When shopping for custom coolers for your business, you will quickly encounter the term MOQ, or Minimum Order Quantity. For first-time buyers, MOQs can sometimes be frustrating. You might only need 10 coolers for your executive team, but the product page says the minimum order is 25.
Why do MOQs exist? How do they affect pricing? And is it ever worth ordering more coolers than you currently need? This guide explains the mechanics behind bulk ordering and helps you determine the right quantity for your next promotional campaign.
What is a Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ)?
A Minimum Order Quantity is the lowest number of units a supplier is willing to produce and sell in a single order. At BrandedCoolers.com, MOQs vary significantly depending on the product type, the brand, and the decoration method.
For example:
- A basic 6-pack cooler bag might have an MOQ of 100 units.
- A premium RTIC 20 Soft Pack Cooler might have an MOQ of 25 units.
- A high-end Custom YETI Tundra 45 might have an MOQ of just 12 units.
Why Do MOQs Exist?
MOQs are not arbitrary numbers designed to force you to spend more money. They are a direct reflection of the setup costs and labor involved in the customization process.
When you order coolers with your logo, the production facility must:
- Process and format your artwork.
- Create a physical screen (for screen printing) or calibrate a laser (for engraving).
- Set up the machinery for that specific product.
- Run test prints to ensure quality.
These setup steps take the same amount of time and labor whether you are ordering 5 coolers or 500. If a supplier allowed an order of just 5 screen-printed cooler bags, the labor and setup costs would make the price per unit astronomically high. MOQs ensure that the setup costs are distributed across enough units to keep the per-unit price reasonable for the buyer.
Understanding Bulk Pricing Tiers
Closely related to MOQs is the concept of bulk pricing or volume discounts. As your order quantity increases, the cost per unit decreases.
Here is a hypothetical example of how bulk pricing works for a mid-range soft-sided cooler:
- 25 units (MOQ): $45.00 per unit
- 50 units: $42.50 per unit
- 100 units: $39.00 per unit
- 250+ units: $35.00 per unit
This pricing structure exists because once the machines are set up, the cost to produce each additional unit drops significantly. The manufacturer passes those efficiency savings on to you.
Should You Order More Than You Need?
This is a common dilemma: You need 40 coolers for an upcoming event, but the price drops significantly at 50 units. Should you order the extra 10?
In most cases, yes. Here is why ordering slightly above your immediate need is usually a smart business decision:
1. The “Cost of the Next Tier” Math
Sometimes, ordering more units actually costs the same (or only slightly more) than ordering fewer units, due to the price break. Always check the total cart price at the next quantity tier — you might get 10 extra coolers for almost free.
2. Future Gifting Needs
Unlike dated event t-shirts or perishable food items, a high-quality promotional cooler never expires. If you order extra RTIC Everyday Coolers, you can store them in the office and use them throughout the year for:
- New employee onboarding gifts
- Impromptu client thank-you gifts
- Raffle prizes for company meetings
- Apology gifts for service issues
3. Avoiding Setup Fees on Reorders
If you order exactly 40 coolers today, and realize you need 15 more next month, you will have to place a new order. Not only will you pay the higher per-unit price for a small order, but you may also have to pay the setup fee again. Ordering a buffer supply upfront saves you from costly small reorders.
Strategies for Managing MOQs
If you are struggling to meet the MOQ for a specific product, consider these strategies:
Consolidate Your Buying: Instead of different departments (Sales, HR, Marketing) placing separate small orders throughout the year, pool your budgets and place one large order for a versatile product like an Igloo® Day Chiller Lunch Bag.
Upgrade the Product: If you only need 15 gifts but the cooler you want has an MOQ of 25, consider upgrading to a more premium product. Higher-end items like Custom YETI Coolers typically have much lower MOQs because the base cost of the item absorbs the setup labor more easily.
Ask About Blank Goods: If you absolutely cannot meet the MOQ for customization, ask if you can purchase the coolers “blank” (without a logo). Blank goods often have lower or no minimums.
Frequently Asked Questions About Custom Cooler Minimum Orders
What is the lowest minimum order for a custom cooler?
Premium hard coolers often carry the lowest unit minimums, because each piece is decorated individually. Entry-level promotional bags usually carry the highest, because they are set up and run in batches. Across our catalog the practical range runs from around a dozen units to a hundred, so confirm the MOQ on the exact model before you build a budget around it.
Can I mix different cooler models to reach the minimum?
Usually not. Minimums are set per product because each item needs its own decoration setup, so mixing models normally means meeting each model’s minimum separately. Mixing colors within a single model is more often possible. Tell us the total spend you have in mind and we will work out which combinations are viable.
Does ordering more than the minimum lower the price?
Yes. Pricing is tiered, and the step from one tier to the next is often small enough that the extra units cost less than you would expect. Before committing to the bare minimum, ask what the next tier costs in total — buyers are regularly surprised to find fifty units cost barely more than forty.
What happens if I need more coolers later?
A reorder repeats the decoration setup and starts a new production run, so the per-unit cost is usually higher than it would have been in the original order, and stock or colorways may have changed in the meantime. If you can reasonably predict a second wave of gifting within the year, ordering once is normally cheaper.
Get a Custom Quote Today
At BrandedCoolers.com, we strive to make bulk ordering as transparent and cost-effective as possible. We offer a price match guarantee and clearly display pricing tiers on every product page so you can make the best decision for your budget.
Ready to start your order? Browse our full catalog of custom coolers or contact our team at 800-927-2630 to discuss your quantity needs and get a custom quote.