Printing Planet UK
Minimum order quantities (MOQs) are one of the first questions new customers ask. The answer depends entirely on the print method you choose.
Which Methods Have Minimum Orders
Screen printing: typically 25 to 50 pieces
Screen printing requires making a physical screen for each colour in the design. Screens cost money to produce and set up, and this cost is spread across the print run. At 10 pieces, the setup cost per garment makes screen printing uneconomical. Most shops set their minimum at 25 to 50 pieces.
Some shops will do screen printing at lower quantities but the price per piece will be significantly higher than at the standard minimum.
Embroidery: varies by shop, often no minimum
Digitising is a one-time cost. Once your logo is digitised, an embroidery machine can run one piece as easily as 100. Many shops, including Printing Planet UK, have no minimum order for embroidery once the file is digitised. You pay the £20 digitising fee for the first order, then there is no minimum on reorders.
DTG: no minimum
DTG printing has no setup cost. The machine prints directly from a digital file. One T-shirt costs the same per piece to set up as 100. Almost all DTG shops accept single-piece orders.
DTF: no minimum
The same applies to DTF. No screens, no setup, no minimum. A single transfer costs the same to set up as a run of 200.
Vinyl: no minimum
Vinyl is cut from a digital file. No minimum.
Why MOQs Exist
MOQs exist when a method has a high fixed cost that must be recovered across the order. Screen printing has screen-making costs. Some embroidery operations run batch machines with minimum profitable run lengths.
They do not exist to inconvenience small buyers. They exist because the economics of the method require a certain volume to make production viable at a standard price.
How to Order Small Quantities Without Paying More Per Piece
If you need a small quantity of a design that would traditionally require screen printing, switch method:
- Under 25 pieces with a simple logo: use DTG or vinyl
- Under 25 pieces with a full-colour design: use DTG or DTF
- Under 10 pieces with a basic text print: use vinyl
The per-piece cost will be higher than screen printing at volume, but there is no setup surcharge because there is no setup cost.
Where Volume Discounts Kick In
Even on methods with no minimum order, the price per piece falls as quantity increases. Typical volume breaks:
| Quantity | Price behaviour |
|---|---|
| 1 to 5 pieces | Highest cost per piece |
| 6 to 24 pieces | First price break |
| 25 to 49 pieces | Second price break |
| 50 to 99 pieces | Third price break |
| 100+ pieces | Best per-piece cost |
The exact break points and savings vary by method and shop. Printing Planet UK has no minimum order on DTG, DTF, vinyl and embroidery. For full pricing, visit our garment printing service page or contact us for a quote.