MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity) is the smallest order a factory will run for a custom design. If you have ever shopped for custom apparel and been told 'our MOQ is 500 pieces' — that is the factory protecting itself from the setup cost of small runs. Our 50-piece MOQ is genuinely small for the industry. Here is why MOQ exists and how to make the most of low-volume orders.
01.Why Factories Have MOQ
Every custom apparel order has a fixed setup cost — screens for screen print, transfer film for DTF, thread cones for embroidery, fabric sourcing, sampling, and machine setup. For a 50-piece order, that setup cost is divided across 50 pieces. For a 500-piece order, across 500.
At very small runs (under 50 pieces), the per-piece cost is dominated by setup — making the order unprofitable for the factory and expensive for the customer. MOQ is the smallest order where the per-piece price is still reasonable.
02.Our MOQ by Technique
50 pieces: sublimation, screen printing, embroidery, DTF, DTG, rhinestone, foil, all-over print.
100 pieces: 3D puff, 3D embroidery, applique, terry embroidery, silicone, flocking, glitter, reflective, metallic.
30 pieces: DTG and DTF can drop to 30 pieces for simple designs on stocked blank garments.
No minimum: pure print-on-demand (we handle the inventory and ship to your end customers).
03.How to Keep Costs Down at Low Quantities
Use blank garments from our stocked fabric library (saves fabric sourcing time). Stick to one or two decoration techniques (mixing techniques adds setup). Reuse your previous design's screens or transfer files (saves setup cost). Order in groups (combine multiple designs in one production run).
04.When to Push for Lower MOQ
If you are launching a new brand and don't yet have demand, ask the factory about sample runs or pre-production samples. We can run as few as 3-5 pieces for samples, charged at a premium per-piece rate. This lets you validate the design before committing to a 50+ piece bulk order.
?Frequently Asked Questions
What is MOQ in apparel manufacturing?
MOQ stands for Minimum Order Quantity — the smallest number of pieces a factory will produce per design, per size run, per color. For custom sublimation apparel, MOQ is typically 30-100 pieces because setup costs (printer calibration, paper, heat press) are the same whether you make 50 or 500 pieces. Lower MOQ = higher per-piece price.
Why do clothing factories have a minimum order?
Factories set MOQs to cover fixed setup costs: print screens, color calibration, fabric setup, cutting templates, and sewing line changeover. A sublimation order under 30 pieces means the factory spends the same setup time for very little output — which is why per-piece prices are higher for small runs. Our 50-piece MOQ is the realistic floor for custom sublimation.
Can I order less than 50 custom shirts?
For sampling, yes. We produce 1-5 sample pieces (called 'strike-offs' or 'pre-production samples') so you can check the design, fit, and color before committing to bulk. For bulk production, 50 pieces is our minimum. If you need a smaller run for a test launch or limited edition, contact us — we can sometimes accommodate 30-piece runs at a 20-30% per-piece premium.
Is a 50-piece minimum really the smallest?
For custom sublimated apparel from a Chinese factory, 50 pieces is genuinely small. Most factories quote 100-300 piece MOQs. We offer 50 because we work with a lot of small brands, esports teams, and event organizers who don't need 1,000 pieces. The trade-off: per-piece price is higher than a 500-piece run.
What is the smallest custom clothing order you can do?
The absolute smallest custom order is a 1-piece sample (for fit and print approval), but it costs almost as much as a 5-piece sample because the setup is the same. For bulk production, our realistic minimum is 50 pieces per design. If you need a smaller bulk run, we can sometimes arrange 30 pieces with a 20-30% upcharge on the per-piece price.
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