Activewear MOQ Explained: Per Style, Color and Size
Minimum order quantity is usually the first number a new activewear brand asks a factory about, and the most misunderstood. This guide explains how MOQ is counted, what changes it and how to plan a first order, using the MOQs we work with at MIDYOGA.
- Cut & Sew: 200 pieces per style, per color.
- Seamless: 500 pieces per style, per color.
- Sizes: split freely within each color, with no minimum per size.
- Matching sets: counted per piece, not per set.
- Custom-dyed colors can need a higher MOQ. Our existing styles with your logo can start lower.
- Smaller custom orders are possible with a small-order surcharge.
What is MOQ in activewear manufacturing?
MOQ (minimum order quantity) is the smallest bulk order a factory accepts for one item. In activewear it exists because every bulk order carries fixed costs: buying and checking fabric, cutting, setting up the sewing line and running quality checks. Below a certain quantity, those fixed costs make each garment too expensive to produce.
The number on its own means little. What matters is what it is counted against: one style, one color, one size or the whole order. Two factories can both quote “200 pieces” and mean very different things.
“Per style, per color”: how MOQ is counted
At MIDYOGA, MOQ is counted per style and per color. A style is one design, for example a high-waist legging with a waistband pocket. Each color of that style is counted separately.
| Your collection | How MOQ applies | Minimum bulk order |
|---|---|---|
| 1 legging style in black | 1 style × 1 color × 200 | 200 pcs |
| 1 legging style in black and navy | 1 style × 2 colors × 200 | 400 pcs |
| Legging and sports bra, each in 2 colors | 2 styles × 2 colors × 200 | 800 pcs |
| Seamless legging in 2 colors | 1 style × 2 colors × 500 | 1,000 pcs |
This is why the number of colors in your first drop has the biggest effect on your total order. Each extra color adds another full MOQ.
Can you mix sizes to meet the MOQ?
Yes. Within each color you can split the quantity across sizes however you like. There is no minimum per size, so 200 leggings in one color could look like this:
| XS | S | M | L | XL | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 50 | 60 | 50 | 20 | 200 |
If you already sell, base your size split on your own sales data. If you are launching, a curve weighted toward S, M and L is a common starting point. Cut & Sew styles can also include plus sizes up to 3XL, split from the same quantity.
Why seamless activewear has a higher MOQ
Seamless garments are knitted to shape on circular knitting machines; we run 30 Santoni machines in our own factory. Each new style needs a knitting program, machine setup and test knitting before bulk production, and yarn is prepared for each color. Those setup steps cost the same whether the order is 100 pieces or 1,000, so seamless styles start from 500 pieces per style, per color.
If 500 pieces per color is too many for a first collection, Cut & Sew is usually the better place to start. You can compare the two routes on our seamless and Cut & Sew pages.
MOQ for matching sets
For sets, MOQ is counted per piece, not per set. A bra and legging set in one color means 200 bras and 200 leggings. Because each piece is counted separately, you can order tops and bottoms in different quantities, for example more leggings than bras, as long as each piece meets its own MOQ. See how we develop matching yoga sets.
What else changes the MOQ
Custom-dyed colors
Choosing from available fabric colors keeps you at the standard MOQ. A custom color matched to your Pantone reference means the fabric is dyed specially for your order, and fabric mills have their own dye lot minimums. Custom colors can therefore need a higher MOQ, which we confirm when we quote.
Our existing styles with your logo
If you start from one of our current styles and add your logo, labels and packaging, the MOQ can be lower than for a new design, because the pattern and fabric are already in production. This is the fastest way to launch; see our private label service.
Reorders
A reorder of the same style and color has the same MOQ as the first order: 200 pieces per style, per color for Cut & Sew.
Logos, labels and packaging
Custom labels, hangtags and polybags are sourced for your order quantity. If a trim supplier has its own minimum, we show it in your quote.
Can you order below the MOQ?
Yes. For custom styles we can produce smaller quantities with a small-order surcharge. The unit price is higher because the fixed costs are shared across fewer pieces. For many new brands, a better option is to reduce the number of colors, or to start from our existing styles, where the MOQ is lower.
Sample MOQ vs bulk MOQ
MOQ applies to bulk production, not to samples. You can order a single sample of each style before committing to bulk. Samples take 12–15 days and cost US$10–15 per style, and the sample fee is fully refunded once your bulk order reaches the MOQ. Bulk production takes about 35 days after sample approval. Read more about our development process.
How to plan your first order around the MOQ
- Start with fewer colors, not fewer sizes. One or two core colors per style keep the order focused while still offering a full size range.
- Choose the route that matches your quantity. Cut & Sew from 200 pieces suits smaller launches; seamless from 500 pieces suits larger runs of knitted styles.
- Build sets from separate pieces. Because MOQ is counted per piece, you can order more of your best-selling bottom than top.
- Test new products with existing styles. Adding your logo to one of our current leggings or sports bras lowers the MOQ and shortens development.
- Ask for a quote with your real numbers. Send your styles, colors, size split and target quantity, and we reply within 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOQ for custom activewear?
At MIDYOGA, the MOQ is 200 pieces per style, per color for Cut & Sew activewear and 500 pieces per style, per color for seamless activewear.
Can I mix sizes to reach the MOQ?
Yes. Within each color you can split the quantity across sizes freely. There is no minimum per size.
Does the MOQ apply to each color?
Yes. Each color of a style is counted separately, so one style in two colors needs 400 pieces for Cut & Sew.
Can I order fewer than 200 pieces?
Yes. For custom styles we can produce smaller quantities with a small-order surcharge. Our existing styles with your logo and labels can also start from a lower MOQ.
Is the MOQ different for reorders?
No. A reorder of the same style and color has the same MOQ as the first order: 200 pieces per style, per color for Cut & Sew.
Why is the MOQ higher for seamless activewear?
Each seamless style needs a knitting program, machine setup and test knitting, and yarn is prepared for each color. These setup costs are the same for small and large orders, so seamless styles start from 500 pieces per style, per color.
Tell us your styles and quantities.
Share the styles, colors and quantities you have in mind. We confirm the MOQ for each item and reply with a quote within 24 hours. Only your work email is required.
- A tech packShare technical drawings, measurements and material requirements.
- A reference productShare a photo, product link or sample, with the details you want to develop.
- An early ideaDescribe the category, intended activity and wearing experience.