What does MOQ mean?
MOQ stands for minimum order quantity. It is the smallest number of pieces a factory will make in one order. Here is how it works for clothing, and how to plan a first order around it.
- MOQ: minimum order quantity
- Usually counted per style and color
- Ours: usually 25 pieces
Per order, per style, or per color
Factories count their minimum in different ways. Some count the whole order. Most clothing factories count each style, or each style in each color. Some also count each size, or each fabric color.
A style in one color is often called a SKU (stock keeping unit). A black hoodie and a gray hoodie are two SKUs.
At Sharknits, the minimum is usually 25 pieces per style and color, and sizes count together inside those 25. It depends on the item, so we confirm it before you order.
Why factories set a minimum
- Fabric comes in rolls. Mills sell fabric in set amounts, and many have their own minimum per color.
- Dyeing is done in batches. Each color is dyed as its own batch, called a dye lot.
- Setup takes time. Patterns, cutting plans, machine setup, print screens and embroidery files take the same work for 25 pieces or 500.
- Trims have minimums too. Custom labels, woven tape, zip pullers and hang tags are made in batches.
Smaller orders cost more per piece
The setup work is the same for a small order and a big one. In a small order, that cost is split over fewer pieces, so each piece costs more.
That is normal, and it is often worth it. A small first order lets you test a design before you buy big. You can order more once a style sells.
How to plan a first order
- Start with one or two styles. Pick the styles you are surest about.
- Keep the colors few. Every extra color is another minimum to fill.
- Share one fabric. A hoodie and sweatpants in the same fabric and color are easier to source than two different fabrics.
- Pick stock colors first. A custom dye color usually needs more fabric than a color the mill already makes.
- Make a sample first. Check the fit, the fabric and the print before the full order.
Questions to ask a factory about MOQ
- Is the minimum per order, per style, or per style and color?
- Can I mix sizes inside the minimum?
- Do labels, tags and trims have their own minimums?
- How does the price per piece change at bigger quantities?
- What does a sample cost, and how long does it take?
- What is the minimum for a reorder of the same style?
Questions buyers ask
What does MOQ stand for?
MOQ stands for minimum order quantity: the smallest number of pieces a factory will make in one order.
What is a SKU?
SKU stands for stock keeping unit. In clothing, it is usually one style in one color.
Is a sample the same as the MOQ?
No. A sample is one piece made before the order, so you can check the design. The MOQ is the smallest production order.
What is a normal MOQ for clothing?
It varies a lot. Large factories often ask for hundreds or thousands of pieces per style. Small-run makers start much lower. At Sharknits it is usually 25 pieces per style and color.
Can a factory go below its MOQ?
Sometimes, often at a higher price per piece, or when the fabric is already in stock. Ask before you order.
Does the MOQ include sizes?
It depends on the factory. At Sharknits, sizes count together inside the minimum, so 25 pieces of one style and color can run across sizes.
Your request is ready
Send it to us on WhatsApp, or copy it into an email to sharknitsmfg@gmail.com.
What happens next
- We reply with questions and a quote.
- We make one sample for you to check.
- You approve it, and we make your order.
sharknitsmfg@gmail.com · +1 647 501 5424
Sharknits is a custom clothing manufacturer for brands in the US, with a factory in Lahore and a U.S. corporate office near Chicago.