Why is there no single wholesale price for a shirt?
There is no universal unit price for every shirt. To compare quotes, standardize the style, fabric, quantity, packing, inspection and delivery scope, then ask each supplier to quote against the same brief. Ready-stock wholesale, made-to-order production and imported goods delivered to a destination are different price bases. See the guide to ready stock, wholesale and shirt OEM pricing for those distinctions.
| Price basis | What is being compared | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Ready-stock wholesale | Existing styles and saleable inventory | Style, available colors and sizes, stock lot, replenishment and return terms |
| Custom factory quote | Production to the buyer's approved specification | Fabric and trims, workmanship, labels and packing, quantity, inspection and delivery point |
| Landed or delivered cost | Product plus agreed transport and import costs | Freight, insurance, duties and taxes, customs charges and who pays each cost |
How do width and marker planning affect fabric consumption?
Start with the actual marker plan whenever possible. Once usable fabric width, size ratio and pattern placement are set, divide the marker length by the number of garments in the marker to find net consumption per piece. A Government of Bangladesh apparel-merchandising learning guide also presents marker-based calculation as a more accurate way to estimate fabric use than measurement-based estimates.View the apparel-merchandising calculation guide
Keep space already reflected in the marker separate from any separately agreed allowance to avoid double counting. If end loss, defects, shrinkage or finishing allowance applies, state its basis. Confirm fabric minimums separately from finished-garment MOQ; the guide to ready-stock fabric and shirt MOQ explains why they are different conditions.
Per-shirt costing: fabric, trims, processing and allocated costs
The figures below are invented teaching assumptions to show the arithmetic. They are not a market average, an actual order cost or a factory quotation. The example uses a 500-piece batch, a 1.45 m usable cutting width and a 9.60 m marker for six garments. Actual projects should use the approved fabric and marker details.
| Cost item | Teaching assumption and calculation | Amount per shirt (RMB) |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric | Net use: 9.60 m ÷ 6 garments = 1.60 m; add an illustrative 0.08 m allowance; (1.60 + 0.08) m × RMB 20/m | RMB 33.60 |
| Trims | 8 buttons × RMB 0.25 + one thread set at RMB 0.80 + one label set at RMB 1.50 | RMB 4.30 |
| Cutting and sewing | Illustrative assumed charge | RMB 18.00 |
| Pressing and finishing | Illustrative assumed charge | RMB 2.00 |
| Packing | Polybag RMB 0.80 + allocated carton cost RMB 1.20 | RMB 2.00 |
| One-time order cost | Assume RMB 600 ÷ 500 pieces | RMB 1.20 |
| Illustrative subtotal | Sum of the listed items | RMB 61.10 |
The marker area in this example is 9.60 m × 1.45 m = 13.92 m². Net use per shirt is calculated by dividing marker length by garment count. The extra 0.08 m is an absolute quantity invented for this example, not an industry standard. If a one-time cost is not allocated by order quantity, use the allocation agreed by both parties.
RMB 61.10 is only a subtotal for the assumed items; it is not an actual ex-factory price. Any special workmanship, inspection, freight, insurance or taxes should be listed according to the quote scope. For controls that connect an approved sample to bulk production, see the shirt sample-to-bulk checklist.
How do factory price, wholesale purchase cost and landed cost differ?
Factory price should be read together with the agreed delivery point and included items. Even for the same style, quotes are not comparable if fabric, trims, labels and packing, workmanship, inspection or transport scope differs.
Wholesale purchase cost follows the seller's actual supply terms. Alongside the unit price, check the stock lot, available sizes and colors, domestic transport, packing, taxes and responsibility for returns or defects.
Landed or delivered cost combines the product price with applicable transport, insurance, duties and taxes, customs clearance and other fees, divided by the quantity actually received. The U.S. International Trade Administration lists product price, insurance, freight, tariffs, taxes and other fees among the items used to determine total export price.See the total export price guide
For international sourcing, state the Incoterms® edition and named place. The International Chamber of Commerce explains that Incoterms® allocate costs and responsibilities between buyer and seller but do not set tariff rates; tariff and product classification must be checked separately for the destination and goods.Read the ICC tariff-risk guidance
What should you send a factory for like-for-like quotes?
Prepare one brief for every supplier and ask each to list included and excluded costs:
- Front and back style images, a reference sample or Tech Pack, plus the size chart and measuring method.
- Fabric composition, weave, weight, color and usable width; state whether the buyer supplies the fabric or the factory sources it.
- Total quantity and the split by style, color and size; ask separately how fabric and garment MOQ are calculated.
- Button, thread, main-label, size-label, care-label and other trim requirements.
- Placement, specification and approval method for print, embroidery or special sewing.
- Pressing, packing, carton, inspection standards and any third-party inspection requirement.
- Delivery point, Incoterm and edition, target date, and quotation validity.
Mingsheng produces to order and does not hold ready stock. Its current ordinary shirt-project MOQ reference starts at 500 pieces. Once the style, measurements, materials, quantity and delivery requirements are ready, submit them through the Mingsheng OEM/ODM service for a project-specific quotation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a wholesale shirt cost?
There is no single unit price for every shirt. Style, fabric, quantity, trims, packing and delivery scope affect the quote. Send suppliers the same specification and quantity brief, then compare both the unit price and included costs.
How do I estimate fabric cost per shirt?
Use the confirmed usable width and marker plan when possible. Divide marker length by the number of garments to get net use per piece, and list any separately agreed allowance without counting marker waste twice.
What is the difference between factory price and landed cost?
A factory price follows the agreed delivery point and quote inclusions. Landed cost may also include freight, insurance, duties and taxes, customs clearance and other fees. Confirm the Incoterm and named place before comparing.
Does Mingsheng sell ready-stock shirts, and what is its MOQ?
Mingsheng produces to order and does not hold ready stock. Its current ordinary shirt-project MOQ reference starts at 500 pieces. A project quotation also depends on style, fabric, colors, size mix and workmanship.