Free calculator
MOQ calculator: what the minimum order really costs you
Enter the supplier MOQ, the quantity you want to test and your prices. See how much cash the minimum order ties up and how long the stock could take to sell.
- Free to use
- Uses your own sales estimate
Start with the order you are considering
Enter the supplier MOQ and your intended test quantity. Your report stays blank until you choose Calculate, so an example is never mistaken for your order.
Your result
How to read the result
Cash tied up at MOQ
The supplier price times the MOQ. This is what you pay before a single unit sells. Freight, duty and selling costs come on top.Extra cash versus your test
The gap between what the MOQ forces you to buy and what you wanted to test. If it is large, ask the supplier for a smaller first order.Stock duration
How many months the MOQ lasts at the monthly sales you typed in. The longer it runs, the longer your cash sits in a warehouse.Units per SKU
The MOQ split across your colours or sizes. A handful of units per variant is too thin to learn what sells.
Good fit
When to use it
Use it when a 1688 listing looks cheap but the minimum order is bigger than you planned to buy.
Run it before you ask the supplier for a quote, so you know which quantity to negotiate for.
Short guide
How 1688 MOQ works, and how to get a smaller one
1688 MOQ versus Alibaba MOQ
1688 is the Chinese domestic wholesale site. Many listings sell from stock and start at a few pieces.
Alibaba.com serves export buyers, so its MOQ usually means a production run.
On 1688, check the unit too. It can be one piece or a whole pack.
How to ask for a lower MOQ
Ask about stock first. Sellers with goods already made will often split a carton.
Offering a slightly higher unit price for a smaller first order is fair.
Custom logos and packaging bring the factory MOQ back, so keep those for the repeat order.
Put whatever you agree in the 1688 chat, with the exact SKU and price.
When buying more pays off
A bigger order lowers the unit price and spreads fixed costs like inspection. It only pays off if the product sells.
Until you have tested demand, a smaller order at a higher unit price is usually the safer bet.
Reference definition
What a listed 1688 MOQ tells you
MOQ means minimum order quantity. On 1688 the unit matters, since one piece and one carton mean very different cash. A number on a listing has not been confirmed for your order. In a Supplymo snapshot of 120 non-deduplicated result/detail rows from 12 selected English searches on 1688, 102 returned a listed minimum order quantity of two units or fewer and 84 returned one displayed price tier; neither field confirms checkout acceptance, a negotiated production MOQ or a final supplier quote. Run the calculator with your own numbers. Before you pay, ask the supplier to confirm the SKU, pack unit and price in writing.
The calculator cannot confirm that a supplier will accept your quantity, keep the listed price or let you mix variants.
Open the MOQ and price-tier studyIn a Supplymo snapshot of 120 non-deduplicated result/detail rows from 12 selected English searches on 1688, 102 returned a listed minimum order quantity of two units or fewer and 84 returned one displayed price tier; neither field confirms checkout acceptance, a negotiated production MOQ or a final supplier quote.
Supplymo. "MOQ Calculator: What a Minimum Order Really Costs You." https://supplymo.com/1688-moq-calculator. Accessed 13 October 2026.
Questions
MOQ questions
What does MOQ mean?
MOQ means minimum order quantity. It is the smallest order a supplier will accept. On 1688 it can apply to the whole order or to each colour or size, so read the listing carefully.
Is 500 a high MOQ on 1688?
For a first test order it often is, but there is no fixed line. It depends on whether the goods are in stock and how fast you expect to sell. Run your own numbers above.
Is MOQ negotiable on 1688?
Often, when the goods are in stock. Ask for a smaller first order at a slightly higher unit price. A custom logo or custom packaging usually brings the full MOQ back.
Can I use the calculator without a 1688 link?
Yes. The number fields are all it needs. A link or product name only fills in the MOQ and price when the listing shows them.
Does the result include shipping and duty?
No. It counts the supplier price only. Use the landed cost calculator to add freight and import costs to the quantity you settle on.
Guides
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