MOQ Calculator
Planning your first run? See your total order, how minimum order quantity really works, and how to split it across sizes — in seconds.
A minimum order is counted per style and per colour. Your 4 style-and-colour combinations at 100 pieces each comes to 400 pieces in total.
Minimum shown is Collective Studio’s (100 per style/colour). Ask us about your specific range.
The one thing brands get wrong
Minimum order quantity (MOQ) is counted per style and per colour — not per order. Each colourway is a separate setup with its own fabric and dye lot, so a single t-shirt design in black and white is two minimums, not one. New brands routinely budget for one minimum and get surprised, so the calculator above multiplies it out for you: styles × colours = separate SKUs, each needing the full minimum.
Why factories have minimums at all
Setting up a production line — sourcing fabric, making patterns, cutting, threading machines — costs roughly the same whether you make 50 pieces or 500. A minimum spreads that setup cost over enough garments to make the run worthwhile. That’s also why a lower minimum is such a big deal for a new brand: our 100-piece minimum lets you launch or test a design without ordering thousands.
Splitting your order across sizes
Your minimum per colourway isn’t all one size — you split it across a size run. Most demand sits in the middle (M and L) with less at the extremes. The calculator gives you a sensible starting split for any quantity; adjust it to your customers, since a streetwear brand skews larger and a fitted women’s line smaller.
New to all this? Read how to start a clothing brand with 100 pieces, or how low vs high MOQ really affects your costs. Ready to plan a real run? Tell us what you’re makingand we’ll quote it.
Frequently asked questions
What is MOQ in clothing manufacturing?
MOQ stands for Minimum Order Quantity — the fewest pieces a factory will make in one production run. It exists because setting up fabric, cutting and machines costs the same whether you make 50 pieces or 500, so factories set a floor to make an order worthwhile.
Is MOQ per style or per colour?
Both. A minimum is counted per style AND per colour, because each colourway is a separate setup with its own fabric and dye lot. So a t-shirt in black and white is two separate minimums, not one. This is the single most common thing new brands get wrong when budgeting.
What is your minimum order quantity?
Collective Studio's minimum is 100 pieces per style and colour — low for a full-service factory, where many quote 300–500. It lets a new brand launch or test a design without a huge upfront commitment.
Can I mix sizes within the minimum?
Yes. The 100-piece minimum is per style and colour — you split those 100 across sizes however suits your customers (for example 5 XS, 15 S, 30 M, 30 L, 10 XL, 10 XXL). The calculator suggests a typical split you can adjust.
How many pieces should I make of each size?
Start from a typical bell curve (most demand in M and L, less at the extremes) and adjust to your audience — a streetwear brand skews larger, a women's fitted line smaller. The calculator gives you a sensible starting split for any quantity.