What MOQ means
The minimum order quantity (MOQ) is the smallest order a supplier will accept for a given unit price. Order below the MOQ and the price changes — or the supplier walks away.
Why suppliers set MOQs
- Raw material purchase quantities have their own minimums
- Setup, tooling, and line changeover costs are fixed regardless of order size
- Small orders are as expensive to manage as large ones
How to handle a high MOQ
- Ask for the MOQ per variant and per colorway — you may split across a few products
- Offer to pay a small premium for a trial run below MOQ
- Negotiate a staged commitment: low first order, committed repeat order at standard MOQ
MOQ is negotiable more often than buyers assume — but only when the supplier sees a real path to bigger orders.
See also: Evaluate — quotes and samples and negotiating with Chinese suppliers.