Buying guides
1688 minimum order quantity
Last updated
Published by 1688 Sourcing Agent · Review method
Key takeaways
- Confirm whether a minimum applies per variant, design, carton or whole order, and which tier price applies to your quantity.
- Request stock, sample and custom options separately; setup cost and minimums depend on the actual seller and work.
- Compare total cash and unwanted stock as well as unit price; buying more can lower the unit price while increasing the bill.
There is no platform-wide minimum that describes every 1688 product. Stock items and custom production can have very different requirements; confirm the exact listing and variant.
For a small order, request the full delivered cost. International freight and handling may outweigh the unit-price saving at some quantities.
Turn this guide into a buying request
Keep this page as context. Add what you know; review everything before sending. No purchase is made at this step.
Continue to request →-
Write the quantity you actually need for each variant and the maximum stock you can reasonably use.
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Ask whether a sample or mixed-size/mixed-colour order is available, and whether the price changes.
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Check carton multiples, pack quantity and whether breaking a carton adds a handling fee.
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Compare setup, inspection and delivery costs at your required quantity and at the next tier. Do not buy unwanted stock merely to lower the unit price.
In this guide
Read minimums at variant level
Record whether the minimum applies per product, colour, size, print design, carton or whole order. The visible lowest tier price may not apply to the variant you choose.
Customisation can introduce setup costs and production minimums, but it is not universally a higher MOQ. Ask for stock, printed and fully custom options as separate quotes.
Build a usable quantity plan
- Write the quantity you actually need for each variant and the maximum stock you can reasonably use.
- Ask whether a sample or mixed-size/mixed-colour order is available, and whether the price changes.
- Check carton multiples, pack quantity and whether breaking a carton adds a handling fee.
- Compare setup, inspection and delivery costs at your required quantity and at the next tier. Do not buy unwanted stock merely to lower the unit price.
- If there is no acceptable small-order route, compare a local distributor or retail sample rather than treating a larger order as inevitable.
Illustration: a lower unit price can mean a larger bill
Illustrative arithmetic only, not a supplier quote: 40 units at $3 cost $120 in goods. A 100-unit tier at $2.50 costs $250, tying up $130 more before any extra freight or storage. If you need only 40, the lower tier price is not a $0.50 saving on a like-for-like order.
Use your own demand and complete freight quotes. No resale, defect rate or future purchase is assumed in this example.
Questions and answers
Common questions
- Can I buy a single piece?
- Some sellers offer samples or single units. Compare the total delivered cost with a Taobao listing for the same specification.
- Can I mix colours or sizes within the MOQ?
- Ask the seller whether the stated minimum applies per variant or across the whole order; terms differ for stock and custom goods.
Your next step
Have a link you want checked?
Send a 1688 or Taobao product link and you get back the specification in English, the supplier check, and the landed cost to your country before you commit to anything.
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