Why factories set minimums, how they are calculated, and realistic ways to hit a minimum that looks too high — written for first-time buyers.
A minimum order quantity is not an arbitrary number — it is the point where one style becomes economically producible. Every style runs through the same fixed steps: fabric is dyed to your colorway, patterns are graded across sizes, cutting tables are marked, and the sewing line is retrained. Below a certain quantity, those fixed costs make the per-piece price unrealistic for both sides.
At Mano Garment our standard MOQ starts at 50 pcs per style — unusually low for the market, because our partner factories keep dedicated small-run lines. But the number is per style and colorway, and understanding that distinction is where most first-time buyers get stuck.
A 200-pcs style in 4 colors usually means 50 pcs per color — or sometimes 200 total with surcharges. Always confirm which rule applies before quoting.
Dyeing minimums are typically 300–500 m per color. If 50 pcs needs only 80 m, expect a fabric surcharge or a swatch-based color match instead of a full dye lot.
Splitting 50 pcs across XS/S/M/L/XL costs nothing extra — grading is digital. Only the ratio matters: we help you set it from your sales data or ours.
Combining two styles into one order keeps the production slot, but each style still needs its own pattern, marker and sample — expect split MOQs, not shared ones.
Send your style idea and target quantity — we will confirm the MOQ structure and the best workaround for your order within 24 hours.
