Netting MOQ explained: the three minimums hiding behind one acronym
A netting catalogue can list an MOQ of one square metre while the business behind it only makes sense by the roll or the container, and both statements are true, because "minimum order quantity" covers three different numbers: the technical minimum the factory can produce, the economically viable quantity once fixed costs are spread across the order, and the commercial minimum a partner will accept. Confusing them is how buyers end up with accurate quotes for orders nobody should place.
The three minimums
- Technical minimum. What the factory can physically produce and list: for our documented range, supplier minimums start as low as 1 square metre on some references. It is a capability statement, not an offer: no setup, packing or freight is priced into it.
- Economically viable quantity. The point where the order carries its own fixed costs: production setup, sewing and finishing, packing, documentation and international freight. It varies by product, finish, destination and season, which is why we confirm it on the quote instead of publishing a number that would be wrong for half the cases.
- Commercial minimum. What a given seller will accept as an order. Ours is simple and published: we do not take orders below the supplier's technical minimums, and below the viable quantity we say so and propose the levers below rather than quoting something that serves nobody.
What actually drives the viable quantity
Four cost blocks have to be spread across the order, whatever its size: production setup and changeover for the specified mesh, twine and colour; cutting, sewing and edging for finished panels (a made-to-size panel carries more fixed work than a raw roll); packing and export documentation; and freight, where a quarter-full crate costs nearly as much to move as a full one. That is why the viable quantity for a custom-sewn 100 mm ball stop panel differs from the same square metres of rawnetting by the metre, and why no honest single number covers both.
Ordering sensibly against the minimums
- Consolidate: several panels, several products, one shipment: installers replacing nets across sites do this naturally.
- Stay close to documented specifications: the combinations in our Spec Finder exist as factory-documented references; fully custom constructions raise the viable threshold.
- Trade lead time for grouping: if the date allows production to be grouped, say so in the RFQ: it is a real lever.
- State the real quantity: quote terms are built on the number you give; see the RFQ checklist for why inflating it backfires.
How we state minimums on this site
Family pages show the supplier's technical minimums exactly as documented, labelled as such, and every quote states both the technical minimum and the commercially viable quantity for your exact specification and destination, in writing. The process behind that is on how we source.
Frequently asked questions
What does MOQ mean for sports netting?
Minimum order quantity: the smallest amount a supplier will produce or sell. For netting there are really three different minimums: the technical minimum the factory lists (sometimes as low as 1 square metre), the economically viable quantity once setup, packing and international freight are spread across the order, and the commercial minimum a trading partner will accept. They are rarely the same number.
Why is the listed MOQ so low if you sell in bulk?
Because a listed MOQ is a technical figure from the factory catalogue, not a commercial offer. Producing one square metre is physically possible; shipping it across an ocean rarely makes sense for anyone. We publish the supplier technical minimums as documented and confirm the commercially viable quantity on the quote, in writing.
How can I order less than the viable quantity?
The published levers are standard: consolidate several panels or products into one shipment, align with a stock specification instead of a fully custom one, accept longer lead times so production can be grouped, or buy through a distributor who consolidates demand. What does not work is pretending a small order is a large one: the quote terms get built on the fake number.
Not sure your quantity makes sense?
Send the real number. The reply within 2 business days will either quote it or tell you plainly what quantity would make the order worth placing, and which lever gets you there.
We reply within 2 business days with questions or a documented quote.