MOQ and cost, line by line
Two questions decide almost every underwear sourcing project: what is the minimum order quantity, and where does the money actually go. Below are the numbers we work with as an OEM & ODM underwear supplier in Xiamen, China — sourcing through long-term partner factories that are BSCI- and OEKO-TEX-audited.
1. Minimum order quantity (MOQ) by category
| Category |
MOQ per style / per colour |
Trial order |
Typical sampling time |
| Men's underwear (boxer briefs, boxers, briefs, trunks) |
2,000 pcs |
from 1,000 pcs |
7–10 days |
| Women's underwear (briefs, bikinis, hipsters, thongs, seamless) |
2,000 pcs |
from 1,000 pcs |
7–10 days |
| Kids' underwear |
2,000 pcs |
from 1,000 pcs |
7–10 days |
| Sleepwear & pyjama sets |
600 sets |
on request |
10–14 days |
| Sport bras |
3,600 pcs |
on request |
10–14 days |
Why MOQ exists at all: every new style carries a fixed set-up cost — fabric dyeing minimums, cutting table changeover, sewing line set-up and a pre-production sample. That fixed cost is roughly US$500–1,000 per style, and it is spread across the order. At 1,000 pcs it is heavy per piece; at 50,000 pcs it nearly disappears.
2. Where every cent of a US$1.50 boxer brief goes
| Cost line |
US$ per piece |
Share of price |
| Fabric — 180 gsm cotton/elastane 95/5 (incl. dyeing, finishing, cutting waste) |
0.60 |
40% |
| Waistband elastic |
0.16 |
11% |
| Cutting & sewing labour |
0.34 |
23% |
| Thread, care label, size label |
0.05 |
3% |
| QC & final inspection (AQL 2.5) |
0.04 |
3% |
| Polybag & export packaging |
0.09 |
6% |
| Overhead (power, machines, admin) |
0.14 |
9% |
| Supplier margin |
0.08 |
5% |
| Total |
1.50 |
100% |
Three things this table shows that buyers usually get wrong:
- Labour is not the biggest cost. At US$0.34 it is about a fifth of the price. Fabric is the king — US$0.60, a full 40%.
- QC costs four cents. Skipping it saves almost nothing and removes the line that protects everything else.
- Honest factories and suppliers run on single-digit margins, not the 40% buyers sometimes assume.
3. How price moves with volume
| Order quantity (per style/colour) |
Indicative FOB price, basic cotton boxer brief |
What changes |
| 1,000 pcs (trial) |
≈ US$3.20 / pc |
Set-up cost spread over few pieces; air-freight temptation |
| 2,000 pcs (standard MOQ) |
≈ US$2.40 / pc |
Normal production scheduling |
| 10,000 pcs |
≈ US$1.80 / pc |
Better fabric buying, fewer changeovers |
| 50,000 pcs |
≈ US$1.40 / pc |
Volume fabric contracts, dedicated line time |
Prices are indicative FOB Xiamen for a basic style and move with fabric spec (GSM, composition), waistband type, packing and labelling. Every quote we issue is built on those four variables.
4. The three legitimate ways MOQ comes down
- Share the set-up cost. Accept a higher per-piece price on a small first run instead of pretending the fixed cost does not exist.
- Use an existing block and fabric. A new colourway on a shape and fabric already running costs far less to start than a brand-new style.
- Combine styles into one order. One shipment, one inspection, several styles — the fixed costs are shared across the whole container.
One red flag: a quote that is more than a third below the market for "the same spec" is not a discount — it is almost always a lighter fabric, a cheaper waistband or a skipped inspection. Ask which line changed.
5. What we need to quote your order in 48 hours
- Product category and style reference
- Fabric preference (or your target price point — we will propose the spec)
- Quantity for the first run, and expected annual volume
- Destination market and packing requirements
Send those four items to [email protected] or WhatsApp +86 186 5081 3853 and you will have an FOB Xiamen quote with fabric spec, GSM and packing options within two working days.
