Clothing minimum order quantity (MOQ): what to expect and how to lower it
What MOQ means in clothing manufacturing, why factories set it, typical ranges for small brands and practical ways to reduce your minimum order for a first run.
Updated 1 October 2026 · By Hem Apparel
MOQ stands for minimum order quantity: the smallest number of pieces a factory will produce for one order. It is one of the first things new brands ask about, and the answer decides whether a style is realistic for your budget.
Why factories have an MOQ
- Setup time: pattern, marker, cutting and line setup cost the same for 50 pieces or 500.
- Fabric: mills sell fabric in minimum lengths, often per colour.
- Trims and labels: custom labels, zips and packaging have their own minimums.
- Printing and embroidery: screens and digitising are one-off costs.
What numbers to expect
MOQs vary a lot by factory, product and country. As a rough guide:
| Where the MOQ comes from | Typical pattern |
|---|---|
| Per style | Often from about 100–500 pieces for custom cut and sew; some small-batch makers go lower |
| Per colour | Often a share of the style MOQ, such as 50–100 pieces per colour |
| Fabric from the mill | Often a minimum of several hundred metres per colour for custom dyed fabric; stock fabric can be much lower |
| Custom labels and trims | Commonly hundreds to a few thousand pieces |
Treat these as indicative, not firm. Ask each factory directly and in writing.
Ways to lower your MOQ
- Use stock fabrics the factory already has instead of custom dyed or knitted fabric.
- Use stock trims and generic labels for the first run, or add labels yourself.
- Keep to one or two colours and a limited size range.
- Choose DTF or DTG printing, which have little setup, instead of screen printing.
- Look for small-batch factories and be open about your volume.
- Pay a small-order surcharge. Per-piece cost rises, but it can still be cheaper than leftover stock.
How a tech pack helps
A complete tech pack lets a factory see exactly what is custom and what can be stock, so they can tell you where the MOQ comes from and how it could shrink. Vague briefs usually get the most conservative answer.
Questions to ask every factory
- What is your MOQ per style, per colour and per size?
- Is the MOQ different with stock fabric?
- What is the surcharge for an order below MOQ?
- What are the MOQs for labels and packaging?
- Do you offer samples before I commit?