Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) — The smallest number of units a supplier requires you to order in a single purchase.
What Is MOQ?
MOQs are common with private-label and wholesale suppliers, where manufacturing setup costs make very small orders unprofitable for the supplier. Standard dropshipping suppliers, like those used with AliDropship, usually have no MOQ, since you only buy one unit at a time, per order.
How MOQ Works
- A supplier sets a minimum, for example 100 units per SKU.
- Ordering less than that isn’t allowed, or costs a per-unit penalty.
- MOQs are more common with private label and bulk wholesale than with standard dropshipping suppliers.
MOQ Example
A private-label supplier sets a 500-unit MOQ at $3 per unit — a $1,500 minimum order before you’ve sold a single item, versus a dropshipping supplier where you only pay for what customers actually order.
Why MOQ Matters for Dropshippers
Knowing which suppliers have an MOQ, and which don’t, is one of the biggest practical differences between low-risk dropshipping and higher-commitment private labeling.
FAQ
Does dropshipping have a minimum order quantity?
Standard dropshipping suppliers, like those used with AliDropship, typically have no MOQ — you order one unit at a time as customers buy.
Why do some suppliers require an MOQ?
Manufacturing and packaging setup costs make very small orders unprofitable for the supplier, so they set a minimum that covers those costs.
Can I negotiate a supplier's MOQ?
Sometimes, especially with wholesale suppliers — it’s worth asking directly, particularly once you’ve placed a few orders and built a relationship.