The first question from a company ordering custom packaging for the first time is almost always the same: “what is the minimum order?”. It’s a reasonable way to start the conversation — that number decides whether it’s even worth starting. Packaging MOQ (minimum order quantity) is simply the smallest number of units a manufacturer accepts for a single production run. With us it’s 500 units — and below we explain where this threshold comes from, why it’s lower than it seems, and how to structure a run so the price per unit comes out as favourable as possible.
What MOQ is and why it exists at all
Custom packaging is not an off-the-shelf product sitting ready in a warehouse. Before the machine starts, several things have to be done whose cost is the same for 100 units as for 5,000:
- Design and print-file preparation. Laying out the artwork, choosing the construction, preparing bleeds and fold lines.
- Cutting die (steel rule die). The physical form that cuts out the shape of the box or bag. It’s made once, for a specific model.
- Machine setup. Setting up the print, calibrating colours, the offset proofing setup, test sheets. That’s people’s and machine’s working time before the first good unit comes off.
These costs are fixed — you incur them regardless of how many units you order. If a manufacturer accepted an order for 30 boxes, all that work would be spread across 30 units and a single box would cost an absurd amount. MOQ is the threshold below which production simply stops making economic sense — both for you and for us.
Why 500 units is a low threshold, not a high one
In the offset packaging market you’ll come across MOQs of 1,000, 2,000, and at some large print houses even 3,000–5,000 units. Against that backdrop 500 units is a very friendly threshold. We deliberately keep it low, because we know who we work for:
- Brands that are just starting out and don’t want to tie up their budget in a run of several thousand units for a first, still experimental project.
- Local businesses — sushi bars, patisseries, cafés — for whom 500 units covers a realistic sales period, not several years.
- Companies adding a new product to an existing line, who want to test the packaging in the field before ordering a large stock.
500 units is the quantity at which your own branded packaging becomes accessible, while production stays cost-effective. It’s a compromise, not an obstacle.
How MOQ affects the unit price
Here’s the most important relationship in the whole topic: the larger the run, the lower the price per unit. The fixed costs (design, cutting die, setup) are spread across a larger number of units, so each additional unit “costs” less and less of that preparation.
| Run | What happens to the unit price |
|---|---|
| 500 units (MOQ) | Highest unit price — preparation costs spread across the minimum number of units |
| 1,000–2,000 units | A clear drop in the price per unit — the most common “sweet spot” for small and medium brands |
| 3,000+ units | Lowest unit price — fixed costs practically disappear when calculated per unit |
That’s why it’s worth calculating not “how much do 500 units cost”, but “how much does one unit cost at the run I’ll realistically sell within a reasonable time”. We expand on this in a separate guide: how much branded packaging costs and what affects the price.
Is the MOQ the same for boxes and bags
The starting point is 500 units, but the final minimum run depends on the product and the technology. Simple boxes and bags usually start from that threshold. For more elaborate constructions (lid-and-base, laminating, unusual finishes) or specific formats, the minimum sensible quantity can be a little different — which is why we always confirm the exact threshold for the specific project. If you’d first like to get a sense of the types, start with the guide types of cardboard packaging.
How to plan the run — in practice
Instead of asking “what is the minimum run”, it’s better to ask “how many units will I realistically use up before I’ll want to change something in the design”. When planning, take into account:
- Turnover. How much packaging goes out weekly or monthly? A run for 6–12 months usually gives a good price without excessive stock.
- Seasonality. A patisserie plans differently before the holidays, a sushi bar — steadily throughout the year. Match the run to the peaks.
- Design stability. If the brand, logo or composition might still change, don’t tie up several years’ worth of stock — better to stay closer to the MOQ.
- Storage space. A larger run means a lower unit price, but also boxes that have to sit somewhere.
MOQ and samples — can I order a single unit
A single offset sample of your own design practically isn’t made — offset requires running the whole setup process and extra sheets for proofing, so one unit would cost as much as a small batch. So instead, we show samples of finished projects in a similar size and construction, and we can cut the shape of your box on a plotter so you can see the form “live”. You approve the final look on a visualisation before production — and only after your approval does anything go to the machine.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum packaging run?
500 units. That’s the threshold from which we accept production — it applies to both boxes and bags. For unusual constructions we confirm the minimum quantity for the specific project.
Why can’t I order 100 units at a lower price per unit?
Because the preparation costs (design, cutting die, machine setup) are the same regardless of the run. At 100 units they’d be spread across too small a number of boxes and the unit price would be uneconomical.
Does a larger run really lower the price?
Yes, clearly. The more units, the fewer fixed costs fall on each one — the difference in price per unit between 500 and 2,000 units can be significant.
Is the design charged separately?
No — the construction design and printing are included in the price, and before production you get a visualisation to approve.
Calculate your run
The simplest way to see how the run affects the price is on your own product. Give us the dimensions, type and quantity, and we’ll prepare a preliminary quote:
→ Calculate the packaging cost for your run
See also
Planning your first order? Check out the complete guide on how to order packaging from a manufacturer step by step and what affects the price of branded packaging. If you’re still choosing a type, take a look at cardboard boxes and printed packaging. We are a packaging manufacturer from Warsaw — finished runs we ship across all of Poland.