The cost to manufacture one piece of clothing varies dramatically based on garment type, materials, production location, and order quantity. This comprehensive guide breaks down current pricing for fashion brands and entrepreneurs.
Average Cost Per Garment by Type
| Garment Type |
Basic Quality |
Mid-Range |
Premium/Luxury |
| T-Shirt |
$2.50 - $5.00 |
$5.00 - $12.00 |
$15.00 - $50.00+ |
| Dress Shirt |
$8.00 - $15.00 |
$16.00 - $30.00 |
$40.00 - $150.00+ |
| Jeans |
$10.00 - $20.00 |
$25.00 - $50.00 |
$60.00 - $300.00+ |
| Dress (Simple) |
$12.00 - $25.00 |
$30.00 - $60.00 |
$80.00 - $500.00+ |
| Blazer |
$25.00 - $50.00 |
$60.00 - $120.00 |
$150.00 - $800.00+ |
Note: These prices reflect FOB (Free On Board) costs from the manufacturer, excluding shipping, import duties, and markup.
Key Factors Affecting Clothing Manufacturing Costs
1. Fabric Costs
- Basic cotton: $1.50 - $3.00 per yard
- Premium organic cotton: $4.00 - $8.00 per yard
- Italian wool: $15.00 - $30.00 per yard
- Silk: $10.00 - $50.00 per yard
- Technical fabrics: $5.00 - $25.00 per yard
2. Production Location
- China: $3.00 - $15.00/hour labor
- Vietnam: $2.50 - $12.00/hour
- India: $1.50 - $8.00/hour
- Portugal: $8.00 - $20.00/hour
- USA/UK: $15.00 - $40.00/hour
3. Order Quantity (MOQ Impact)
- Sample/prototype: 2-5x unit cost
- Small batch (50-200 units): Higher per-unit cost
- Medium run (500-2,000 units): 20-40% cost reduction
- Large production (5,000+ units): 50-70% cost reduction
4. Additional Cost Components
- Pattern making: $50 - $300 per style
- Sample development: $100 - $500 per sample
- Trims and notions: $0.50 - $5.00 per garment
- Labels/tags: $0.10 - $1.00 per piece
- Quality control: $0.20 - $2.00 per garment
How to Calculate Your Exact Cost
Use this formula to estimate your per-piece manufacturing cost:
Total Cost Per Piece =
(Fabric Cost + Labor Cost + Trims) + (Pattern/Sample Cost ÷ Quantity) + (Overhead ÷ Quantity) + Profit Margin
Example Calculation for 100 T-Shirts:
- Fabric: $3.00 (mid-weight cotton)
- Labor: $1.50 (China production)
- Trims: $0.50 (thread, label, packaging)
- Pattern/Sample: $200 ÷ 100 = $2.00
- Overhead: $500 ÷ 100 = $5.00
- Total Cost: $12.00 per T-shirt
Ways to Reduce Manufacturing Costs
- Increase order quantity to benefit from economies of scale
- Simplify designs to reduce labor time
- Choose local fabrics to avoid import duties
- Standardize sizes to minimize pattern changes
- Negotiate payment terms (30-60% deposit, balance on delivery)
