Minimum order quantity for packaging: why from 5,000 pcs
The minimum order quantity, or MOQ, scares off almost everyone ordering packaging for the first time: it looks as if manufacturers only bother with big brands. They don't. There is plain economics behind that number. Below we explain where the minimum volume comes from, what it is at Matrix Pack and how to lower the risk of a first order.
A minimum order quantity comes down to one-off costs for setup, printing plates and the roll-based supply of film. At Matrix Pack the MOQ is from 5,000 pcs per item. The risk of a first order is lowered by free artwork development, agreeing every detail before printing and approving the shades on the actual material, not just on paper.
Why a minimum order quantity exists
The minimum order quantity, or MOQ, is simply the smallest amount of packaging a manufacturer can produce in one order and still break even. It comes not from any reluctance to serve small clients, but from the way flexible packaging is actually made.
- One-off setup. Artwork, color separation, plate making and machine setup take the same effort whether you print 5,000 pouches or 500,000.
- Roll film. Raw material comes in rolls of a fixed width and length, so a very small run simply leaves too much waste.
- Equipment calibration. When printing and lamination start, some material is spent on color calibration and registration, and that loss is the same at any run size.
That is why the per-piece price on a tiny volume would be sky-high. The MOQ evens out the cost so the order still pays off for you and for the manufacturer alike.
What the minimum order is at Matrix Pack
| Standard minimum | From 5,000 pcs per item |
| Film printing | From 100 kg or 10,000 pouches, from 1 to 9 colors |
| Design development | Free of charge |
| Lead time | 7 to 14 days after approval |
We have been in business since 2016, run our own production in Dnipro and deliver across Ukraine. The minimum of 5,000 pcs applies to all standard formats. Non-standard formats are quoted separately, ask when requesting a price.
Why 5,000 pcs pays off more than it seems
For a first launch, 5,000 pouches often sounds like a big number. But it is exactly at this volume that the one-off setup costs spread out enough for the per-piece price to become reasonable. A smaller run would cost almost the same money, and you would get several times fewer pouches.
For runs close to the minimum we often recommend offset printing: it needs no expensive plates for each color, so the starting costs are noticeably lower. We will suggest the right technology for you when we prepare the quote.
How to lower the risk of a first order
- Approve the artwork. We prepare the design for free and settle every detail with you before printing.
- Approve the shades on the material. We check the color on the actual film, not just on paper, so the result holds no surprises.
- Match the film to your line. Send us your filling machine parameters and we will select a material and format that run without hiccups.
- Start with one item. Launch your main product first and add the rest of the range once you see how the market reacts.
- Scale up. Later runs on a larger volume come out even cheaper per piece.
Planning your first order?
We will quote a run from 5,000 pcs for your product and budget. Design development is free.