it depends on whether the fabric is in stock or custom-made, and on whether you order one color or several. At our factory, stock fabric styles start at 50 pcs per color, mixed colors and sizes have a floor of 200 pcs in total, and custom fabric runs need a higher quantity that we quote per style. Sampling takes 7 days and bulk production takes 30 days from the day the deposit and the confirmed sample are both in place.
The three MOQ numbers you will actually be quoted
Most factories quote one headline figure, then quietly change it once they see your order. Ask for all three numbers before you compare suppliers.
| Order type | Minimum | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| Stock fabric, single color | 50 pcs per color | Your color must already be in the mill's stock line |
| Mixed colors and sizes | 200 pcs total | 4 colors x 50 pcs, or 3 colors with sizes split inside each color |
| Custom fabric | Higher, quoted per style | The mill dyes a minimum number of meters; that minimum sets your pcs |
The reason stock fabric is cheaper at low volume is that nobody has to dye anything. The fabric exists, the color card exists, and the cutting table can lay it the day the sample is approved. The moment your color is not on the card, the question stops being "how many pieces" and becomes "how many meters".
Why MOQ exists at all
MOQ is a cost-recovery line, not a sales tactic. Four costs repeat no matter how small the order is:
- Pattern making and grading. A pattern is made once, then graded across every size you order. A 50-piece order and a 5,000-piece order use the same pattern room hours.
- Fabric minimums. Fabric mills sell by the roll or by the dye lot. If the mill's minimum is 300 meters above what your order consumes, the factory eats that difference unless you do.
- Line setup. Cutting, bundling, machine setting and the first-piece check take roughly the same time for a small order as they do for a large one.
- Sampling. A wearable sample has to be made and approved before bulk cutting starts, regardless of volume.
This is also why your unit price falls as quantity rises — labor minutes and setup cost are spread over more pieces, while material cost per piece stays close to flat.
How MOQ is counted: pieces, colors, sizes
A frequent misunderstanding is whether MOQ applies per style, per color or per size. The convention we use:
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is MOQ per style or per color? | Per color, on stock fabric |
| Can I split sizes inside one color? | Yes, as long as the color total meets the minimum |
| Can I split colors across one order? | Yes, from 200 pcs in total |
| Does a size run have to be even? | No, but a very thin size curve raises cutting waste |
A size curve like S/M/L at 20/20/10 pieces per color is normal at low volume. A curve that asks for 2 pieces of XS and 40 of L is harder, because the marker has to lay more fabric to reach the larger sizes.
The real cost of going below MOQ
Factories sometimes accept an order below MOQ at a higher unit price. That is a legitimate trade, but you are paying for the same setup cost across fewer pieces. Common outcomes below the minimum:
- Unit price rises sharply, often 30–60% above the normal rate for the same style.
- Fabric is cut from leftover shade lots, so a repeat order may not match.
- Sampling is charged separately and not credited against the bulk order.
- Delivery moves later, because small orders are slotted into gaps between larger runs rather than scheduled ahead.
If your plan is to test a design before committing, the cheaper path is usually to order 50 pcs of one color of a stock fabric, sell it, and then place a larger order in your own color. That keeps the first order inside the standard rules and produces real sell-through data instead of a guess.
How to hit a low MOQ without paying a penalty
- Start on stock fabric. 50 pcs per color is the lowest entry point we publish, and it needs no dye minimum.
- Use mixed batches deliberately. If you want four colors in small numbers, plan for 200 pcs in total and treat it as one order, not four.
- Settle the tech pack before sampling. Missing construction details cause a second sample round, and the second round has its own 7-day clock.
- Book your slot early in peak season. Capacity figures are regular monthly output; peak scheduling needs prior booking.
- Reuse a pattern. A repeat order is faster and cheaper because the pattern, fabric and shade are already locked and the sample is on file.
What to confirm in writing before you pay a deposit
MOQ belongs in the order confirmation next to three other numbers: sampling days, bulk days, and the defect rate cap. We agree a defect rate cap in writing before production starts, and anything above that cap is remade or credited at our cost. The full set of commercial numbers — MOQ, sampling, lead time, payment and after-sales — is published on our working terms page, and the style-level limits per category are listed under manufacturing capabilities.
If you already know your target quantity and market, send the style through the enquiry form and you will get a quote with the exact MOQ for that fabric within 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Can I order 100 pieces in total across several styles?
Yes, if the fabrics are stock fabrics and each color reaches 50 pcs. A mixed batch is counted on the total: 200 pcs across colors and sizes is our mixed-batch floor, and a 100-piece total spread over four styles usually falls below it. Send the style-by-style split and we will tell you which lines qualify and which do not.
Does the MOQ change if I supply my own fabric?
It can drop. When you supply the fabric, the mill's dye minimum disappears from our calculation, so the constraint becomes cutting and sewing setup rather than material. You can also nominate your own fabric supplier and we will confirm weight, shrinkage and shade against your standard before bulk cutting — see what we can make for the process list per category.
Is the sample counted inside the MOQ?
No. The sample is a separate piece made before bulk cutting, takes 7 days from the moment we have your tech pack or reference sample and the sample fee, and is not part of your bulk quantity. Ask for the sample fee for your specific style before you send anything, because it depends on the style and the fabric.