Custom plush toy MOQ: how many do you actually need?

MOQ — minimum order quantity — is the smallest run a factory will produce for a given design. It's the number that ends a lot of first plush projects, usually because the buyer expected 20 pieces and was quoted for 500.

Our MOQ is 100 pieces per design. Understanding why any minimum exists makes it much easier to plan a first order that actually works.

Why factories have an MOQ at all

Before a single sellable plush exists, a factory has already done work that doesn't scale with quantity: drafting a 3D sewing pattern from your artwork, digitising embroidery, cutting sample fabric, sewing one or more sample rounds, and setting up a production line for your specific piece.

That setup cost is the same whether the run is 30 pieces or 3,000. Below a certain quantity the per-unit price becomes absurd, and nobody is happy with the result — so factories set a floor instead.

What a low MOQ really buys you

A 100-piece minimum is low for this industry, and it exists so that projects which shouldn't need a warehouse can still happen:

• Crowdfunding campaigns testing a character before scaling
• Indie artists and illustrators turning a design into merchandise
• Startups validating a mascot with real customers
• Corporate gifts and event giveaways for a fixed guest list
• Retail buyers trialling a design before committing to a season

MOQ is per design, not per order

This trips people up constantly. If you want four different characters, that's four designs — each needs its own pattern, its own setup and its own minimum. Four characters at 100 pieces each is a 400-piece order, not a 100-piece one.

If you're set on a range but nervous about volume, launch with one or two characters and add the rest on reorder once you know which one sells. Reorders skip most of the setup work, so they're faster and cheaper than the first run.

How to keep a first order small and sensible

• Start with a keychain or a small plush — lower unit cost at the same MOQ, so less capital at risk
• Pick one hero character rather than a full family
• Keep the colour count down; every extra fabric colour adds cutting work
• Skip removable clothing on version one, and add it on the reorder
• Ask for tiered pricing anyway, so you can see what a second run would cost

What about samples?

You don't need to commit to the MOQ to see a physical plush first. Samples are quoted separately and typically take 7–10 days after the design is confirmed. Almost every serious buyer approves a sample before bulk — it's much cheaper to fix a face shape on one piece than on 500.

Send us your design and we'll tell you honestly whether 100 pieces is the right place to start, or whether your project would be better served by a different size or format.