Packaging Guide · 8 min read
Understanding MOQ and lead time in custom packaging
Why factories have minimums, how we run at 50 units, and how to plan your launch timeline.
What MOQ actually means
MOQ (minimum order quantity) is the smallest production run a factory will accept for a custom job. It exists because of three cost realities: (1) printing plates and tooling have a fixed cost, (2) production changeovers waste material, (3) the factory needs predictable scheduling.
Why it matters for your launch
High MOQs lock up capital in inventory before you have validated demand. A brand selling 200 units per month does not need 10,000 boxes. We built our production system around that reality — digital printing, modular tooling, and shared pre-production steps that bring effective MOQs down to 50 units across all formats.
Our MOQ by product
Every catalog product starts at 50 units per SKU. Mailer boxes, folding cartons, rigid boxes, kraft bags, luxury bags, magnetic boxes — all from 50 units. Every product can be sampled before production — sample fees are credited against your order.
Lead time breakdown
A typical 1,000-unit rigid box order breaks down as: design (3–5 days), white sample (5–7 days), printed sample (7–10 days), production (18–25 days), shipping (10–25 days depending on destination). Total door-to-door: 5–8 weeks. Mailers and folding cartons are typically 3–5 weeks door-to-door.
How to plan your timeline
Work backwards from your launch date. Add 4 weeks of buffer. For rigid boxes, plan at least 8 weeks ahead. For mailers, plan 5 weeks ahead. And always order samples at least 2 weeks before placing a production order — that gives you time to iterate on size, material or finish.
Frequently asked
Yes — always recommended.
We strongly recommend ordering a white sample and a printed sample before any production run. Sample fees range from $50 to $300 and are credited against your first production order.
Ready when you are