Ordering team uniforms in bulk for the first time usually raises the same five questions: how many do we have to buy, how long does it take, what files does the factory need, what will it cost, and how do we avoid getting 40 jerseys in the wrong shade of blue. This guide answers all five, based on how we run production at Zees Commerce for clubs, schools, leagues and brands.
1. Minimum order quantity (MOQ): what to expect
Most overseas uniform factories quote an MOQ of 50 to 100 pieces per design, which pushes small clubs toward domestic print shops with higher unit prices. At Zees Commerce the MOQ is 10 pieces per design, with mixed sizes inside that 10. That means a single team can order a full set of home and away kits as two designs of 15 each, and a brand can test a colourway with a short run before committing to hundreds.
One caution: MOQ applies per design, not per order. Ten different sponsor logos on ten different jerseys are ten designs. Grouping teams under one artwork with only the number and name changing keeps you inside one design and one price tier.
2. Lead times: samples, production and shipping
A realistic timeline for a sublimated uniform order looks like this:
- Mock-up and approval: 1–3 days. Our design team turns your logo and colours into a proof; you approve or request changes.
- Sample: 5 days. One physical piece so you can check fit, colour and print before the full run.
- Production: 15–30 days after sample approval, depending on quantity. Large quantities or cut-and-sew styles with embroidery can take longer, and we tell you before you commit.
- Shipping: 3–6 days by express courier (DHL/FedEx), 4–6 weeks by sea for big volumes.
So a season-ready order placed with clean artwork can be in your hands in roughly three weeks by air. Plan backwards from your first game or launch date and add a week of margin.
3. Artwork: what the factory actually needs
Vector files save days. Send your crest and sponsor logos as AI, EPS, PDF or SVG. If all you have is a JPEG from a website, we can redraw it, but that adds a round of approval. Also send:
- Pantone references or a physical colour swatch if colour accuracy matters (it always does for sponsors)
- A roster with names, numbers and sizes in a spreadsheet
- Any placement rules, such as league-mandated number heights or sponsor positions
If you have none of this, a photo of a kit you like and a description of what to change is enough to start. See our sportswear range for reference styles.
4. Pricing: what moves the number
Bulk uniform pricing is driven by four things: construction (sublimated is cheaper than cut-and-sew with embroidery), fabric weight, quantity per design and decoration complexity. Sublimation prints names, numbers and sponsors into the fabric at no extra per-piece cost, which is why it dominates team sports. Screen printing and embroidery add per-logo charges. Ask for a quote with two or three quantity breaks so you can see where the price steps down.
5. Quality control: how to avoid bad batches
Approve a physical sample, not just a digital mock-up. Check fabric hand-feel, stitching at stress points, colour under daylight and how the print sits on seams. Every Zees Commerce run is inspected in-house in Sialkot before it ships, and the sample you approved is the reference for the whole batch.
Related ranges
Kitting out more than the match squad? See our team jackets and coats for sidelines and travel, base layers for cold-weather training, and goalkeeper kits, lacrosse and cheer uniforms for the rest of the program.
Ready to order?
Tell us the sport, quantity and deadline, and we reply within one business day with pricing and a production plan. Request a bulk uniform quote, or browse football, basketball, soccer and baseball uniforms.