Planning · 5 min read
Understanding MOQ and lead time in custom packaging
Why minimum quantities exist, and how to plan a launch without over-ordering your first run.
MOQ is a machine constraint, not a sales tactic
Film and board are produced in rolls and sheets, and presses need setup material before they run to colour. Below a certain quantity, wastage and setup dominate the cost, which is what an MOQ protects against.
This is why digital printing has changed launches so much: it removes the setup step, so a 500-piece run is genuinely viable.
Planning a launch sensibly
- Run a small digital batch to test the market and the artwork
- Lock the design only after real shelf and courier feedback
- Move to flexo or roto once your monthly offtake is predictable
- Order tooling once — design changes after cylinders are engraved are expensive