--- articleType: Reference categories: - Products - Orders last_updated: '2026-04-23' primaryTopic: minimum-order-quantity relatedModules: - name: samples-order route: /admin/dashboard/contributions/orders/samples/order - name: catalog-product-all route: /admin/products/all - name: products-list route: /admin/dashboard/products/all/ - name: orders-list route: /admin/dashboard/contributions/orders/ - name: catalog-product-discover route: /admin/products shortDescription: Learn how Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) can lower unit costs and increase profits on your merchandise drops. tags: - moq - minimum-order-quantity - bulk-orders - print-on-demand - product-drops - merchandise - pre-sales - profit-margins - apparel-sourcing title: Minimum order quantity FAQ tasks: - Understand MOQ pros and cons - Calculate MOQ by mixing sizes - Plan a pre-sale for an MOQ drop - Combine MOQ and on-demand products in one drop - Run a break-even analysis for an MOQ drop - Decide what to do if MOQ is not met terms: - MOQ - minimum order quantity - bulk order - pre-sale - product drop - on-demand - POD - unit cost - profit margin - combine t-shirts and hoodies - upfront cost - break-even analysis - MOQ profitability - cover the gap MOQ - cancel MOQ drop labels: - moq - minimum-order-quantity - bulk-orders contextString: Available on all Fourthwall plans. Applies to bespoke and minimum-order-quantity products. breadcrumbPath: "Create and sell products > Printing Techniques > Minimum order quantity FAQ" path: create-and-sell-products/printing-techniques/minimum-order-quantity-faq --- # Minimum order quantity FAQ Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) products require a set number of units to be sold before manufacturing begins. MOQ lowers unit costs compared to Print-on-Demand (POD), which means higher profit per item — but you take on risk if orders don't reach the minimum. ## What is MOQ? MOQ stands for Minimum Order Quantity. It refers to the minimum number of products that must be sold before they can be printed and shipped by the manufacturer. Unlike POD products (which are made one at a time after each order), MOQ products are produced in bulk once the sales threshold is reached. ## Why use MOQ? The main advantage of MOQ is lower unit cost. The more you commit to ordering, the less each item costs to produce, which increases your profit margin per sale. The main risk is that if you don't reach the minimum quantity, you either need to cover the remaining production cost yourself or cancel the drop and refund all supporters who ordered. ## Can I split my MOQ order by size? Yes. You can mix sizes within an MOQ order as long as all items use the same design. For example: 15 Small, 20 Medium, and 15 Large counts as a total of 50 units toward your MOQ. ## Is the MOQ minimum based on style or SKU? MOQ is based on the design file, not on the individual Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) or garment style. You can mix different products to reach the minimum as long as they all share the same design, design size, and print location. ## Can I combine T-shirts and hoodies to reach my MOQ? Yes. You can mix different garment styles, such as T-shirts and hoodies, to hit your MOQ threshold. The requirement is that they all share the same design file, not that they are the same product type. ## Can I offer both MOQ and on-demand products in the same drop? Yes. A single drop can include both MOQ products and on-demand (POD) products. MOQ items go through the pre-sale and bulk production process, while POD items are fulfilled individually as orders come in. ## Will Fourthwall cover the upfront costs for MOQ? No. Fourthwall does not cover upfront production costs for MOQ drops. However, Fourthwall supports pre-sales, which means you can collect orders before production begins. This lets you confirm demand and gather payment before committing to manufacturing. ## How do I know if MOQ will be profitable? To run a break-even analysis: multiply the MOQ unit cost by the minimum quantity, then divide by your selling price. The result is the number of sales you need to cover production costs. Sales above that number are profit. Use your audience size as a baseline. If you have 10,000 followers and a typical conversion rate of 1-3%, you can expect 100-300 orders. If your MOQ is 50 units, you're in a strong position. If it's 500, you'll want a larger or more engaged audience before committing. To reduce risk, open a pre-sale before committing to production. If orders reach the MOQ threshold before the deadline, you've confirmed the drop is profitable before any manufacturing begins. ## What happens if I don't meet the MOQ? You have two options if orders fall short of the minimum: - **Cover the gap.** Pay the remaining unit cost out of pocket to bring the total up to the minimum. Production proceeds and all existing orders ship as planned. This makes sense when you're close to the threshold and confident you can sell the extra inventory later. - **Cancel the drop.** Cancel production and issue full refunds to supporters who already ordered. You won't owe anything for manufacturing, but you'll lose the campaign momentum. Factor this risk into your pricing. Set your selling price high enough that even if you need to cover a small shortfall, you still break even or stay profitable. Pricing too close to the MOQ unit cost leaves no room for error.