How Many Units Should You Order in Your First Custom Packaging Run?
Quick answer
Order enough to cover your expected usage until a reorder could realistically arrive, plus a safety buffer and a small waste allowance, and no more than you are confident you will use before the design changes. A simple formula is: monthly usage × months of cover + safety stock + packing waste − stock you already have. Then ask for quotes at two or three quantities around that number and only move up a price break if the extra units are likely to be used.
Quick facts: Custom Boxes MOQ 500
- Indicative unit price: about US$0.05–0.10 per piece. This is a guide, not a quotation: the final price depends on size, material, print colours, finish and order quantity.
- MOQ: typically from 500 pcs per size and artwork; the confirmed minimum depends on material, print method and features and is stated on the quotation.
- Lead time: Physical samples 5–7 working days after artwork is confirmed; bulk production 20–30 days after sample approval.
- Who makes it: BestPackFactory’s own factory in Longhua District, Shenzhen, China. Free dieline and artwork proof within 24 hours. See real samples and videos.
- Specifications and quote: Custom Boxes MOQ 500 · Request a quote
Step 1: Estimate monthly usage honestly
Packaging usage follows your product sales, not your hopes. Start from the number of units you realistically expect to ship per month in the first three to six months, not the best-case launch. If you have pre-orders, wholesale commitments or a crowdfunding total, use those as a floor. If one box is used for several products, add them together. For a brand-new product with no data, plan with a conservative figure and a fast reorder rather than a large first run.
Step 2: Decide how many months the first run must cover
The minimum cover is the time it would take to get a reorder delivered: artwork check, production and shipping, door to door. If a reorder would take ten weeks to arrive, your first run must at least last ten weeks plus the time you need to notice stock is low. Many brands plan a first run that covers roughly three to six months, then adjust once real sales data comes in. Reorder timing for any supplier, including BestPackFactory, is confirmed in the quotation; our lead time guide explains what drives it.
Step 3: Work it out
| Input | Example value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Expected monthly usage | 300 units | Conservative launch forecast |
| Months of cover | 4 | Reorder time plus a margin for a slow decision |
| Base quantity | 1,200 | 300 × 4 |
| Safety stock | 150 | About two weeks of usage, more if demand is unpredictable |
| Packing and spoilage allowance | 40–60 | Units damaged during hand packing, kept as samples or used for photography; a few percent is a common planning figure |
| Stock already on hand | 0 | Subtract any generic packaging you already hold |
| Planned first run | ≈ 1,400 | Then compare quotes at 1,000, 1,500 and 2,000 |
Example figures only. Your own forecast, reorder time and waste rate decide the result.
Step 4: Test the price breaks
Unit prices for custom packaging usually fall as quantity rises, because setup costs such as cutting dies, printing plates and machine make-ready are shared by more units. Ask for the same specification quoted at two or three quantities and look at the extra cost per extra unit, not just the headline unit price:
(total price at higher quantity − total price at lower quantity) ÷ extra units
If those extra units cost very little and you are confident you will use them before anything changes, moving up a break can make sense. If you might not use them, they are not a saving; they are dead stock you have paid for in advance. The cost breakdown guide shows which costs are fixed and which grow with quantity.
Decision rules
- Order close to the minimum (for example, our MOQ of 500 PCS) when the product, its size or its label text may still change, when you are testing a market, or when cash is tight.
- Order more months of cover when the design is final, demand is proven, storage is cheap and dry, and reorders are slow.
- Split by structure, not by artwork, where possible: one box size with variant stickers or sleeves can serve several SKUs, so a larger single run carries less risk. See custom boxes from 500 pcs for formats that suit this.
- Order pouches with the filling plan in mind: for stand-up pouches, allow for bags used while setting up a filling or sealing machine, and check how long you plan to store unused printed film.
Factors that increase dead-stock risk
- Regulatory text, ingredient lists or barcodes that are not yet final.
- Product dimensions that might change after the first production of the product itself.
- Dates, seasonal themes or launch messages printed on the pack.
- Several SKUs each with its own printed box and an uncertain sales mix.
- No dry storage space: paperboard and corrugated can warp or weaken in humid conditions.
For seasonal ranges, a stable core box plus short-run seasonal pieces usually carries less risk than one large themed run.
Plan the reorder before you place the first order
- Set a reorder point: usage during the reorder time plus safety stock. With the example above (300 per month, about 2.5 months to reorder, 150 safety stock) you would reorder when stock falls to about 900.
- Ask whether cutting dies and printing plates are kept for repeat orders, for how long, and who owns them; this is confirmed in the quotation. The tooling cost guide explains what these items are.
- Keep a few approved units from the first run as the reference for colour and construction on reorders.
- Agree the over- and under-delivery tolerance in the order contract, as many printing jobs deliver slightly more or fewer units than ordered.
What to send in your RFQ
- Two or three quantities to quote, built from the calculation above.
- The specification: size, material, print, finish and any inserts.
- How many SKUs share the same structure.
- Your target delivery date and whether you expect to reorder.
If you are still deciding what packaging a small brand needs at all, start with packaging for startups and small brands.
Common mistakes
- Choosing quantity from the price table alone.
- Forgetting that the first run must last until the reorder arrives.
- Printing a launch date or promotional message on a long-run box.
- Ordering separate printed boxes for every flavour before the sales mix is known.
- No allowance for units lost during packing, photography and samples.
Frequently asked questions
How many custom boxes should I order for a product launch?
Estimate realistic monthly usage, multiply by the months your first run must cover (at least until a reorder could arrive), then add safety stock and a small waste allowance. Many brands plan roughly three to six months of cover for a first run and adjust once real sales data comes in.
Is it worth ordering more packaging to get a lower unit price?
Only if you will use the extra units. Divide the extra total cost by the extra units to see what the additional packaging really costs, then weigh it against the chance that artwork, product size or demand changes before you use it.
What is the minimum first order at BestPackFactory?
The MOQ is 500 PCS. Whether 500 is the right first quantity depends on your usage, reorder time and how likely the design is to change.
When should I reorder packaging?
Reorder when stock falls to the usage you expect during the reorder time plus your safety stock. Set that reorder point when you place the first order.
Related pages
Compare two or three quantities in one quote
Send your specification and the quantities you want compared. Every BestPackFactory product is made in our own factory, with an MOQ of 500 PCS; prices, timing and tooling arrangements are confirmed in the quotation. You can also reach Lisa on WhatsApp at +86 158 8653 0985 or by email at lisa@colorprintingpackage.com.
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