Sunglasses MOQ and the costs that appear later
The headline price per pair is the least useful number in a sunglasses quote. The costs that decide your real landed cost are the minimum order per colour, the frame mould if you need a new shape, the sample and artwork charges, the packaging, and the freight. Ask for all of them in writing before you compare factories, because a low unit price with a high per-colour minimum can cost more than a higher price with flexible quantities.
Ask for MOQ per colour, not per style
Most sunglasses are ordered as one frame in several lens or frame colours. Factories often set a minimum per colour, because changing the material or the colour on the line takes a setup. A factory may quote a minimum of 300 pairs and then mean 300 per colour. On a three-colour order that is 900 pairs before you start. Only the per-colour number matters for your budget.
The costs that appear later
| Item | What to ask |
|---|---|
| Frame tooling | Is a new mould needed, what does it cost, and who owns it after the order? |
| Samples | Price per pre-production sample, and whether it is credited against the bulk order. |
| Lens upgrade | The price step from a basic tint to a polarised or coated lens, per lens. |
| Packaging | Case, pouch, cleaning cloth, hang tag and box, priced per unit. |
| Printing and logo | Cost of printing on the frame, lens or packaging, and any setup fee. |
| Compliance testing | Who pays the lab, and whether the report is in the factory's name. |
| Freight | Ex-works, FOB or delivered, and which port. |
Moulds and who owns them
A new frame shape needs a mould. The fee can be one-off, and it can be significant. Two things to settle in writing: whether the fee is charged once and whether the mould belongs to you after you pay for it. If it stays with the factory, a later move to another supplier means paying for the tooling again.
If you are testing a market, ask whether an existing mould can be used with your colours and logo. That removes the tooling cost and shortens the lead time.
Samples
Expect to pay for pre-production samples, and ask whether the charge is credited back when you place the bulk order. Build the sample stage into your timeline. A sample that matches your specification protects both sides, because it becomes the reference for the batch. Keep a signed, dated sample from each factory you order from.
Packaging and accessories
Packaging is where small costs add up. A branded case, a printed pouch and a cleaning cloth are each cheap on their own and noticeable across a few thousand pairs. Ask for them priced per unit, separate from the frame, so you can choose what to include. This also stops a supplier from hiding margin in the accessories.
Freight and the terms of sale
Ask for the price on a named Incoterm, such as FOB at a named port, so quotes from different factories compare like for like. Freight is quoted per shipment and moves with fuel and space, so treat it as a separate line rather than part of the unit price.
The quotation sheet to send
- Style, frame material, lens material and lens category.
- Colours, with the quantity per colour.
- Polarised or not, and the coating type.
- Target market, so the factory quotes the right test report.
- Packaging items required, priced per unit.
- Logo placement and method.
- Incoterm and destination port.
Send the same sheet to every factory and ask them to quote line by line. That turns several vague prices into one comparison. We use a single sheet for exactly this reason in our eyewear sourcing service, and you can read the full method on the main page. If the lens is the open question, start with the lens materials guide.
Get one quotation sheet, not five prices
We collect every factory's quotation on the same sheet, so you compare per-colour MOQ, tooling, samples and packaging line by line. US$699, refunded if fewer than three pass.
See eyewear sourcingWritten by Platinum Sky Sourcing, a service of Platinum Sky Group Limited (Hong Kong). We verify factories in China for overseas brands. Last updated 23 September 2026.