MOQ for Custom Workwear: Real Numbers by Product and Customisation
The short answer
Our standard minimum order quantity is 100 pieces per style and colour, with 50 pieces accepted on some stock items. The MOQ rises as you customise more: 300–500 pieces for custom fabric dyeing, 500–1,000 for fully bespoke construction, and 1,000+ for retail-ready packaging or a new private-label programme.
The number that matters is not the factory's headline MOQ, it is the minimum you must commit per colour. A factory quoting "100 pieces" often means 100 per colour per style, which can multiply your smallest viable order by five.
Last updated: September 2026.
Key takeaways
- 100 pcs per style and colour is the standard minimum; 50 pcs is available on certain stock items.
- MOQ is driven by setup, not by material. Printing screens, dye lots, pattern grading and line changeover all need volume.
- Colour is the silent multiplier. Four colours can turn a 100-piece MOQ into a 400-piece order.
- You can reach MOQ without over-ordering by sharing fabrics across styles, choosing stock colours, or splitting delivery for a store-and-release agreement.
- Below MOQ is often still possible — expect a surcharge of 15–35% rather than a refusal.
1. MOQ by product type
| Product | Standard MOQ per style/colour | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hi-vis safety vest | 100 pcs (50 for stock items) | Cheapest product to start with |
| Work T-shirt / polo | 100 pcs (50 for stock items) | Screen print setup favours larger runs |
| Work trousers | 100 pcs | Size grading adds setup |
| Work jacket | 100 pcs | Zips and linings have their own minimums |
| Coverall | 100 pcs | More labour per piece, same minimum |
| Softshell jacket | 100–300 pcs | Fabric often dyed to order |
| Anti-static / FR garment | 300–500 pcs | Certified fabric comes in dye lots |
| Fully bespoke construction | 500–1,000 pcs | New patterns, blocks and fit approvals |
2. MOQ by level of customisation
| What you are customising | Typical MOQ | Why it climbs |
|---|---|---|
| Logo only, standard stock garment | 100 pcs | Only decoration setup is involved |
| Logo plus size range and colour from stock range | 100–300 pcs | More colours means more cutting setups |
| Custom colour, stock fabric | 300–500 pcs | Fabric dyeing has a minimum |
| Custom fabric or GSM | 500–1,000 pcs | Mill minimum per dye lot |
| Bespoke pattern and fit | 500–1,000 pcs | Pattern and grading cost must be recovered |
| Private label with retail packaging | 1,000 pcs+ | Labels, hang tags and cartons are ordered in bulk |
3. Why minimums exist (and where the money goes)
| Setup item | Typical cost | Amortised over 100 pcs | Amortised over 1,000 pcs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen printing setup | $20–80 per colour | $0.20–0.80 | $0.02–0.08 |
| Embroidery digitising | $20–60 per logo | $0.20–0.60 | $0.02–0.06 |
| Pattern and grading | $150–500 per style | $1.50–5.00 | $0.15–0.50 |
| Fabric dyeing minimum | $0.30–1.20 per metre equivalent | Highest impact | Negligible |
| Line changeover | 1–2 hours | $0.50–2.00 | $0.05–0.20 |
| Carton printing plate | $80–250 one-off | $0.80–2.50 | $0.08–0.25 |
This is why a 100-piece order is not "ten times the work of 1,000 pieces per piece" — it is the same setup spread over far fewer garments.
4. Six ways to hit MOQ without over-ordering
- Share one fabric across several styles. A single 500-piece fabric commitment can cover jackets, trousers and coveralls.
- Use stock colours first, and save custom dyeing for a later season when volume justifies it.
- Reduce the number of colourways. Two colours at 100 pieces each is a 200-piece order; four colours is a 400-piece order.
- Split sizes within one colour, since MOQ applies per colour, not per size.
- Agree a store-and-release plan. Commit 1,000 pieces, take delivery in two or three shipments as you sell through.
- Combine product lines in one order — for example 600 T-shirts and 400 trousers, if they share fabric and colour.
5. What happens if you order below MOQ
Below-MOQ orders are usually accepted with one of these adjustments, in this order of preference:
| Approach | Typical effect |
|---|---|
| Small-order surcharge | +15–35% on the unit price |
| Stock colour and stock fabric only | No surcharge, limited choice |
| Simplified decoration (one colour, one position) | Partially offsets the surcharge |
| Later delivery, combined with another order | Often removes the surcharge entirely |
| Sample-scale order (10–50 pcs) | Sold as samples, priced accordingly |
If you need 40 pieces to test a design in the field, ask for it as a sample-plus order rather than a production order. It is normally cheaper than a small production run and gets you a physical answer faster.
6. MOQ and lead time
| Order size | Sampling | Production | Total to delivery (sea) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50–100 pcs | 7–10 days | 15–25 days | 7–9 weeks |
| 100–500 pcs | 7–10 days | 20–30 days | 8–10 weeks |
| 500–1,000 pcs | 7–10 days | 20–40 days | 8–11 weeks |
| 1,000–5,000 pcs | 10–15 days | 30–45 days | 10–13 weeks |
Small orders are usually faster in production but they still carry the same sampling and shipping time, so the total calendar does not shrink much.
7. MOQ and payment terms
Larger commitments unlock better commercial terms as well as better prices:
| Order value | Typical terms |
|---|---|
| Under $3,000 | 100% before production, or 50/50 |
| $3,000–15,000 | 30% deposit, balance against bill of lading |
| $15,000–50,000 | 30% deposit, balance at 30 days, or letter of credit |
| $50,000+ | Negotiable: staged payments, letter of credit, or open account after a trading history |
8. Frequently asked questions
What is the MOQ for custom workwear?
Our standard minimum is 100 pieces per style and colour, and 50 pieces for some stock items. Custom fabric dyeing raises the minimum to 300–500 pieces, and a fully bespoke garment to 500–1,000 pieces.
Is the MOQ per order or per colour?
Normally per style and colour. Ordering four colours of the same garment means four minimums, which is the single most common reason a small order becomes expensive.
Can I order fewer than 100 pieces?
Yes, in three ways: choose a stock item with a 50-piece minimum, pay a small-order surcharge of roughly 15–35%, or order the quantity as samples. Many buyers use a 40–50 piece field trial before committing to a full production run.
What is the minimum for custom printing or embroidery?
Decoration itself has almost no minimum, but the setup does: one screen per colour for printing, or a one-off digitising fee for embroidery. Below about 100 pieces the setup cost per garment becomes noticeable.
Do you charge extra for small orders?
Small orders below the standard minimum usually carry a 15–35% surcharge, because pattern, printing and line setup costs are spread over fewer pieces. Orders that reuse an existing pattern and stock fabric reduce or avoid the surcharge.
What is the MOQ for flame-resistant or anti-static workwear?
Expect 300–500 pieces per style and colour, because certified technical fabrics are produced in dye lots with their own minimums and each new construction needs its own test report.
Can I mix sizes to reach the MOQ?
Yes. MOQ applies per colour, not per size, so a 100-piece minimum can be split across S to 3XL in whatever ratio your workforce needs.
How do I get a lower MOQ?
Use stock fabric and stock colours, keep decoration to one position and one colour, reuse an existing pattern, and accept a slightly longer delivery window so production can be scheduled alongside another order.
Start with a trial order
Send us the garment, the quantity per colour you need and the sizes, and we will confirm the exact minimum for your specification within 24 hours, including a trial-order option if you want to test quality before committing to a full production run.
