Compare clothing manufacturing quotes on the cost of the whole order delivered to you, not on the unit price. First check that both quotes describe the same garment: the same fabric and weight, the same construction, decoration, labels and packaging, at the same quantity. Then add every cost that sits outside the unit price, such as sampling, set-up, shipping, duty and payment terms. The cheapest unit price is often not the cheapest complete order.
In this article
- Why two quotes for the same garment differ
- Make the quotes comparable first
- The garment itself: specification, fabric and pattern
- Quantity, colourways and price bands
- Decoration, trims and packaging
- Sampling and revisions
- Quality control
- Shipping, duty and what the price includes
- Payment terms and lead time
- A side-by-side comparison table
- Red flags in a clothing quote
- How we quote at NO FUGAZI
Why two quotes for the same garment differ
Two manufacturers can look at the same brief and send prices that are far apart, and both can be honest. Usually they are not quoting the same thing. One has priced a heavier fabric, a custom pattern and a woven label; the other has priced a stock blank, a printed neck label and nothing else. One includes the sample and shipping; the other leaves both for later.
A clothing quote is a bundle of decisions. Until you can see each decision, the total tells you very little. The job is to unpack both quotes into the same lines, fill the gaps by asking, and only then compare.
Make the quotes comparable first
The fastest way to get comparable quotes is to send every manufacturer the same brief: the same references, quantities, sizes, colours, decoration and delivery address. If one manufacturer suggests a change, such as a different fabric, ask them to price your original specification as well, so you can see what the change is worth.
Then put the quotes into one table with a row for every cost, and mark each cell as included, extra, or not stated. A cell marked "not stated" is a question to ask, not a zero. Missing lines are where most of the difference between a cheap quote and a real invoice hides.
The garment itself: specification, fabric and pattern
Most of the unit price is the garment, so this is where quotes differ most.
| What to check | Why it changes the price |
|---|---|
| Fabric composition | Cotton, polyester and blends cost differently, and the same composition varies by yarn and knit quality |
| Fabric weight (GSM) | A 400 GSM fleece uses noticeably more fabric than a 280 GSM one, so a heavier garment costs more to make and to ship |
| Custom pattern or blank | A garment cut and sewn to your own pattern is a different product from a stock blank with a print on it; the second is usually cheaper and less distinctive |
| Construction details | Ribbing, pockets, zips, hood linings, seam types and finishing all add cutting and sewing time |
| Fabric treatment | Pre-shrinking, washes, brushing and dyeing to a specific shade add steps and time |
If the quotes do not name a fabric and a weight, ask for both. "Premium cotton" is not a specification. If you are working from a garment you already own rather than a technical file, a manufacturer that offers to cut and sew to your own pattern should still be able to tell you exactly what it plans to use.
Quantity, colourways and price bands
The unit price falls as quantity rises, because the fixed work of setting up a run is shared across more pieces. Many manufacturers price in bands, for example 50 to 99, 100 to 199, 200 to 499 and 500 or more pieces, and the step between the lowest bands is usually the largest. Check which band each quote is in. A quote for 100 pieces cannot be compared with one for 50.
Check how each manufacturer counts its minimum. Some apply it per colour, per design or per garment type. At NO FUGAZI the minimum is 50 pieces per garment type, and sizes and colourways can be split within it. Our guide to minimum order quantities shows how a split works in practice. A low minimum is useful for a first run, but the unit price at 50 pieces will be higher than the same garment at 500, wherever you make it.
Decoration, trims and packaging
This is the group of costs most often left out of a first quote, and the one that changes a unit price the most after the event.
| Item | Questions to ask |
|---|---|
| Screen printing | How many colours and positions are priced? Are screens and set-up a separate one-off charge? |
| Embroidery | Is the stitch count or size stated? Is digitising the artwork charged separately? |
| Labels | Woven or printed? Neck label, care label and size label all included? |
| Swing tags | Included, and is the tag artwork yours or theirs to prepare? |
| Zips and trims | Which zip, drawcord, aglets and eyelets? Branded trims usually cost more and take longer |
| Packaging | Individual polybags, folding, branded bags or boxes, and how the order is packed for shipping |
One-off charges such as screens and digitising matter more on small runs, because they are spread across fewer pieces. Ask for them as separate lines so you can see the per-piece effect at your quantity.
Sampling and revisions
A sample is where the garment is proven before bulk, so the sampling terms are part of the price. Check:
- whether a sample is included, charged separately, or credited against the bulk order;
- how many rounds of changes are included before further revisions are charged;
- whether pattern making and development are inside the sample cost or listed separately;
- whether the sample is made in the bulk fabric, or in a stand-in fabric that may behave differently.
A quote with no sampling line is not cheaper. It has moved the sampling cost to a later invoice, or moved the risk into bulk.
Quality control
Ask what checks the price includes and when they happen. Checks on fabric before cutting, during sewing, on finished garments and on the packed order before shipping catch different problems. A quote that mentions only a final inspection has less built in. Also ask what happens if a piece fails: whether it is replaced, reworked, or credited.
Shipping, duty and what the price includes
Two quotes can include very different amounts of the journey to your door. The trade terms tell you where the manufacturer's price stops:
| Term | What the price covers | What you still pay |
|---|---|---|
| EXW (ex works) | Goods ready at the manufacturer's premises | Collection, export, freight, insurance, import duty and taxes |
| FOB (free on board) | Goods loaded onto the ship at the named port; used for sea freight | Sea freight, insurance, import duty and taxes |
| DAP (delivered at place) | Delivery to your address | Import duty, taxes and customs clearance |
| DDP (delivered duty paid) | Delivery with duty and import taxes paid | Usually nothing further, but check what is assumed |
Freight is priced by weight and volume, so heavy fleece and outerwear cost more to send than tees. Duty depends on how each garment is classified, which depends on what it is and what it is made of. UK imports also carry import VAT; the US does not charge VAT at the border, but duty still applies. Compare quotes on landed cost: the unit price plus freight, duty, taxes and any brokerage, divided by the pieces you receive.
Payment terms and lead time
Payment terms change the cash you need, not just the total. A quote that asks for full payment before production ties up more money for longer than one with a deposit and a balance before dispatch. Ask what is paid when, and whether a sample deposit is credited against the bulk order.
Lead time is part of the price too. A cheaper quote that misses your launch date costs you the season. Compare the sampling time, the bulk time after sample approval, and the shipping time, and ask whether the dates are estimates or commitments. A believable range is more useful than a precise date that nobody has planned.
A side-by-side comparison table
Use this layout for any two quotes. Fill each cell with the figure, "included", "extra" or "not stated", then ask about every "not stated".
| Line | Quote A | Quote B | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garment and fabric | Same composition, GSM, pattern and construction? | ||
| Quantity and price band | Same total, same split by size and colour? | ||
| Decoration | Same method, size and positions; set-up charges listed? | ||
| Labels, tags and trims | Woven or printed; swing tags; zips and drawcords named? | ||
| Packaging | Polybags, folding, branded packaging? | ||
| Sampling and revisions | Included, separate or credited; rounds of changes included? | ||
| Quality control | Which checks, and what happens to failed pieces? | ||
| Shipping and trade terms | EXW, FOB, DAP or DDP; air or sea? | ||
| Duty and import taxes | Included or yours to pay? | ||
| Payment terms | What is paid when; is the sample deposit credited? | ||
| Lead time | Sample, bulk and shipping, as ranges | ||
| Landed cost per piece | Everything above, divided by pieces received |
Red flags in a clothing quote
- No fabric or weight named. You cannot compare what you cannot see.
- No sampling line. Either it is coming later or bulk is being made without one.
- A unit price far below every other quote. Ask what it leaves out before you assume it is a better deal.
- Set-up costs mentioned only after you commit. Ask for them in writing at the start.
- Vague lead times, or a fixed date with no sample stage. Neither is a plan.
- No answer on who makes the garments. A broker can be fine, but you should know if one is involved, because communication and accountability depend on it.
How we quote at NO FUGAZI
We price each garment at your quantity, from 50 pieces per garment type, with sizes and colourways split within that. You do not need a tech pack to get a quote: a sketch, photos, a moodboard or a garment you own is enough. Our preferred sampling route is deposit-credited: you commit to the bulk run with a deposit, we make the sample first, and the deposit counts towards the bulk total. One round of sample changes is included. Every order passes four quality checks, from fabric inspection to a final review before shipping, and payment terms are agreed with your quote. Sampling takes about 2 to 3 weeks and bulk about 3 to 8 weeks after you approve the sample, plus shipping. See how our process runs from brief to delivery, or send us your brief on WhatsApp for a quote.
Questions
Why are two clothing manufacturing quotes so different?
Usually because they are not pricing the same thing. Fabric composition and weight, a custom pattern versus a blank, decoration, labels, packaging, sampling and shipping can each be included in one quote and missing from the other. Quantity matters too: the same garment costs more per piece at 50 than at 500. Line the quotes up item by item before comparing totals.
Does a manufacturing quote normally include sampling?
It varies. Some manufacturers include a sample, some charge it separately, and some credit a sample deposit against the bulk order. Ask how sampling is charged, how many rounds of changes are included, and whether the sample is made in the bulk fabric. A quote without a sampling line has not removed the cost, only moved it.
Should shipping be included in the unit price?
It is easiest to compare when shipping is a separate line, so you can see the garment price and the delivery cost apart. What matters is that you know the landed cost: unit price plus freight, duty, import taxes and any brokerage. Heavy garments such as fleece and outerwear cost more to ship, so check freight is priced on the real weight.
What is EXW pricing?
EXW, or ex works, means the price covers the goods ready at the manufacturer's premises and nothing after that. You pay for collection, export, freight, insurance, import duty and taxes. An EXW quote can look cheaper than a delivered one while costing more once everything is added, so convert both to a landed cost per piece.
Does a lower MOQ make clothing more expensive?
Per piece, usually yes. The set-up work for a run is shared across fewer garments, so a 50-piece order costs more per unit than a 500-piece order of the same garment. The total spend is far lower, though, which is why a low minimum suits a first drop or a test of a new style.
Do labels and packaging affect the quote?
Yes. Woven labels, care and size labels, swing tags, branded trims and individual packaging each add cost, and one-off charges such as artwork set-up weigh more on small runs. They are also among the items most often missing from a first quote, so ask for each as its own line.
Related reading
- How to find a clothing manufacturer – what to look for before you ask for quotes.
- Minimum order quantity explained – how a 50-piece run is split.
