What is MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity)?
MOQ stands for Minimum Order Quantity — the smallest amount a supplier is willing to make or sell in a single order. If a factory’s MOQ is 1,000 units, they won’t take your order for 200. It’s one of the first things you’ll hit when sourcing from China — and, importantly, it’s often negotiable.
Why do suppliers set an MOQ?
It’s not to be difficult — it’s the math of running a factory:
Setup and tooling costs
Changing a machine over for your product costs the same whether you order 200 or 2,000.
Material minimums
Raw materials (plastic resin, fabric, metal) are bought in batches; a small run can’t even use one batch.
Time is money
A short run ties up a line for little return.
How to negotiate a lower MOQ
MOQs are a starting position, not a wall. What actually works:
1. Offer to pay a setup/tooling fee
Cover the cost the MOQ is protecting, and the quantity often drops.
2. Consolidate SKUs
Combine colours or models into one order to hit the material minimum without ordering 1,000 of one item.
3. Accept a longer lead time
Let them slot your small run into a gap.
4. Use stock materials/colours
Avoid custom material minimums entirely.
5. Order through a sourcing agent
An agent who places volume across many clients can often clear a factory's MOQ that you can't alone.
Frequently asked questions
Minimum Order Quantity — the smallest number of units a supplier will produce or sell in one order.
To cover machine setup, tooling and raw-material batch minimums. Small runs cost nearly as much to set up as large ones.
Often yes. Paying a setup fee, consolidating SKUs, using stock materials, or ordering through a sourcing agent can all bring an MOQ down.
Stuck on a factory's MOQ?
A sourcing agent with volume can often get it lowered.