Price Break Calculator for Apparel Orders

Your quote and costs

Currency Units you expect to sell Value recovered per unsold unit (clearance) One-time costs per order (samples, setup) Freight per unit Other costs per unit (labels, packing, inspection) Duty and tariffs (% of goods)

Price tiers

Enter each quantity and price your supplier quoted, for example per style or color.

Comparison

Estimates only. Confirm quantities, prices and minimums with your supplier.

How to compare factory price breaks

Enter the units you expect to sell and what an unsold unit recovers at clearance.

Add your freight, other per-unit costs, duty rate and one-time costs per order.

List each quantity tier and the unit price your supplier quoted.

Compare landed cost per unit bought with cost per unit sold, check the unmet demand, and download the result.

How the tiers are compared, with an example

Formula. Total landed cost = goods + duty (goods x duty rate) + freight and other per-unit costs x quantity + one-time costs. Units sold = the lesser of quantity and expected demand. Cost per unit sold = (total landed cost - value of unsold units) / units sold.

Illustrative example (made-up figures). A buyer expects to sell 1,000 units. The 300-unit tier ($8.40) costs about $13.57 per unit but leaves 700 units of demand unmet. The 500-unit tier ($7.90) costs about $12.19. The 1,000-unit tier ($7.40) costs about $11.01 per unit and matches demand. The 2,000-unit tier ($6.95) has the lowest landed cost per unit bought, about $10.19, but 1,000 units go unsold, so with $3 recovered on each of them its cost per unit sold is about $17.38. The 1,000-unit tier is the cheapest per unit sold.

Key terms

Price break: a lower unit price offered when the order quantity reaches a set level.

Minimum order quantity (MOQ): the smallest quantity a factory will produce, often per style or color.

Landed cost: the cost of goods delivered to your warehouse, including freight, duty and fees.

Unsold inventory: units left after the selling season that must be cleared or held.

Clearance value: what unsold units earn when marked down or sold off-price.

Demand: the number of units you expect to sell.

Getting the most from the price break calculator

Test several demand figures. A bigger tier only wins if you can sell what you buy.

Watch the extra cash. A larger order ties up more working capital. See the Import Cash Flow Planner.

Include setup costs. Samples and setup are spread across more units on bigger orders.

Ask about color and style splits. Minimums are often per color or style, which changes the real quantity.

Be honest about clearance. Set the value of unsold units to what you would really recover.

Frequently asked questions

What is a price break?

A price break is a lower unit price a supplier offers once your order reaches a set quantity, such as a better price at 1,000 units than at 500.

Is the biggest order always the cheapest?

No. A bigger order lowers the price per unit bought, but if you cannot sell the extra units, the cost per unit sold can be higher. This calculator shows both.

What does minimum order quantity mean for fashion brands?

It is the smallest quantity a factory or mill will produce, often per style, color or fabric. It can force you to buy more units than you need, so compare it with your expected demand.

Related Apparel Search tools

Supplier Quote Comparison: compare factory quotes side by side with freight, duty and fees included.

Garment Cost Sheet: build up the cost of one garment from fabric, trims and labor.

Landed Cost Calculator: add freight, duty and fees, then set wholesale and retail prices.

Size Curve & Order Splitter: split an order across colors and sizes using a size scale.

Merchandising Metrics Calculator: sell-through, weeks of supply, turns, GMROI, markdown and margin.

Collection Break-Even Planner: find the sell-through you need to cover development and production costs.

Import Cash Flow Planner: see when cash goes out and comes in across deposits, freight, duty and sales.

Estimates only. This tool is provided for general planning and informational purposes. Results depend on the information you enter and on assumptions that may not match your business. Apparel Search does not guarantee accuracy or completeness of any result. Confirm figures with your own records, suppliers, accountant or other qualified professionals before making business decisions. See our Legal page for terms of use.