MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity)
The smallest quantity of a product a supplier is willing to produce or sell in a single order.
MOQ is the minimum number of units you must order for a supplier to accept the job. It exists because setup, tooling, and material costs make tiny runs unprofitable for the factory.
MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity) is the lowest amount of a product a manufacturer will produce in one order. Factories set an MOQ to cover fixed costs such as machine setup, mold preparation, and raw material purchasing, which do not scale down well for small batches.
For new buyers, a high MOQ can be a barrier. There are several ways to work with it: negotiate a trial order at a higher unit price, combine multiple SKUs to reach a combined volume, or look for trading companies that consolidate orders across buyers. Some suppliers will lower MOQ if you accept stock colors or standard specifications instead of custom ones.
Always confirm whether the quoted MOQ is per SKU, per color, or per total order, as this dramatically affects your purchasing plan. Compare MOQ alongside lead time and unit price when evaluating quotes.