Low MOQ packaging
Custom packaging from 500 pieces per size
Most factories open at 3,000 or 5,000 pcs, which puts custom packaging out of reach for a first collection. Our minimum is 500 pcs per size — enough to test a market, small enough to test an idea.
500
pcs per size
The minimum run, not a trial price
3–7
days for a sample
Physical, made to your dieline
15–22
working days bulk
After the sample is signed
1
tooling set per structure
Cutting forme kept for reorders
Who a small run is actually for
Four situations where 500 pcs is the right size and 5,000 would be a mistake.
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A first collection
Six SKUs, one box size each, before the range is proven. 500 pcs per size is enough to test a market without container-level commitment.
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A limited or seasonal edition
A printed wrap for a launch, a festival or a collaboration, where the artwork changes but the structure does not.
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A repack of a good product
The formula works, the packaging does not. A new structure and a smaller run let you test the change without writing off stock.
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Samples for a retail pitch
A buyer wants to hold the pack before listing it. A short run gets a physical set to the meeting, not a rendering.
Why the minimum exists
A small run is not a discount version of a big one. It is the same process with the setup spread over fewer boxes.
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Why 500 and not 100
A cutting forme, a press make-ready and a setup on the gluer are fixed costs. Under 500 pieces they land on too few units, and the price per box stops making sense for either side.
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What the tooling costs
One cutting forme per structure, quoted as a line item and kept for reorders. A new size or a new structure is a new forme, which is why two sizes are two minimums.
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Where the money actually goes
Board, print, finishing and assembly scale with quantity; setup does not. That is why 1,000 pcs is usually well below twice the price of 500.
What is realistic at this quantity
Five things worth knowing before the artwork is finalised.
- One minimum per size and per structure — two sizes in the same box are two runs.
- Digital print is available below offset quantities; the finish list narrows accordingly.
- Foiling, embossing and spot UV are all possible at 500 pcs; the make-ready is quoted with them.
- Stock board and stock ribbon colours keep a small run on schedule. Special orders add lead time.
- Reorders in the same specification skip sampling and go straight to production.
Materials & finishes → Rigid box structures → About the production setup →
Low MOQ questions
Is 500 pcs really the minimum?
500 pcs per size, per size and per structure. Below that the dieline, cutting forme and make-ready are spread over too few units. If your quantity is lower, a stock size with your artwork applied is the honest alternative, and we will say so.
Do I pay for tooling separately?
Yes, and it is shown as its own line in the quote rather than buried in the unit price. The cutting forme is kept, so a reorder of the same size does not pay for it again.
Can a 500 pcs run carry foil and emboss?
Yes. The finishing is the same process as a larger run; only the make-ready is spread over fewer pieces, which is why it is quoted explicitly.
What if I need three sizes?
Three sizes are three minimums, because each has its own dieline and cutting forme. It is often cheaper to share one size across two products than to run two.
Can I start with a sample before committing to 500?
Yes. A digital sample is quoted on its own and normally takes 3–7 days; a production-line sample takes 7–10 days. Nothing moves to bulk production until the approved sample is signed.
How does a low MOQ order ship?
Usually by air or express, because 500 flat cartons are light and compact. Sea freight becomes the better route once the order reaches pallet volume — both are quoted.
Get a packaging quote
Price the run you actually need
Tell us the size, structure, quantity per size and the target date. You get a quote that separates tooling from unit cost, so the comparison is honest.
- Email · sales@colormixpackaging.com
- Based in · Guangzhou, China
- Response time · within one business day
Get a packaging quote
Last reviewed: 2026-10-26