MOQ (minimum order quantity)
Also called: minimum order quantity, minimum order, minimum run
MOQ (minimum order quantity) is the smallest quantity a supplier will produce or sell in one order. For pallets it depends on the material and process: wood pallets need little setup, while custom molded plastic pallets need a mold and very large runs.
In depth: Plastic pallet buying guide: styles, resins, ratings and cost
The MOQ reflects setup cost. Where setup is cheap, minimums are low. Where a mold or tooling is needed, the supplier needs volume to recover it.
Typical minimums (indicative)
| Pallet | Typical MOQ and lead time |
|---|---|
| Wood, stock sizes | Low; small orders of standard sizes often ship in about 2 weeks |
| Wood, custom | Varies by supplier; large custom runs can take about 6 to 12 weeks |
| Plastic, stock catalog models | Often 50 to 100 pallets; about 2 to 6 weeks |
| Plastic, custom color or branding | A production run, often hundreds or more |
| Plastic, new mold | 1,000+ units for low-tooling processes; tens of thousands for injection molding |
| Plastic lumber pallets | Small; one supplier states a minimum of 15 units |
These are indicative supplier ranges from 2026 research, not quotes.
Why it matters
MOQ, not unit price, often decides whether a custom plastic pallet makes sense. A wood design can be changed from one order to the next. A molded design is fixed once the mold is cut.
On a spec sheet or RFQ
State the initial order, annual volume, and release quantities, so suppliers can quote at realistic tiers. Ask each supplier for its MOQ, price breaks and lead time.
Common confusions
A delivery minimum (for example a full truckload for free delivery) is different from a production MOQ. Ask which one a supplier means.
Related
- GlossaryRFQ (request for quote)An RFQ (request for quote) is a buyer's request asking suppliers to price a defined product at stated quantities and terms. For pallets, a complete RFQ includes the pallet specification or requirements, volumes, delivery, compliance needs and quality rules.
- GlossaryInjection molding (plastic pallets)Injection molding forces molten plastic into a closed steel mold under high pressure. It produces most catalog plastic pallets with tight dimensions and fast cycles, but a new pallet mold only pays off at very high volumes.
- GuidesPlastic pallet buying guide: styles, resins, ratings and costChoose a plastic pallet by how it is handled and stored: nestable for cheap one-way use, stackable for floor stacking, rackable for open-beam racking. Compare static, dynamic and racking ratings only when the test standard and support match. New US prices run about $40–200 (2026 estimates).
- PagesCustom pallets: design yours free, get a quote in 2 business dayspallet.design supplies custom pallets built to your spec by vetted partner shops: any size, lumber, deck layout, notches, wings, heat treatment, or plastic, metal and paper. Design it free in the browser, get a dimensioned drawing, and request a quote. We reply with a price within 2 business days.
- GuidesHow much does a pallet cost? New, used, plastic and custom pricesIn the US in 2026, a new 48 × 40 in wood stringer pallet typically costs about $10–25, a used Grade A about $6–14 and a Grade B about $3–8. Heat treatment adds about $1–3. Plastic pallets run roughly $40–200 and metal $150–600 or more. These are estimates that move with lumber, resin and freight markets; get quotes.
More in Commercial and lifecycle
- GlossaryClosed loopA closed loop is a supply chain in which pallets travel between a fixed set of sites and are returned to the owner for reuse, for example between a parts supplier and an assembly plant. Because the pallets come back, higher-cost custom, plastic or metal pallets can pay for themselves.
- GlossaryCombo palletA combo pallet is a wood pallet built from a mix of new and recycled components, commonly new stringers with reclaimed deckboards or the reverse. It sits between new and fully recycled pallets in cost and consistency.
- GlossaryCore palletA core is a used pallet, usually a standard 48 × 40 in stringer pallet, that a pallet recycler buys or collects as raw material to sort, repair and resell. Cores that cannot be repaired are dismantled for parts or ground.
- GlossaryGrade B palletA grade B (#2) pallet is a used pallet, usually a 48 × 40 in GMA-style stringer pallet, that has been repaired more than a grade A: it may have companion stringers, metal plates or replaced deckboards. It is functional but less uniform, and definitions vary by supplier.
- GlossaryOne-way palletA one-way pallet is a pallet designed to make one trip and not come back, such as export pallets or shipments to customers who keep or discard the pallet. It is usually built lighter and from lower-grade material than a reusable pallet.
- GlossaryPallet exchangePallet exchange is an arrangement where a receiver hands back an equal number of empty pallets of the same type and quality for the loaded pallets it receives, so the shipper does not lose pallets with each delivery.
Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 249 words.