"How much does it cost to manufacture a sweater in China?" is the most-asked question from new brand buyers — and the one most factories refuse to answer publicly. We publish real numbers here. Ex-factory pricing is a function of three variables: yarn tier (raw material cost), gauge and construction complexity (labour cost), and order quantity (setup cost amortisation). This guide covers all three with 2026 Dalang ex-factory numbers — no middleman markup, no marketing fluff.
Ex-factory pricing by yarn tier (50 pcs per colour)
The single biggest price driver is yarn choice. Yarn accounts for 50–65% of ex-factory cost in a typical sweater. Below are the six yarn tiers we manufacture in, with 50-piece pricing:
| Yarn tier | Typical blend | Gauge range | Ex-factory (50 pcs) | Commercial retail band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry acrylic | 100% acrylic or acrylic-poly blend | 3G – 7G | $6 – $8 | $20 – $35 |
| Cotton blend | Cotton-modal or cotton-acrylic | 7G – 12G | $9 – $13 | $28 – $48 |
| 100% cotton | Combed cotton, fine count | 10G – 14G | $10 – $14 | $35 – $55 |
| Wool blend | Acrylic-wool 70/30 or similar | 3G – 12G | $11 – $16 | $38 – $65 |
| Premium wool | 100% wool, extra fine merino | 5G – 14G | $14 – $20 | $55 – $95 |
| Cashmere | Cashmere blend or 100% cashmere | 7G – 14G | $18 – $30+ | $85 – $220 |
At 100-piece per colour, subtract $0.50–$1 per piece. At 300 pieces, subtract $1.50–$2.50. At 1,000+ pieces, subtract $3–$5. See our full cost breakdown guide for the line-by-line detail.
Where each dollar goes — cost breakdown per piece
A typical $10 ex-factory sweater (cotton blend, 12G fine gauge, 300g garment) breaks down into six cost components:
How MOQ changes your price per piece
Setup cost (machine programming, pattern development, sample approval) is largely fixed per style. Amortising that over 50 pieces vs 500 pieces changes unit economics meaningfully. Using a baseline cotton blend sweater:
Our minimum
50 pcs $11 / pieceTest order, no middleman
Most factories
300 pcs $9 / piece~18% saving vs 50 pcs
Wholesale
1,000+ pcs $7.50 / piece~32% saving vs 50 pcs
The gap between 50 and 300 is narrower than most buyers expect. Most brands save more by not ordering 300 pieces of an unproven SKU than by negotiating the unit price. A dead 250-piece surplus at $9 is worse than a 50-piece test at $11 that leads to a confident 500-piece reorder. Our low MOQ service is designed for exactly this testing phase.
Costs not in ex-factory price — the landed cost reality
Ex-factory price is only part of your landed cost. Budget for these additional costs before calculating retail margins:
| Cost component | Typical range | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sea freight (to US/EU) | $1.50 – $3.00 / pc | Small container, FOB Shenzhen / Yantian |
| Air freight (urgent) | $4 – $8 / pc | Only for time-critical reorders |
| Import duty (US/EU) | 10–18% of ex-factory | Varies by HS code and destination |
| FBA prep (Amazon) | $0.50 – $1.50 / pc | Polybag + FNSKU + carton spec (we handle) |
| Amazon FBA fees | $3 – $5 / pc | Fulfilment, storage, returns reserve |
| Amazon referral fee | 17% of retail | Fixed Amazon commission |
| Launch PPC budget | $4 – $8 / pc sold | First 90 days; drops after organic ranking |
Retail margin math — what ex-factory price supports what retail
A rough rule: retail price should be 3–4× ex-factory price for Amazon FBA, or 4–5× for DTC Shopify after all fees and PPC. Worked examples for three common yarn tiers:
Worked example — Cotton blend sweater, 50 pcs
Ex-factory: $11 · Sea freight + duty: $3 · FBA prep: $1 · Landed cost: $15
Target Amazon retail: $38–48 · After referral + FBA + PPC + return reserve: ~$20 take-home
Net margin per unit: $5 / unit at $38 retail, $13 / unit at $48 retail
Worked example — 70/30 acrylic-wool blend, 50 pcs
Ex-factory: $13 · Landed: $17 · Amazon retail target: $48–65
Net margin per unit: $8–15 depending on PPC efficiency
Worked example — Merino wool blend, 50 pcs
Ex-factory: $18 · Landed: $24 · Amazon retail target: $65–85
Net margin per unit: $10–20 — merino drives higher absolute margin even at higher cost
Deeper guides on specific cost topics
This page covers the pricing overview. For specific cost questions, these blog articles go deeper:
Want a quote for your specific yarn + gauge + quantity?
Send us your target yarn tier, gauge, and quantity. We reply within 24 hours with an itemised ex-factory quote, sample fee, and sampling timeline — no account registration, no pressure.