What is a minimum order quantity?
A minimum order quantity, or MOQ, is the smallest number of pieces a manufacturer will make of one design. For custom patches it exists because every new design needs work before the first patch is made: the artwork is digitised into a stitch or production file, colours are matched, and the first pieces are checked.
At Irish Customized Patches the minimum is 5 pieces per design. That is lower than many suppliers set, and it is deliberate: many of our customers are clubs, schools, start-ups and individuals who need a small run.
What counts as one design?
One design is one exact combination of:
- Artwork (including any text)
- Size
- Colours
- Patch type and border
- Backing
Change any of these and it becomes a separate design with its own 5-piece minimum.
| Example | Number of designs | Minimum total |
|---|---|---|
| One club crest, 8 cm, iron-on | 1 | 5 |
| The same crest at 8 cm and 5 cm | 2 | 10 |
| One crest, half iron-on and half sew-on | 2 | 10 |
| Crest in club colours plus a black-and-white version | 2 | 10 |
| Name patches for 6 staff, same layout | 6 | 30 |
| Crest plus a "Est. 1925" year patch | 2 | 10 |
Why do minimum orders exist?
Each design carries a fixed amount of setup that is the same whether you make 5 patches or 500:
See your artwork as a custom Ireland patch before you buy. Free digital mockup in 12 hours — 5-piece minimum per design. We do not produce until you approve.
GET A FREE MOCKUP- Digitising the artwork into a file the machine can follow
- Choosing and matching thread or material colours
- Setting up the machine and checking the first pieces
- Finishing borders and backing
In a run of 5 that setup is shared between 5 patches; in a run of 200 it is shared between 200. That is why the price per patch drops as quantity rises, explained in more detail in our custom patch cost guide.
Who benefits from a low minimum?
- Small clubs and societies that need a crest for a handful of mentors or committee members - Start-up brands testing a patch before a full drop; see our small business guide - Name patches, where every name is its own design - Samples before a large order - One-off events, hen and stag parties, anniversaries and memorial patches - Replacement patches for a few worn jackets
How to plan a small order efficiently
- Keep one size and one backing if you can, so everything counts as one design. - If you will need more later, order now: re-ordering the same design later still needs its own run. - Combine sections: juvenile and senior crests ordered together as one design keep the price down. - Order a few spares for new members, lost patches and replacements.
Is ordering 5 patches expensive?
Per patch, a run of 5 costs more than a run of 100, because the setup is shared between fewer pieces. In total, it is still the cheapest way to get a small number of custom patches made. If your budget allows, compare the quote for 5 with a quote for 10 or 25; the step up in total cost is often smaller than people expect, and the extra patches can be sold or kept as spares.
Ready to spec type, size, backing, and quantity? Open the quote form for a free 12-hour mockup and Ireland-wide shipping after approval.
GET A FREE MOCKUPRe-ordering the same design later
Once your patch has been made, the approved design is kept on file, so a re-order of the identical design is quick to quote and the mockup step is shorter. The 5-piece minimum still applies to each re-order. Re-ordering is a good option for clubs that add members every season, schools with a new intake each September and brands that sell through a first batch. If anything changes, such as a new sponsor, a different year or an updated logo, it becomes a new design and is quoted with a fresh mockup.
Is there a maximum order?
No fixed maximum. Large runs of hundreds or thousands are quoted with a production schedule. Tell us the quantity and any deadline when you request a quote.
Minimums on other products
The 5-piece minimum applies to custom patches. For keyrings, enamel pins and other accessories, minimums depend on the product and are confirmed on your quote. See our keyrings and enamel pins guide.
What this guide is based on
This is how Irish Customized Patches counts designs and applies its 5-piece minimum on every quote. The how to order guide explains the full process from artwork to delivery.