How to Read and Compare a Knitwear Quote
A lower number isn't a better deal. Two knitwear quotes can differ wildly just in what they include — here's how to read them and compare apples to apples.
When quotes land from several factories, the temptation is to sort by price and pick the lowest. That's how brands end up surprised by freight, duty and re-sampling costs that erase the “saving”. A clear quote should let you see exactly what you're buying.
What a good quote itemises
- Unit price + Incoterm. $X per piece — but FOB, DDP or EXW? Without the Incoterm, the number is meaningless.
- MOQ. Per colour, per size — the real total commitment.
- Yarn spec. Fibre and count the price is based on — swap the yarn and the price changes.
- Sampling cost and how many rounds are included.
- Lead time for samples and bulk.
- Payment terms (e.g., T/T 30/70, L/C).
- What's excluded — trims, labels, testing, freight.
Compare like-for-like: same Incoterm, same yarn spec, same quantity. Otherwise you're comparing a part-price to an all-in price.
Red flags
- A single opaque number with no breakdown.
- No Incoterm stated.
- “Price on yarn TBC” with no benchmark.
- Large pre-payment demands from an unfamiliar party.
The best quotes come from a clear brief. Send a complete tech pack and you'll get a quote you can actually compare — and a faster, more accurate one. Request yours.
Ready to make it?
Send a tech pack, a reference garment or a brief. We respond within one business day with a capacity check, indicative pricing and a sample timeline — direct with the founder.