"What is your minimum order?" is the first question most new brand owners ask, and the answer is rarely one number. The minimum order quantity (MOQ) depends on the format, the ingredients and the packaging, because each one has its own production limit.
This guide lists the MOQs we work with at NuCoreBio, explains what sets each limit, and shows how to convert a production minimum into a number of bottles.
MOQ by format at a glance
| Format | Typical MOQ | What sets the limit |
|---|---|---|
| Gummies | 500 bottles | Minimum cooking batch of 90 kg |
| Capsules | 500 bottles | Blending and encapsulation run |
| Powders | 500 bottles | Blending and filling run |
| Tablets | 500 bottles | Pressing and packing run |
| Softgels | 5,000 bottles | Softgel line setup |
| Stick packs | 3,000 boxes | Minimum print run of custom stick film |
| Custom printed resealable pouches | 1,000 bags | Minimum print run of custom pouches |
| Live probiotic capsules | 100,000 capsules | Cleanroom changeover before and after the run |
| Branded raw materials | 5,000 to 10,000 bottles per product | Ingredient supplier minimums of 25 to 50 kg |
These are the starting points. The exact MOQ for your project is confirmed in the quotation, because it depends on your formula and packaging.
Gummies: the 90 kg batch
A gummy line cooks and deposits in batches, and the smallest practical batch is 90 kg. Your MOQ in bottles therefore depends on how much each bottle weighs.
Bottles from one batch = 90,000 g ÷ (gummy weight × gummies per bottle)
Example only: a 4 g gummy with 60 gummies per bottle weighs 240 g, so 90,000 g ÷ 240 g is about 375 bottles. Our 500-bottle minimum is above that, so a standard bottle works. For a lighter pack, such as a small daily pouch, the batch limit can decide the MOQ, so always calculate it from 90 kg.
Gummies also have a loading limit. Active ingredients should not exceed about 30% of the gummy weight, which affects how many gummies each serving needs. See our guide to gummy loading limits.
Capsules, powders and tablets: 500 bottles
For capsules, powders and tablets, the MOQ is 500 bottles. For capsules, we count 60 capsules per bottle. That means a 500-bottle order is a pilot run of about 30,000 capsules.
Learn more about our capsule, powder and tablet manufacturing.
Softgels: 5,000 bottles
Softgels need a dedicated line setup, so the MOQ is 5,000 bottles, counted at 60 softgels per bottle. If your budget or timeline points to a smaller first run, a capsule or gummy version of the same idea may be the better way to test the market.
Stick packs and printed pouches: set by the printer
Packaging can decide the MOQ even when the product itself could run smaller.
- Stick packs: custom stick film has a minimum print run, so the MOQ is 3,000 boxes.
- Custom printed resealable pouches: the printing minimum is 1,000 bags. For light gummy pouches, the 90 kg batch limit can raise this further.
If you want a lower first order, stock packaging or a standard bottle usually avoids these limits.
Live probiotics: a much higher MOQ
Live probiotic strains need a cleanroom changeover before and after each run, which takes several days of sanitization. Because that fixed cost is spread over the run, the MOQ for live probiotic capsules is 100,000 capsules. Read the full explanation in our guide to probiotic supplement MOQs.
Branded raw materials: the ingredient sets the minimum
Branded ingredients are sold by their suppliers in minimum lots of 25 to 50 kg per ingredient. A formula that includes them usually needs 5,000 to 10,000 bottles per product, even when the format itself could run at 500. If a branded ingredient is not essential to your claim, a standard form of the ingredient keeps the first order small.
How to reduce your first order
- Choose a standard format such as gummies, capsules, powders or tablets, which all start at 500 bottles.
- Use standard packaging for the first run, and move to custom printed packs once the product sells.
- Avoid branded raw materials at the start unless they are the reason customers buy.
- Skip live probiotics in the first product, and add them when you can fund a larger run.
- Ask for the MOQ in writing, with the reason for each limit.
Plan the budget around the MOQ
The MOQ sets the cash you need on day one. Use our private label supplement cost breakdown to turn it into a budget, and the first-order checklist to plan the steps. For a broader view of low-MOQ planning, read our low MOQ supplement manufacturing guide.
Start with a low MOQ private label capsule or a private label sports nutrition powder program.
Want the exact MOQ for your product? Send us your formula and packaging idea and we will confirm the minimum order and the reason behind it. You can also read about our low MOQ supplement OEM service.
MOQs are general guidance for common projects and are confirmed in each quotation.