Getting Started · 5 min read · April 2026
Minimum Order Quantities for Bottle Printing (And How to Start Small)
Why MOQs exist, what's typical in the industry, and how small brands can still get a real run produced.
Minimum order quantities frustrate every new brand at first. Once you understand why they exist, they're easier to plan around — and easier to negotiate.
Why MOQs exist
Setting up a silkscreen press takes the same hour whether you're printing 50 bottles or 5,000. The screens, ink mixing, alignment, and test pulls are fixed costs. MOQs spread that cost across enough units to make the run economical for both sides.
Typical industry minimums
- Plastic bottles: ~1,000 units before standard pricing kicks in
- Glass bottles: ~500 units
- Cups: ~1,000 units
- Below those thresholds, expect a minimum charge around $250
Starting small without overpaying
If you only need 200 glass bottles for a beta launch, you'll still pay close to the 500-unit minimum. The smart play is to order the full minimum, store the extras, and use them for samples, press kits, and your second restock.