Custom Beanies in Bulk: Cost, MOQ & Lead Time
Ordering custom beanies in bulk from our own Dalang knitting floor means 72-hour sampling and about two weeks of production after you approve the sample. Pricing is quoted per project, not from a list, and the minimum is 300 pieces per design, counted per design rather than per colour, so a colour range does not multiply it. Here is exactly what moves that price and how to time a winter order — from the factory floor, not a catalog.
What custom beanies cost in bulk
Where your beanie lands depends on four levers. The accessible end is a one-colour logo on acrylic at high volume; the premium end is a multi-colour chart with a pom-pom, folded-cuff styling or a wool blend on a smaller run. Every quote includes knit programming by our in-house design team — you are not paying a middle layer to re-quote your artwork to someone else's factory.
Unit cost steps down as quantity climbs — the setup is a fixed cost, so it spreads thinner the more pieces you run. And because the machines are ours, a difficult design on a smaller run stays viable: complex jacquard craft at low volume is exactly what our floor is set up for.
The five things that move your price
- Yarn — acrylic is the workhorse; wool-blend adds a premium hand feel; cotton and recycled yarns are available.
- Technique — jacquard knitted-in, high-density embroidery, or a woven patch. Knitted-in logos can't peel or crack because they are the fabric.
- Colour count — more colours in the jacquard chart, more yarn changes per row, more cost. Our machines handle charts most factories turn away.
- Cuff style & extras — folded cuff, pom-pom, slouchy silhouette, woven labels.
- Quantity and delivery term — EXW is the bare price; DDP folds freight and duties into one landed cost.
How the minimum actually works
The minimum is set per design, and you can split one design across colours and sizes without multiplying it. We do not publish a single number for beanies, because the honest answer depends on your design: a two-colour cuff logo and a full multi-colour jacquard crown are not the same run.
So the practical version: send us your artwork and the quantity you want to test with. We come back with what the floor can actually do at that number. If a supplier advertises custom beanies with no minimum at all, look at the unit price — setup on a knit program is real work, and someone pays for it, usually you, per piece.
A first beanie order can also be bundled with matching sweaters or scarves, which is how most brands reach a comfortable run for a winter set.
Sampling: 72 hours, fee credited
Send a sketch, a photo or a tech pack. The design team turns it into a knit chart, you get a physical sample in 72 hours, and the sample fee is credited against your bulk order. Most programs converge in one or two rounds.
Lead times: 2 weeks bulk — book winter early
Bulk production is about 2 weeks after sample approval. The catch is timing: beanie queues fill from October through the holiday season. Book machine slots early with the deposit and we hold them — that is how your winter drop ships before your season, not after it.
EXW vs DDP: the landed-cost math
EXW quotes are factory-door prices. DDP adds freight and import duties so you know your landed cost before you commit — for US and EU buyers it usually wins once you count brokerage and last-mile. We quote both so you can compare.
How to order, in four steps
- Send your logo or artwork and target quantity
- Approve the 72-hour physical sample
- 30% deposit locks your machine slots
- Bulk knits in ~2 weeks, photos for approval, ships DDP
FAQ
How much do custom beanies cost in bulk? Quoted per project, depending on yarn, technique, colour count and quantity. DDP pricing adds freight and duties into one landed number.
What is the minimum order for custom beanies? It is 300 pieces per design, and one design splits freely across colours and sizes without multiplying it. Ten colourways at 30 pieces each is one design, not ten minimums.
Can you knit my logo into the cuff? Yes — that is our specialty. Jacquard logos are part of the fabric and never peel. High-density embroidery is available for photo-detail artwork.
How fast can I get bulk beanies? Sample in 72 hours, bulk in about 2 weeks after approval. Book October–December slots early.
Ready to price your run? Send the design and quantity on our custom beanies page for an exact factory quote. Prefer email? The quote page works too - and you can preview your logo on a beanie in the free mockup studio.