Hoodies: MOQ, Fabric and Sample Questions Answered

The most expensive mistake in a first custom hoodie order is approving a quote before you know the fabric weight, the shrinkage result and what the sample proves. Buyers who skip those three checks usually find out at delivery, when the size run is off or the print has faded after the first wash. This guide covers what to settle before you send a purchase order for hoodies, and where the limits are.

I’m Linjing He, and I have spent 10 years on sportswear production floors. Most of the questions below come up at the quote stage on almost every project.

What to Settle Before You Request a Quote

A quote is only comparable between suppliers when each one prices the same brief. Send the same details to everyone.

• Quantity per style and per size. Pricing is based on quantity, so a split such as 40 pieces across five sizes should be stated, not rounded.
• Fabric composition and weight. Name the fiber and the target weight in gsm, or ask the supplier to propose one.
• Decoration method. Full dye sublimation printing, or another method. This decides which fabrics are suitable.
• Size chart. Send your own measurements, or ask for ours to be verified against your fit samples.
• Deadline and destination. Standard production on our line is 7-10 days, and rush orders are available. Confirm the schedule for your specific hoodie style in writing.
• Care label. Your end customers will wash the garment this way, so the shrinkage test should match it.

If a supplier returns a quote without fabric weight or sample terms, treat it as incomplete.

MOQ, GSM, Shrinkage and Sample Approval: Direct Answers

These are the four questions buyers ask most at the quote stage. The answers include the limits.

Is there a minimum order quantity?

No. We do not set an MOQ, so small teams, clubs and brands testing a private label hoodies line can order a few pieces. The catch is price: unit cost is based on quantity, so a 20-piece order costs more per piece than a 200-piece order. Setup, pattern and printing preparation are spread over fewer garments. If budget is tight, ask for a price at two or three quantity tiers rather than a single figure.

Which GSM should I choose?

Our confirmed fabric spec is 100% polyester, moisture wicking, 4-way stretch, with 140-160 gsm used where breathability matters. That range is what we use for jerseys and light performance wear. A hoodie normally needs a heavier fabric than a jersey, so do not assume 140-160 gsm applies. Ask us to confirm the exact weight and handfeel for your hoodie style, and judge it on a physical swatch or sample. Choose lighter fabric for warm-climate training or layering. Choose heavier fabric for cold-weather retail. A heavier fabric is less breathable and costs more per piece.

How is shrinkage tested?

Do it on a sample, not on a promise. Measure the finished sample flat (chest width, body length, sleeve length), wash and dry it exactly as your care label states, then measure again. Record the percentage change. Agree an acceptable tolerance in writing before production. We have no universal shrinkage figure to quote you here, and any supplier offering one without testing your fabric is guessing.

What does sample approval cover?

A pre production sample should confirm four things: fit against your size chart, print color and placement, fabric handfeel, and stitching on cuffs, hem and hood seams. Once you sign it off, that sample becomes the reference for the bulk run. A sample cannot prove how every one of 500 pieces will turn out, which is why the post-production guarantee matters too.

Fabric Choice: Polyester Versus Other Options

Fabric decides whether your artwork holds up. Dye sublimation printing transfers ink into polyester fibers, which is why the color sits in the fabric rather than on top of it. On cotton-rich fabric the same process gives weaker, washed-out results. For full-color, all-over designs, polyester is the safer base.

Our verified experience sits in performance polyester. If your brand needs heavy cotton fleece, tell us at the quote stage so we can confirm what we can offer before you spend time on samples. Our Custom Casual Wear range is a good starting point to see what we make.

What Drives Price on a Custom Hoodie Order

There is no honest flat price without your brief. These are the cost drivers, in the order they usually matter:

1. Quantity. Pricing is quantity based, with no MOQ. Larger runs lower the per piece cost.
2. Fabric weight and type. Heavier fabric uses more material.
3. Print coverage. A full all-over design takes more ink and prep than a chest logo.
4. Construction details. Pockets, drawcords, cuffs and trims add cost.
5. Speed. Rush orders are available, and they can change the price.

Worked example: a club orders 30 pieces in four sizes. Asking for quotes at 30, 60 and 100 pieces shows whether ordering a few extra for next season saves enough to justify the stock. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn’t. You only know with tiered numbers in front of you.

A Step by Step Sample Process That Protects You

1. Send the brief. Include artwork, quantities, size split, care label and deadline.
2. Review the size chart. We use a verified size chart to reduce inconsistent sizing. Compare it with a garment you already own and like.
3. Approve the sample. Check fit, print and stitching, then wash it as your customers will.
4. Measure again. Record shrinkage and look at color after washing.
5. Sign off in writing. Note the approved gsm, tolerance and any changes.
6. Start production. Standard timing is 7-10 days, and the confirmed schedule for your hoodie style goes in the order.

Common Mistakes First-Time Buyers Make

• Approving on a photo. A photo hides weight, stretch and handfeel. Insist on a physical sample.
• Reusing jersey specs. A weight that suits a basketball jersey will not suit a hoodie.
• Skipping the wash test. Faded prints and shrinkage both appear after washing, not before.
• Guessing sizes. Mixed size splits without a verified size chart cause most fit complaints.
• Ignoring after-sale terms. Get the reprint and guarantee terms in writing.

What We Can Show You at Our Factory

Our facility is ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified. We run a 1000 sqm factory in Guangzhou with 100+ workers and 5 automatic dye sublimation printing lines, with daily output of 1000+ custom jerseys. We use locked-color inks to address fading, and we back them with a free reprint for any printing defect or wrong size, plus a 1-year colorfastness guarantee.

Our case record is in team and event apparel, not hoodies specifically. Examples include 500+ sublimated jerseys for a US high school basketball league, full uniforms for three teams at an Australian soccer club, 1000 event jerseys for a European marathon, and training sportswear for sports retailers in New Zealand. Those orders show how we handle print consistency and size runs at volume. Browse our Custom Team Jerseys and Custom Sport Jacket categories to see the print quality that would apply to your hoodie artwork.

If you are preparing a first order, send us your artwork, target quantity and preferred fabric weight. We will reply with tiered pricing, a sample plan and a confirmed timeline for your hoodies.