What is the minimum order quantity (MOQ) at Yiwu?
Short Answer: One Carton (50-200 Units) for Stock, Around 500 Units Once You Customise
For ready stock at Yiwu International Trade City, the working minimum is usually one carton - roughly 50 to 200 units depending on the product, and as low as 12-100 pieces in District 1. Add your own printing, colour or logo and the practical MOQ rises to about 500 units per SKU.
The Two MOQs Every Booth Actually Has
Almost every Yiwu booth quotes two different minimums and rarely volunteers the difference. The stock MOQ applies to what is already boxed in the warehouse. The custom MOQ applies the moment you change anything - a logo, a Pantone, a retail box.
- Stock MOQ (现货) One carton, commonly 50-200 units. Some District 1 booths accept 12-100 pieces.
- Custom MOQ Around 500 units per colourway or print once your artwork is involved.
MOQ by District: The Numbers Differ a Lot
Minimums track how the goods are produced. Injection-moulded toys in District 1 come off long runs and sit in deep stock, so a carton is easy. Stationery in District 3 is packaging-driven, which is why its minimums are the highest in the market.
| District | Main categories | Typical MOQ |
|---|---|---|
| District 1 | Toys, jewellery, artificial flowers, festival decor | 12-100 pcs |
| District 2 | Bags, hardware, kitchenware, electrical, tools | 200-500 pcs |
| District 3 | Stationery, office, sporting goods, cosmetics | 500+ pcs |
| District 4 | Socks, scarves, gloves, textiles, footwear | From 100 pairs |
| District 5 | Imported goods, premium home, bedding, furniture | Varies widely |
Source: RND SOURCING booth walks across the five districts, 2026.
Why a Low MOQ Is Not the Same as Low Risk
- Tooling hidden behind a tiny MOQ A booth quoting '10 pcs MOQ' with a $900 mould fee is really selling a 500-piece minimum. Ask for the tooling line separately.
- Sample and setup charges Screen setup, plate fees and packaging artwork are billed once regardless of quantity, so they dominate a 50-unit run.
- Freight per unit explodes A single carton shipped alone can cost more in freight than the goods. Consolidation is what makes small MOQs economic.
The Questions That Reveal the Real MOQ
Is this price for stock or for production?
The single most useful question on day one. It splits the two MOQ worlds immediately.
How many units are in one carton right now?
Carton quantity is the real unit of trade at Yiwu, not the number the booth says first.
What changes if I add my logo?
Ask for the new MOQ, the setup fee and the lead time in one answer.
Can I mix designs in one carton?
Many booths allow it for stock items, which is how you test several SKUs at once.
What is the tooling cost, listed separately?
Any refusal to itemise tooling is a signal to walk.
Case: A 50-Unit Test That Became a 500-Unit Order
She was quoted '50 pcs MOQ' on a ceramic diffuser and planned six colourways. Only after we asked the production question did the booth confirm 50 pcs applied to the existing white stock only; each new colour needed 500 units and a $260 glaze setup. We restructured the trial around three stock colours already in the warehouse.
How MOQ Shapes a Sensible First Order
The practical strategy at Yiwu is to buy breadth first and depth later. Stock cartons let you put many SKUs in front of real customers before any of your cash is locked into custom production.
How RND SOURCING Handles MOQ on the Ground
Our desk sits within walking distance of the Trade City, so when a client sends a target list we physically check carton quantities and confirm the stock-versus-production split before any deposit moves. Where a single booth's minimum is too high, we split the order across two or three booths in the same aisle and consolidate at our warehouse so the buyer still ships one shipment. We do not manufacture, so the MOQ we report is the booth's real number, not a figure padded with our own margin.
Ask us to confirm a real MOQRelated Questions
- Can I buy small quantities (low MOQ) at Yiwu?
- Yiwu vs factory: which is better for low-MOQ testing?
- What are the Yiwu market districts and what do they sell?
- RM 1213, Block B Shuguang Mansion, No. 188 Shangcheng Avenue, Yiwu 322000, China
- +86 13858941517
