Small-Batch Knitwear MOQ: How Colours and Sizes Change It

“What is your MOQ?” sounds like one question, but the useful answer depends on colour, size, yarn, construction and how the garment is finished. A small launch becomes much easier to plan when those variables are separated.

Start-up-friendly does not mean one universal minimum. We can support small runs, commonly 25–50 per colour depending on the size split and whether the style uses a stock yarn. The exact MOQ must be confirmed for each product because production planning happens by colour and, in many cases, by size.

Standard small-batch MOQ, by product type.

Product type	Minimum	Counted as
Custom design · single size	50 per colour	sets or pieces
Custom design · multiple sizes	25 per colour, per size	sets or pieces
Stock / basic styles	30 per colour	pieces

Always confirm against your own design: yarn availability, knit complexity, trims, labels and packaging can move the final figure.

MOQ is usually per colour, not just per style

Each colour can require its own yarn preparation, machine setup, inspection flow and finishing arrangement. The more colours and size splits you introduce, the more a small total quantity is divided into very small production groups. That is why a factory needs the colour and size plan before giving a reliable answer.

A clear example for one knitwear set

Order structure	Minimum for this set	What it means
One size in one colour	50 sets per colour	A simple launch route when the design uses one size.
Multiple sizes in one colour	25 sets per colour, per size	Each size becomes its own production allocation.

This is a project-specific example, not a promise that every knitwear design has the same minimum. Yarn availability, knit complexity, trims, labels and packaging can change the final figure.

Multi-colour jacquard pattern knitted in one piece

How to keep a first run workable

For an early launch, choose one or two colours rather than a large palette, prioritise a stock yarn and avoid splitting a very small quantity across too many sizes. You can still create a strong product story; the goal is to concentrate the first run where the factory can make it consistently.

What happens after the sample is approved

We confirm the final size breakdown, colours, label and packing requirements, then schedule knitting, linking or sewing where required, finishing, inspection and packing. The production team checks the approved construction against the sample before the first run moves through the line.

Ask these questions with your enquiry

State the number of colours, planned sizes and quantity per colour. Ask whether the MOQ changes when using a stock yarn, whether labels and packaging have separate minimums, and whether a one-size launch would give more flexibility. This helps us recommend a plan that fits the product and the launch budget.

FAQ

MOQ questions

Is MOQ counted per style or per colour?

Per colour. Each colour can require its own yarn preparation, machine set-up, inspection flow and finishing arrangement, so the minimum applies to each colour rather than to the style as a whole.

How does the minimum change when I add sizes?

Each size becomes its own production allocation. In the knitwear set used as an example on this page, a single size requires 50 sets per colour, while multiple sizes require 25 sets per colour per size.

If my total quantity is large enough, does the colour and size split still matter?

Yes. A total of 50 sets split across two colours and two sizes can leave every colour-and-size combination below the required 25 sets. The total, the colours and the sizes have to be assessed together.