What is MOQ in clothing manufacturing? If you’ve started reaching out to factories, you’ve almost certainly hit this term and possibly hit a wall because of it.
MOQ stands for Minimum Order Quantity. It’s the smallest number of units a factory will produce per order.
For many brands, especially those launching their first collection, MOQ is one of the most frustrating parts of the manufacturing process. A factory requires 500 pieces. You want 100. And the conversation stops there.
But MOQ isn’t arbitrary. Understanding what is MOQ in clothing manufacturing, why it exists, how it’s structured, and how to negotiate it, changes how you approach the conversation and significantly improves your chances of getting terms that work for your brand.
What is MOQ in clothing manufacturing and why does it exist
Factories set MOQs based on production economics, not preference.
Every production run has fixed costs that exist regardless of how many units you order. Fixed costs includes pattern making, machine setup, fabric cutting, dyeing, printing, line planning, and often a fabric mill minimum that the factory itself has to meet before they can procure your material.
When a factory cuts 500 units of a garment, those fixed costs spread across 500 units. When they cut 50 units, the same fixed costs spread across 50 units, making each unit significantly more expensive to produce and often unprofitable at the price the brand expects to pay.
For example, cutting 1,000 units of a jersey knit tee wastes around 10-15% of fabric. Cutting 100 units wastes 20%, eroding the factory’s profit margin significantly. MOQ is the threshold below which a run stops making financial sense for the factory.
This matters because once you understand what MOQ in clothing manufacturing is protecting, you can negotiate from a position of knowledge rather than just pressure your manufacture.
The three types of MOQ you need to understand
Most brands think MOQ is a single number. It’s not. There are three distinct types, and confusing them is one of the most common sourcing mistakes.
Per style MOQ. The minimum number of units required per garment design. A factory with a 300-piece per style MOQ requires 300 units of each t-shirt design you produce, regardless of how many colours or sizes that covers. This is the most common type advertised.
Per colourway MOQ. The minimum per colour within a style. A factory might accept a 300-piece style MOQ but require that each colour meets a 100-piece minimum. So if you want three colours of one t-shirt, you need 100 pieces per colour to meet both thresholds.
Per size MOQ. Less common but worth asking about. Some factories require a minimum number of units per size, say 20 pieces each of S, M, L, XL. For a brand launching with limited initial inventory, this can push total order quantities higher than expected.
Always ask which type of MOQ a factory is quoting. Many factories advertise a “300 pieces MOQ” without clarifying whether that’s per style, per colourway, or per size. These are three very different commitments.
Bryden’s MOQ is 80-100 pieces per colourway per design. That means if you’re launching one hoodie in two colours, you need 80-100 pieces of each colour, not 80-100 pieces total across both.
Typical MOQ ranges in clothing manufacturing
MOQ varies significantly by factory type, location, and garment category. Here’s a realistic picture of what to expect:
| Factory type | Typical MOQ range |
|---|---|
| Large Chinese export factory | 500-1,000 pieces per style |
| Mid-size Chinese factory | 200-500 pieces per style |
| Small batch / specialist factory | 50-200 pieces per colourway |
| Full-package sourcing partner (Bryden) | 80-100 pieces per colourway |
| Portuguese / European factory | 100-300 pieces per style |
| Print-on-demand | 1 piece (no MOQ) |
Print-on-demand sits at one end with no MOQ but significantly higher unit costs and limited customisation. Large export factories sit at the other end with low unit costs but high minimum commitments.
The right choice depends on what stage of your business is in, your margins, and how much inventory risk you can absorb.
How MOQ affects your pricing
MOQ and unit cost are directly linked. The more units you order, the lower your cost per unit. This relationship is steepest at lower volumes and flattens out at scale.
As a rough guide using a standard hoodie as an example:
| Order quantity | Approximate unit cost |
|---|---|
| 80-100 pieces | $18-20 |
| 200-300 pieces | $16-18 |
| 500+ pieces | $14-17 |
| 1,000+ pieces | $13-16 |
The biggest cost savings happen in the move from 100 to 300 pieces. Beyond 500 pieces, savings become more incremental. This is why brands that can commit to 300+ pieces per colourway get meaningfully better economics than those ordering at minimum quantities.
How to negotiate MOQ with a clothing manufacturer
MOQ is negotiable more often than brands expect. Most manufacturers will reduce MOQs by 30-50% if you approach negotiations with the right preparation, payment terms, and long-term commitment.
The key is understanding what the factory is protecting and offering something that addresses that concern.
Here are the approaches that actually work.
Accept a higher unit price. Offer to pay a per-unit premium in exchange for a lower MOQ. If the factory’s standard price is $12 at 300 pieces, offer $14 at 150 pieces. The factory’s margin stays intact and you’re paying for the flexibility.
This is the most straightforward lever and the one factories respond to most reliably.
Consolidate styles into one fabric. If you’re ordering multiple styles, propose running them all in the same base fabric. The factory sources one fabric lot, cuts different patterns from it, and the fabric minimum is met across your combined order rather than per style.
This is one of the most effective ways to reduce per-style MOQ without negotiating the number directly.
Combine colourways into one order. Instead of treating each colour as a separate order, present your full colourway plan upfront. A factory that requires 200 pieces per colourway may accept 100 pieces of each across three colours if the total order reaches 300 pieces, because their fabric purchasing and line planning work out the same way.
Offer a committed reorder schedule. Factories allocate production capacity to clients they can plan around. If you can commit to a second order within 90 days of the first, many factories will accept a lower initial MOQ in exchange for the production certainty.
Put it in writing. A letter of intent or a simple email confirmation carries real weight.
Start simple. Reduce your first order to the lowest-complexity version of your product. Fewer colourways, simpler construction, stock fabrics rather than custom.
Lower complexity reduces the factory’s risk on a small run and makes them more willing to accept a lower MOQ. You can add complexity in later orders once the relationship is established.
What to do if you can’t meet the MOQ
If a factory’s MOQ is genuinely out of reach for your current stage, you have three realistic options.
Find a factory with a lower MOQ. Bryden’s 80-100 piece MOQ was specifically designed for brands at early stages. Not every factory is set up for small batch production and some genuinely aren’t the right fit. It’s better to know that upfront than to work with a factory that doesn’t prioritize you.
Combine orders with another brand. Some sourcing communities facilitate MOQ sharing, where two brands producing the same base garment in different colours split the minimum between them.
This requires finding a compatible partner and adds coordination complexity, but it’s a legitimate option.
Delay production until you can meet the MOQ. Pre-selling before production begins, through a waitlist, a crowdfunding campaign, or wholesale commitments, is how many early-stage brands get to minimum quantities without holding inventory risk.
Working with Bryden
Bryden’s 80-100 piece MOQ per colourway per design was set deliberately to give growing brands a real path into full-package manufacturing without overcommitting on their first order.
If you’ve been rejected by factories with high minimums or you’re trying to figure out whether your order size is workable, get in touch here. We’ll give you a straight answer within 48 hours.
Frequently asked questions
What is MOQ in clothing manufacturing? MOQ stands for Minimum Order Quantity. It’s the smallest number of units a factory will produce per order, style, or colourway. Factories set MOQs based on production economics. Fixed costs like machine setup, pattern making, and fabric minimums need to be spread across enough units to make a run financially viable.
What is a typical MOQ for clothing manufacturing? MOQ varies widely by factory type. Large Chinese export factories typically require 500-1,000 pieces per style. Mid-size factories run 200-500 pieces. Small batch specialists and full-package partners like Bryden start from 80-100 pieces per colourway. Print-on-demand has no MOQ but higher unit costs and limited customisation.
Can you negotiate MOQ with a clothing manufacturer? Yes, in most cases. The most effective approaches are accepting a higher unit price in exchange for lower volume, consolidating styles into one fabric, combining colourways into a single order, or offering a committed reorder schedule. Simply asking for a lower MOQ without addressing the factory’s underlying cost concern rarely works.
What is the difference between MOQ per style and MOQ per colourway? MOQ per style is the minimum units required per garment design, regardless of colour. MOQ per colourway is the minimum per colour within a style. A factory with a 300-piece style MOQ and a 100-piece colourway MOQ requires at least 300 units total, with each colour making up at least 100 of those units. Always clarify which type applies before comparing factories.
Why does Bryden have a low MOQ? Bryden’s 80-100 piece MOQ per colourway per design reflects our full-package model and our focus on growing brands.
We manage the factory relationship, fabric sourcing, and production process directly, which allows us to absorb more of the complexity that makes small runs expensive for factories to manage independently.
