MOQ meaning: how minimums work for custom teamwear

01MOQ meaning in clothing manufacturing

MOQ stands for minimum order quantity. In clothing manufacturing, it is the fewest pieces a factory will cut, decorate and sew for one item before the setup cost makes the job uneconomic. A wholesale minimum order quantity on stock goods works differently: there the seller is splitting existing cartons, while a made-to-order factory is starting a new production run.

Our blanks are made to order from 12 pieces, not pulled from stock. That is why the minimum applies per style, and why the first order and the reorder are treated differently.

02How factories count minimum order quantity for clothing

Every factory quotes a minimum, but they count it in different ways. Some set a minimum per order, some per style, some per color and a few per size. Two suppliers can both say 50 pieces and mean very different things.

Before you compare quotes, ask exactly what the minimum applies to. Ask whether colorways count separately, whether sizes can be mixed, and whether reorders carry the same minimum. Get the answer in writing.

03Style, colorway and size: what counts toward 12

Our minimum is 12 pieces per style on a new order. A style is one garment design in one colorway. Each colorway counts as its own style, so a navy home jersey and a white away jersey of the same design are two styles, each needing 12 pieces.

Sizes mix freely inside a style. Twelve navy jerseys can be 2 youth medium, 4 adult small, 4 adult medium and 2 adult XL, or any other split. There is no minimum per size.

• 12 navy jerseys in mixed sizes: meets the minimum.
• 12 navy and 12 white jerseys: two styles, 24 pieces, both meet the minimum.
• 6 navy and 6 white jerseys: two styles of 6 each, below the minimum on a new order.
• 12 jerseys and 12 matching shorts: two styles, both meet the minimum.

04Why the minimum is 12

Custom work has fixed setup on every style: the pattern and grading, a cutting marker, artwork setup for printing, and embroidery digitizing. Spread across a handful of pieces, that setup makes the unit price hard to justify. Spread across 12 or more, it becomes workable.

The same logic explains why per-color minimums exist across the industry: a new colorway means a new marker, new print files and often a different fabric lot. Twelve also matches a typical roster for many sports. For a dealer, that means you can take a single team order without holding stock or pooling several customers onto one run.

05Reorders have no minimum

Once a style has been produced, you can reorder it in any quantity, including one piece. Quote your previous order number so we pull the approved pattern, artwork and spec. Reorders under 12 pieces are billed at the 12–50 tier price.

This is how dealers handle late sign-ups, replacements and mid-season adds without placing another full order; our guide to reorders and mid-season adds covers the detail. It also means you do not need to over-order on the first run to cover players who join later; order what the roster needs now and top up when the names come in.

An honest caveat: fabric is dyed in lots at partner mills, and a reorder months later may come from a new dye lot. Shade is matched to the approved standard, but a small difference next to garments that have already been washed and worn is possible. For color-critical programs, tell us at the first order so the shade standard is recorded.

06How the price tiers work

Pricing runs in five tiers: 12–50, 51–100, 101–250, 251–500 and 501+ pieces. The higher the quantity, the lower the unit price. Your quote shows which tier each line falls into, and every style's tiers are listed on our wholesale pricing page.

Catalog prices are for blank or color-blocked garments with no decoration. Every decoration method, from sublimation to embroidery, is quoted per design, because size, color count and placement change the cost. Shipping is arranged by Express Air, Cargo Air or Sea and quoted separately.

07The sample route before you commit

You do not have to commit to 12 pieces blind. Send artwork or a brief and we send a proof of the design, colors and sizes for your approval. When the details are right, you can order one of our clothing samples at the 12–50 tier price plus decoration.

That sample cost is credited to your bulk order. After you approve the sample and pay the 50% deposit, production takes about 2 weeks, with the balance due on completion.

08Planning tips for dealers and brands

A little planning keeps you above the minimum and makes reorders simpler.

• Count colorways early; each one needs 12 pieces on the first order.
• Add a few spare pieces in common sizes for late sign-ups.
• Keep your order numbers. You need them to reorder with no minimum.
• Quote your customer on the same tier you will order at.
• Book around peak seasons and public holidays using the production calendar.

09Low MOQ vs low price: what changes at each quantity

A low minimum lets you take small team orders without holding stock, but it does not make a small run cost the same per piece as a large one. Setup work is spread over fewer garments, and decoration setup, such as screens for screen printing or digitizing for embroidery, weighs more on 12 pieces than on 250.

For a reseller the useful question is not only what the MOQ is, but where the price breaks fall against your real order sizes. If most of your teams order 15 to 20 pieces, the 12–50 tier is the number to build your quote on. If you can group several teams into one style and colorway, you may cross into the 51–100 tier.

Every style in our catalog of blank jerseys and uniforms carries the same 12-piece minimum, from game jerseys to bags and accessories.

• 12 pieces: one roster, highest unit price, no stock risk.
• 51 to 100 pieces: several rosters on one style and colorway.
• 101 pieces and above: club programs, house brands and replenishment stock.

Q&AQuestions buyers ask