custom Hawaiian shirt sample cost checklist

2026-06-23 · Development · Aloha & Co Editorial Team

A buyer checklist for custom Hawaiian shirt sample costs, covering MOQ, artwork hours, samples, setup, fabric upcharges, sizes, timing, deposits, and freight.

Summary. Use this custom Hawaiian shirt sample cost checklist to normalize MOQ, artwork, sample, setup, fabric, size, lead-time, deposit, and freight lines before comparing quotes from an aloha shirt manufacturer or Hawaiian shirt manufacturer.

Key Takeaways

Compare MOQ only after the basis is clear: order, design, colorway, size mix, fabric, or label option. Visible paths include no MOQ, 10, 30, and 50 pieces.
Keep artwork and setup separate: Candor Threads includes 2 artwork hours, Made To Team says no setup fees, and ZORWILD lists setup by design.
Sample costs vary by supplier: Goal Sports Wear says customized samples are paid; ZORWILD lists $30-$80 per sample and $45-$85 per style.
Freight needs its own line: Drewry's WCI was $3,969 per 40ft container on 18 Jun 2026, while suppliers use included, separate, or DDP shipping.

Direct Answer

A custom Hawaiian shirt sample cost checklist should verify MOQ by option, artwork hours, sample or proof fees, fabric upcharges, size range, lead time, deposit terms, and freight before deposit. Supplier pages vary: Candor Threads separates 10 piece rush from 30 piece standard, Goal Sports Wear says customized samples are paid, and ZORWILD lists sample and setup charges. Mark unseen fees (not visible).

Use the Checklist Before Any Deposit

Use the checklist before accepting a low unit price as landed cost. Ask each aloha shirt manufacturer to state the quote basis: MOQ, design or colorway minimum, artwork inclusion, sample fee, setup, fabric, size range, lead time, payment split, and freight. ZORWILD says production starts with a 30% deposit and 70% is due before shipment; other visible supplier pages do not show the same split, so mark those terms (not visible).

Compare MOQ by Option, Design, and Size Mix

Check MOQ by option, not headline. Candor Threads lists 10-30 pieces by route: 30 pieces and 5-7 weeks for standard, or 10 pieces and 3-4 weeks for rush or low-min. Roody lists 50 shirts with mixed unisex and women's sizes from XXS-6XL. Made To Team lists 10 pieces per design. Merchize lists no minimum order volume. Use these as quote benchmarks, not a universal MOQ for custom aloha shirts.

Separate Sample, Artwork, and Setup Lines

Separate the sample, artwork, and setup lines. Goal Sports Wear says free samples still require shipping payment, customized samples are not free, and sample time can take up to 10 days. Merchize offers a 20% sample discount. ZORWILD lists $30-$80 per sample in one place and $45-$85 per style in another, with 7 day sample timing after design confirmation and fabric selection. For artwork, Candor Threads includes 2 hours then may charge extra; Made To Team says no setup fees; ZORWILD lists $30-$120 setup fees per design.

Check Fabric, Size Range, and Price Tiers

Fabric can change the quote. Candor Threads shows 30-49 pieces at $54.99 for cotton, polyester, or poly/cotton and $78.99 for rayon or silk; its 10-29 piece rush option is $57.99 in soft polyester. Made To Team uses 95% polyester/5% spandex with visible tiers of $32 for 10-29, $28 for 30-59, and $24 for 60-99. Merchize lists 100% woven polyester SKU prices that include shipping. Confirm that fabric, buttons, label, sleeve, and size range match the sampled shirt.

Confirm Lead Time and Approval Trigger

Lead time should name the event that starts the clock. Candor Threads lists 5-7 weeks standard and 3-4 weeks rush or low-min. Made To Team says 3-4 weeks from design approval to delivery. ZORWILD says samples take 7 days after design confirmation and fabric selection, and bulk lead times run from 15-18 days for 50-99 units to 25-30 days for 1,000+ units. Put approval trigger, invoice review window, sample ship date, and bulk ship date in writing.

Keep Freight and Duty Outside the Unit Price

Keep freight outside the unit price unless the supplier states it is included. Candor Threads points to a separate shipping page. Roody says shipping depends on quantity and location. Made To Team ships DDP with customs clearance and import fees included. Merchize includes shipping in selected SKU prices. External freight can move too: Drewry's 18 Jun 2026 tracker puts WCI at $3,969 per 40ft container, and Container News reported Shanghai-New York at US$5,870 on June 14, 2026. Ask about parcel freight, ocean freight, surcharges, duties, insurance, and destination charges.

Buyer Comparison

Checklist line	What buyer should ask	Evidence benchmark
MOQ basis	Which minimum applies: order, design, colorway, size mix, fabric, or label?	Visible paths include no MOQ plus 10, 30, and 50 piece supplier routes.
Sample or proof fee	Is the sample free, discounted, or paid, and who pays freight?	Goal Sports Wear says free samples require shipping and custom samples are paid; Merchize lists a 20% sample discount.
Artwork and setup	How many artwork hours are included, and are setup fees separate?	Candor Threads includes 2 hours; Made To Team says no setup; ZORWILD lists $30-$120 setup per design.
Fabric price	Does price change by cotton, polyester, rayon, silk, stretch, or woven polyester?	Candor Threads shows $54.99 cotton/poly vs $78.99 rayon/silk at 30-49; Made To Team uses 95/5 poly/spandex.
Size range	Can sizes mix within MOQ, and are adult, women's, kids, or extended sizes included?	Roody lists XXS-6XL mixing within 50; Candor Threads XS-5XL; Made To Team adult 2XS-6XL and kids XS-2XL.
Lead time	What starts timing: design approval, fabric selection, invoice, sample approval, or deposit?	Candor Threads lists 5-7 weeks standard or 3-4 weeks rush; Made To Team says 3-4 weeks from approval.
Deposit terms	What payment starts production, and when is the balance due?	ZORWILD lists 30% deposit and 70% before shipment; other supplier payment splits are (not visible).
Freight and duty	Is shipping included, separate, DDP, or linked to current freight rates?	Made To Team states DDP; Roody charges by quantity/location; Drewry WCI was $3,969 per 40ft on 18 Jun 2026.

Buyer Questions

What goes into the checklist?

Include MOQ basis, sample or proof fee, freight, artwork hours, setup, fabric, size range, lead time, approval trigger, deposit, and duty basis.

Is there a standard sample fee?

No market-wide average is visible. The pack only shows supplier-specific terms, including Goal Sports Wear paid custom samples and ZORWILD sample ranges.

Can buyers compare unit prices directly?

Only after normalizing MOQ, fabric, sizes, sample, setup, artwork, lead time, freight, and duty because suppliers include different items.

Should setup be separate from sample cost?

Yes. Candor Threads may charge after 2 artwork hours, Made To Team says no setup fees, and ZORWILD lists setup by design.

How should buyers handle shipping?

Ask what is included: parcel shipping, ocean freight, clearance, import fees, surcharges, insurance, and destination charges. Mark unseen costs (not visible).

What sizes should buyers confirm?

Confirm exact ranges and size mixing inside MOQ. Visible ranges include XS-5XL, XXS-6XL, adult 2XS-6XL, kids XS-2XL, and up to 6 sizes.