Quick answer
MOQ is not one factory-wide number. It can apply by style, color, fabric lot, print run or size breakdown. Ask for the minimum at each level and request the cost and lead-time impact of staying below the efficient run size.
The question behind this guide
Why does a factory say 100 pieces, then ask for more?
A founder discussion recommends limiting early inventory, while replies question where low minimums can be found. The useful issue is the gap between a total order and the minimum for each production input.
Read the community discussionOur examples explain quantity planning. They are not a survey of factory minimums, a price benchmark or a promise that every colour allocation is available.
Key takeaways
- Confirm whether MOQ is per style, per color or total order.
- Stock fabric can reduce risk, but limits color and composition choices.
- A low MOQ may carry sampling, cutting, decoration or material surcharges.
- Treat the first order as a controlled validation run, not proof that every future bulk run will match automatically.
What MOQ actually covers
A garment order is a chain of minimums. The sewing line may accept 100 pieces, while the fabric mill needs a larger dye lot and the embroidery vendor has a separate setup threshold. A useful quote separates those constraints instead of presenting one unexplained number.
- Style MOQ: total units sharing one construction.
- Color MOQ: units required for each fabric or garment color.
- Fabric MOQ: mill or stock-service minimum for a specific material.
- Decoration MOQ: efficient run size after screens, digitizing or transfer setup.
The five-line MOQ question to send
Ask the supplier to reply in a structured format: minimum per style; minimum per color; minimum per fabric; available size mix; and every surcharge below the efficient run. Add the sample quantity and whether sample costs can be credited after bulk approval.
- What is the MOQ per style and per color?
- Does stock fabric change the MOQ?
- Can sizes be freely mixed inside the minimum?
- Which setup or small-run fees apply?
- What changes on a repeat order?
Decision rule
Choose the lowest quantity that still lets you validate fit, workmanship and demand without forcing the factory into an unstable production route. The cheapest unit price is not the same as the lowest-risk first order.
How should I count styles, colours and sizes?
Start with the unit of purchase. One T-shirt is one piece; a training kit can mean two pieces or one quoted set. Write that definition above the quantity table. Next, separate construction changes from colour changes: a zip hoodie and a pullover may need separate patterns, trims and production planning even when they share a fabric.
Treat size mixing and colour mixing as separate questions. Permission to mix sizes does not mean every colour is available at the same total minimum. Ask the supplier to mark the accepted allocation on your matrix rather than relying on a general statement in a message.
| Illustrative plan | Quantity | What still needs confirmation |
|---|---|---|
| One tee, two colours, five sizes | 120 pieces total | 60 pieces per colour and the size allocation |
| One tee, four colours, five sizes | 120 pieces total | Whether 30 pieces per colour is accepted |
| One top plus one pair of shorts | 60 two-piece kits | Whether the quote counts 60 sets or 120 pieces |
Five ways to simplify a small first order
These are negotiation options, not universal factory policies. A simpler route can make an order easier to evaluate, but it should not quietly remove a feature that matters to your customer. Have the supplier identify which specification or fee changes with each option.
- Reduce the number of colour lots before reducing the size range your customer needs.
- Ask about available materials, while checking that their actual composition and finish suit the product.
- Keep one construction and change only the approved logo if that meets your launch brief.
- Separate development samples from saleable bulk units in the quote.
- Ask for two comparable quantity options, with every material and decoration assumption held constant.
Compare the whole order, not only the unit price
Make a comparison sheet with garment cost, decoration, labels, packing, development fees and freight shown separately. Add the quoted currency, validity period, quantity and delivery basis. Leave unknown charges blank and mark them for confirmation; entering zero would make an incomplete offer look cheaper.
A larger order can lower a quoted unit price while increasing the amount of cash tied up in unsold sizes. Compare the total purchase commitment with what you can realistically test and sell. No industry-wide reorder quantity can replace your own demand and size data.
| Question | Useful answer format |
|---|---|
| What does the minimum apply to? | Style / colour / material / decoration, with quantities |
| What changes below it? | Named surcharge or specification change |
| Can I mix sizes? | An approved size-by-colour matrix |
| What happens on a reorder? | Material availability and quantity rules to reconfirm |
The approval note to keep with your order
Record the agreed quantity matrix as a dated attachment to the quotation. If a colour, fabric or garment construction changes, request a revised confirmation before assuming the minimum still applies. A clear record prevents a sampling conversation from being mistaken for a bulk commitment.
For SenLin, the published standard-style baseline is 100+ pieces with logo customization and mixed sizes; custom orders start at 300–500+ pieces. The applicable custom minimum and colour allocation still belong in the quotation. These are our owner-confirmed terms, not market-wide averages.
Put this guide to work
Apply the MOQ to an actual size-and-colour plan
A request for 120 standard-style tees across several sizes can meet the published 100+ piece baseline, but it does not automatically confirm every colour allocation. Write one row per colour and one column per size, then ask the factory to review the complete matrix. If you change fabric, develop a new silhouette or add special trims, ask whether the custom route applies before comparing prices.
Your decision checklist
- Total the quantity matrix and identify the unit: pieces or complete sets.
- Separate standard-style branding from new product development.
- Confirm the applicable minimum and every inclusion in the written quote.
These are planning examples, not customer case studies or quotations.
Frequently asked questions
Can a factory make fewer than its MOQ?
Sometimes, with stock materials, a development route designed for small runs or an added surcharge. The answer depends on which stage creates the minimum.
Is MOQ negotiable?
Commercially, sometimes. Technically, mill, dyeing and decoration minimums may remain. Ask what changes rather than asking only for an exception.
Does every color count as a separate SKU?
Usually each style-color-size combination is a SKU, but factories may use 'SKU' differently. Define the hierarchy in the quote.
Sources and evidence notes
Community sources document recurring buyer questions and experience; they are not treated as universal technical standards. Official guidance is identified separately.
- Community discussionReddit: founder lessons and the discussion about tech packs
- Community discussionReddit: contacting around 50 manufacturers
