The full picture of China OEM costs
When you have OEM production done in China, the costs broadly fall into the following 5 categories.
| Cost type | Typical rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sample fee | 50–500 CNY per piece | Prototype cost for checking the actual item |
| Mold / plate fee | 300–5,000 CNY | Tooling for an original product (depends on the item) |
| Production cost | Unit price × lot size | Cost for the quantity actually produced |
| International shipping | 80–150 CNY per 0.5 kg | Delivery from China to Japan |
| Agency commission | 5–10% of product price | Fee for purchasing, inspection and shipping |
Sample fee rates and cautions
When you place an OEM order, the standard first step is to have a sample (prototype) made. The typical sample fee is 50–500 CNY per piece.
Sample fees are sometimes refunded
Many factories will discount the sample fee against the mass-production order when you proceed. However, if you only order a sample and don't go into production, you bear the full cost yourself — keep this in mind.
Points to check on the sample
- Is the material and texture as you imagined?
- Is the size right?
- Is the logo print finish clean?
- Is there any durability issue?
How much are mold and plate fees?
When you create an original product, mold or plate fees may apply.
Products that incur a mold fee
- Plastic injection-molded items (300–5,000 CNY)
- Metal press-worked parts (500–3,000 CNY)
- Silicone and rubber products (200–1,000 CNY)
Products that incur a plate fee
- T-shirts and parkas (silk-screen plate: 100–500 CNY per color)
- Tote bags (print plate: 50–300 CNY)
- Phone cases (UV print plate: 0–200 CNY)
Tip to cut initial costs: starting with items that need no mold (just logo printing on an off-the-shelf product) lets you slash your initial outlay.
Typical minimum order quantity (MOQ)
OEM production has a minimum order quantity (MOQ). Typical market rates are as follows.
| Product type | Typical MOQ | Small-lot options |
|---|---|---|
| Apparel & fabric goods | 50–100 pcs | Some factories accept from 20 pcs |
| Miscellaneous goods & accessories | 100–500 pcs | Some factories accept from 50 pcs |
| Plastic products | 500–1,000 pcs | Small lots are priced higher |
| Food & beverages | 1,000 pcs and up | By consultation |
Concrete examples of initial costs
How much capital do you actually need? Let's look at two concrete cases.
Case 1: Making a tote bag in a small lot
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Sample fee | 100 CNY |
| Plate fee (1-color print) | 100 CNY |
| Production cost (100 pcs × 15 CNY) | 1,500 CNY |
| International shipping (approx. 10 kg) | 800 CNY |
| Agency commission (10%) | 160 CNY |
| Total | Approx. 2,660 CNY (approx. ¥55,000) |
Case 2: Making 500 phone cases
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Sample fee | 150 CNY |
| Production cost (500 pcs × 8 CNY) | 4,000 CNY |
| International shipping (approx. 15 kg) | 1,200 CNY |
| Agency commission (8%) | 400 CNY |
| Total | Approx. 5,750 CNY (approx. ¥120,000) |
Free consultation on small-lot OEM
allallbuy supports small-lot OEM too. If you want to keep your initial costs low, feel free to ask us.
Cautions when planning your budget
1. Don't forget shipping and customs duty
On top of production cost, you also need international shipping, customs duty and consumption tax. Customs duty in particular runs about 5–15% of the product price, so build plenty of buffer into your budget.
2. Budget for the sample fee at 2×
It's common for the first sample not to come out as you imagined. Plan for a revised sample and budget the sample fee at double to stay safe.
3. Don't carry too much stock
Going into mass production from the start is high risk. It's safer to test-sell in a small lot first and reorder once you see how it sells.
4. Confirm what the agency commission includes
Check in advance whether the commission already covers inspection and packing, or whether those are charged separately.
Tips to keep initial costs down
1. Start with logo printing on off-the-shelf goods
Rather than creating a product from scratch, just adding a logo or print to an existing item avoids mold fees and cuts your initial outlay substantially.
2. Choose factories that handle small lots
Picking a factory with a small MOQ lets you start with less capital. allallbuy can introduce many factories that accept small-lot orders.
3. Get quotes from multiple factories
Even for the same product, prices vary widely between factories. Get quotes from at least three companies and compare.