Minimum order quantities explained: why bulk pricing works the way it does
Customers often ask why one product can be ordered from 2 pieces while another needs 30 or 50. Minimum order quantities (MOQs) are not arbitrary — they fall straight out of how each product is made. Understanding them helps you plan orders and get the best price.
Every job has a fixed cost
Before a single piece is printed, someone checks your artwork, prepares a mockup, sets up the machine and runs a test. That cost is the same whether you order 2 pieces or 200. Spread over 2 T-shirts it is significant; spread over 200 it is a few rupees each. Tier pricing simply passes that saving back to you.
Why T-shirts start at 2 but mugs start at 30
DTF printing on apparel is fully digital — there are no screens or plates — so small runs are practical and our MOQ is 2. Sublimation mugs are different: they are pressed and cured in batches, the transfer sheets are printed in gangs, and each mug needs individual protective packing. Running the line for fewer than 30 pieces costs more than the mugs themselves.
What "bulk only" means
Some products, like our Premium Pique Polo, are stitched to order in your colour rather than pulled from ready stock. The factory's own minimum is a full fabric lot, which is why those styles start at 50 pieces — and also why their price per piece is lower than the ready-stock equivalent.
How our tiers work
Most products have four tiers: 2–9, 10–49, 50–199 and 200+. The price shown updates live as you change the quantity, and the tier applies to the whole line — order 50 and all 50 pieces get the 50+ price. Mixed sizes count towards the same tier. Above 200 pieces we quote individually, because at that volume we can often change the production method (for example, from DTF to screen printing) and save you more.
Practical tips
If you are a few pieces short of the next tier, check the subtotal both ways — 48 pieces can cost more than 50. Combine departments into one order to reach a higher tier. And if you need a sample before a bulk order, buy the minimum first; the mockup approval step means there are no surprises either way.
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