Guide · reviewed October 2026

What is MOQ?

“MOQ 500.” “Sounds good.” Famous last words.

MOQ means minimum order quantity: the fewest units a factory will make for you in one run, usually per style and sometimes per color. Below it, expect a surcharge or a no.

The formula

Worked example

A tee with an MOQ of 300 units:

Split across 3 colors, that's about 100 a color. If the mill's color minimum is higher, you'll pay a surcharge or cut a color.

Worth knowing

• Ask whether the MOQ is per style, per color or per fabric. They're very different numbers.
• Mills often have their own minimums for dyeing a color, separate from the factory's.

Common mistakes

• Agreeing to an MOQ without working out the cash it ties up.
• Spreading the minimum across too many colors and sizes, leaving thin stock everywhere.
• Not asking what the surcharge is to go below it.

Questions

Can you negotiate MOQ?

Often, yes. Ask for the MOQ per style instead of per color, use stock fabric or colors, pay a small-run surcharge, or commit to a reorder.

What's a color minimum?

The fewest units a mill or factory will dye in one color. It can force you to drop colors or pay extra.

Is a low MOQ always better?

Not always. Lower minimums often cost more per unit. Compare the total cash and the margin, not just the number.

Sources

• How much does it cost to build a sneaker? · Shoemakers Academy (Wade Motawi)
  Mold and tooling costs from a footwear developer with 30+ years in Asian factories.
• Ronnie Fieg on Kith's 15-Year Evolution (September 2026) · Complex
  Kith's founder on buying to an 85–90% sell-through target and reported margins on brands it buys wholesale.
• The State of Fashion 2026 · McKinsey & Company and The Business of Fashion
  The industry's annual outlook, built from executive surveys and market data. Expects low single-digit growth in 2026.

Checked October 2026. Rates and rules change; confirm duty and tariffs with a licensed customs broker. All sources

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