What MOQ means.
MOQ, minimum order quantity, is the smallest run a supplier will take on. It is the number every supplier quotes first. This page explains why it exists, and the minimum on each of our bags.
The short answerMOQ stands for minimum order quantity: the smallest number of units a supplier will make or sell in one order. For custom printed bags it covers the setup of each run, such as plates, screens and machine make-ready. Our minimums start at 1,000 units.
Why suppliers set a minimum
Every printed run starts with fixed work before the first good bag comes off the machine. Plates or screens are made for your artwork, colours are mixed, and the machine is set up and run until the print is right.
That setup costs the same for 1,000 bags as for 50,000, so it is spread across the run. The minimum is the point where that spread makes the price per bag workable.
Why the minimum changes with the method
Each print method has its own setup. Gravure engraves a metal cylinder for each colour, so it is expensive on short runs and cheap per unit at volume. Flexo plates cost less than gravure cylinders. Digital print needs no plates at all, which suits short runs.
The way the bag is made matters too. Bags printed on the reel and formed by machine, such as compostable carriers and greaseproof counter bags, carry the highest minimums.
| Bag | Printed by | Minimum order |
|---|---|---|
| Kraft paper bag | Screen print or litho | 1,000 |
| Laminated paper bag | Screen print or litho | 1,000 |
| Cotton bag | Screen, embroidery or transfer | 1,000 |
| Non-woven bag | Screen, embroidery or transfer | 5,000 |
| Insulated tote bag | Screen or full colour transfer | 5,000 |
| Thermal delivery bag | Screen, embroidery or transfer | 5,000 |
| SOS paper bag | Flexo | 5,000 |
| Pouch | Gravure, or digital for shorter runs | 5,000 |
| Food grade bag | Flexo | 10,000 |
| Compostable carrier bag | Flexo | 10,000 |
When the minimum is more than you need
- Choose a bag with a lower minimum. Kraft, laminated and cotton bags start at 1,000 units.
- Share one design across branches. One run can be split across locations, packed and labelled per destination.
- Ask us to hold stock. Against a contract or a committed volume, part of the run is held and released when you need it. You never store it all at once.
Questions
What does MOQ stand for?
Minimum order quantity. It is the smallest number of units a supplier will make or sell in a single order.
Why do suppliers have an MOQ?
Each run has a fixed setup cost: plates or screens, colour mixing and machine make-ready. The minimum makes sure that cost is spread over enough units.
What is the lowest MOQ for your bags?
1,000 units, on kraft, laminated and cotton bags. Fully machine-made kraft runs start at 10,000, at a lower price per bag.
Does a bigger order lower the price per bag?
Yes. The setup is shared across more bags, so the price per bag falls as the quantity rises.
Is MOQ the same as a minimum order value?
No. MOQ counts units, and a minimum order value counts money. Our minimums are in units.
Written by the Bag Bureau production team. Last updated October 2026.