Everything you need to know about MOQ, how to negotiate it, and strategies for small businesses starting out.
Bluglo Team
Sourcing Specialists
Minimum Order Quantity—commonly known as MOQ—is one of the most important concepts in global sourcing. Whether you're importing from China, Vietnam, Thailand, or any other manufacturing market, MOQs determine how much you must buy, what price you'll pay, and whether a supplier will take on your order at all.
For new importers and small businesses, MOQ can feel like a hurdle. But when you understand how MOQs work—and how to negotiate them—you gain leverage, reduce risk, and set yourself up for successful sourcing.
Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) is the smallest quantity of a product a supplier is willing to produce or sell in a single order.
For example: If a factory's MOQ for custom t-shirts is 500 units, they won't accept orders for 100 or 200 pieces.
Factories set MOQs to ensure profitable production runs
Minimum number of units (e.g., 500 shirts)
Minimum order value (e.g., $5,000 minimum)
Per-color or per-style minimum
| Product Type | Typical MOQ |
|---|---|
| Apparel | 300-1,000 units |
| Electronics | 500-5,000 units |
| Furniture/Homeware | 100-500 units |
| Packaging | 1,000-10,000 units |
| Toys | 500-3,000 units |
| Custom products | Often higher |
Position first order as a test. Promise larger orders if quality meets expectations.
Order multiple SKUs to meet factory's total value MOQ.
Reduce colors, designs, and complexity to lower MOQ.
Pay deposit quickly or offer better payment terms for flexibility.
Show commitment to repeat orders for lower MOQs.
Agents can consolidate orders or negotiate on your behalf.
Factories are more flexible when demand is low.
Offer flexibility on delivery for lower MOQ.
Traders can combine orders but may have higher prices.
Smaller suppliers often have lower MOQs than large manufacturers.
Test with samples first
Validate quality before committing to MOQ
Start with stock products
Ready-made items have lower MOQs
Partner with other businesses
Split large orders to meet MOQ
Ordering too much inventory
Ignoring storage costs
Accepting poor quality to hit MOQ
Not comparing multiple suppliers
BluGlo specialises in sourcing for:
Startups
Retailers
Small wholesalers
Established brands
Contact us to help you with your sourcing requirements