Ordering
Phone case MOQ explained: 10, 30, 100 or 1,000 pieces?
"What is your MOQ" has three different answers depending on whether the case comes from a mould that already exists, whether you need printing, or whether a new tool has to be cut. Mixing the three is the most common reason quotes do not line up.
Three different MOQs, not one
Stocked mould: the tool exists, the colour may or may not exist. The MOQ is small because the only cost is machine time — often 10 pcs per model per colour on phone lines.
Custom print or custom colour on an existing mould: the mould is free, but the machine still has to be set up, purged and colour matched. This is where MOQ climbs, usually into the low hundreds.
New tool: the mould does not exist yet. Tooling is quoted separately and the production MOQ is whatever makes the run sensible for the buyer — from a few hundred pieces upward.
Why it is per model and per colour
A mould makes one shape. Running a different model means a different mould and a different machine setup, so quantities do not pool across models. Colour works the same way: changing colour means purging the barrel and matching the batch, so quantities do not pool across colours either.
This is why "MOQ 300" and "10 models in 5 colours" is 15,000 pcs, not 300. Buyers who plan around one number rather than two are the ones surprised at quotation stage.
Our numbers by line
The figures below are the ones we quote — they are the same figures published on the product pages.
| Line | MOQ | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Tablet protection series (7 series) | 20 pcs | per model, per colour — one series is 50 pcs |
| Stocked phone moulds (magnetic stand, card-holder kickstand) | 10 pcs | per model, per colour, from stock |
| Magnetic mirror line (HaiRong) | 30 pcs per colour | 2,000 pcs per order across the range |
| Rhinestone / bling designs | 100 pcs | per model, per colour |
| Custom-printed shells | 300–500 pcs | per design, depending on print method |
| New tool (your own design) | quoted per project | tooling one-time and client-owned |
How to cut first-order risk without arguing about MOQ
Lower MOQ is not the only lever, and it is usually the least valuable one. Four that work better:
- Narrow the range instead of the quantity — one model, two colours, full quantity. Sell-through data from one model is worth more than a thin spread across twelve.
- Start on colours that already exist. A stock colour avoids the purge and colour-match step entirely, and often halves the MOQ.
- Use a mixed carton. One shipment can carry several models as long as each model meets its own quantity; you do not need a container per model.
- Add printing after the shape sells. Paying for custom print on an unproven shape is the fastest way to own 500 pcs of the wrong product.
When 1,000 pieces is the right number
Above roughly 1,000 pcs, three costs start to fall: freight per unit, packaging die-cut setup, and colour matching (one long run instead of repeated short ones). If you already know the shape sells and the only variable is colour, a larger single run in fewer colours beats several small runs in many colours.
Below that, the economics favour stock colours and small runs — the unit price is higher, but the capital at risk is far lower.
What "MOQ 10 pcs" really includes
A 10-pc MOQ means ten pieces of one model in one stock colour, with standard packing, at FOB terms. It does not include custom print, a printed retail box, or a colour that has to be matched. Those are quoted on top, and it is better to know that before the purchase order than after.
Frequently asked
Is there a minimum total order value?
No fixed value. What matters is that each model and colour in the order meets its own minimum; a mixed order of several models is normal for us.
Can I mix models in one order?
Yes, as long as each model meets its own MOQ. Cartons can be mixed, which keeps freight sensible for a first order.
Does custom printing change the MOQ?
Yes. Printing adds setup per design and per colour, which is why custom-printed shells are quoted at 300–500 pcs rather than 10 pcs.
Why is the rhinestone MOQ higher than a plain shell?
Rhinestone designs are set by hand per piece. Labour per unit is the constraint, not the mould, so 100 pcs per model per colour is the floor.
Can MOQ be lower for a repeat order?
Repeat orders on an existing colour and existing print are easier to run small, because nothing has to be set up from scratch. Ask at quotation stage rather than assuming.
Need the numbers for your own model?
Send the models and colours you are considering — we reply with FOB pricing, MOQ and lead time within one business day.