Minimum order quantities (MOQs) aren't arbitrary. They reflect real production economics. Understanding them helps you make better decisions about how to structure your orders.

DTG has no practical minimum. You can order 1 shirt. You pay per-piece setup (the time to load the file, set up the printer, load the garment) plus the print cost. For very small quantities (1–11 pieces), per-unit cost is highest.

Why quantity drops price: At 12 pieces, setup cost spreads across more units. At 24, more. At 100, the math shifts dramatically. The cost savings from 24 vs 12 pieces can be 20–30% per unit.

Screen printing does have meaningful minimums: typically 24–36 pieces per design/color because of screen creation and setup costs. For small runs, DTG is almost always the right choice even if per-unit cost is higher.

Quantity planning: For ongoing programs (staff shirts, member gear), build a buffer. Order 10–15% more than your headcount. Running out of XL and 2XL is guaranteed if you don't build in this buffer. Reprinting 5 shirts to fill gaps costs significantly more per unit than ordering 10 extra upfront.

Mix of sizes: Track your actual size distribution across 2-3 orders before assuming. Many programs underestimate XL/2XL demand.