MOQ — Italy corporate merch
How minimum order quantities work for branded merch produced in Italy — standard tiers, premium exceptions and split-design rules.
MOQ — quick answer
Standard MOQs for printed merch in Italy follow four tiers: 50, 100, 250 and 500 pcs. Premium items (leather goods, embroidered softshells, engraved metal) start from 30 pcs. Complex multi-colour designs or multi-position prints push the entry MOQ up by one tier. Multi-design splits across the same blank are allowed within a single PO as long as the combined run hits the tier.
Detailed FAQ — MOQ
What is the absolute minimum?
30 pcs on premium items (leather notebooks, embroidered polos, engraved bottles). 50 pcs on most standard apparel, drinkware and bags. Below 30 pcs we can quote on a digital-print-only basis at a higher per-unit rate.
Why do MOQs exist at all?
Setup costs (screens, films, plates, dyes, sublimation paper, embroidery digitisation) are fixed per artwork. Below 50 pcs the setup dominates the unit price; above 50 pcs the per-unit cost stabilises and quotes become competitive.
Can I order 75 pcs?
Yes. MOQ tiers are minimums, not fixed quantities. 75, 130, 320 pcs are all fine — pricing interpolates between the tier rates published in the pricing FAQ.
Can different sizes count toward the same MOQ?
Yes. For apparel, the MOQ applies to the SKU (same blank + same print). Mixed sizes within one print run all count toward MOQ.
Can I split designs?
Yes. Same blank, two different prints (e.g. dept A and dept B) can share a 100-pc tier as 50+50. Each design pays its own setup but you stay within tier pricing.
What if MOQ is higher than my real need?
We hold the surplus in our Italian warehouse under a small storage fee and call-off it for you over 6–12 months. Cheaper than a small run with high setup.
Are MOQs higher for embroidery?
Embroidery digitisation is a one-time fee (40–80 EUR). MOQ stays at 50 pcs but, below that, the digitisation fee weighs heavily on per-unit cost.
How does MOQ interact with IVA invoicing?
It does not. Invoicing via SdI applies to any order size; you receive an electronic IVA invoice into your codice destinatario regardless of order quantity.
Italy-specific notes
Most of our Italian clients run 50–250 pc orders for trade-fair giveaways at Fiera Milano Rho, IVA 22% e-invoiced via SdI to their codice destinatario / PEC. Bulk orders above 500 pcs are common for retail-chain rollouts and Salone del Mobile campaigns; payment is 50% deposit / 50% on delivery via SEPA, or Net 30 for recurring clients with an approved credit line.