How to compare clothing manufacturer quotes
Compare the same product and scope, make exclusions visible and resolve open questions before choosing a manufacturer. Includes a blank comparison sheet.
Quick answers from this guide
What makes two quotations comparable?
Give each manufacturer the same specification version, materials, size range, quantities and finishing requirements. Mark undecided items as open and record each quotation's assumptions.
Which costs and responsibilities should be separated?
Separate development, production and delivery. Record materials, revisions, checking, packaging, transport responsibilities and any applicable charges that are excluded.
What should you confirm before accepting a quote?
Confirm minimums, lead-time start conditions, payment stages, approved production references, issue handling and handover. Ask for a revised written quotation when the scope changes.
On this page 6 sections
01Start with the same brief
Two prices are comparable only when they describe the same job. Send each manufacturer the same product information and identify the version. Otherwise, one may quote a different material, construction method, quantity or level of development.
Include the proposed styles, material requirements, size range, quantities by style and colour, finishing, labels and packaging. State which patterns, specifications and samples already exist. If something is undecided, mark it as open and ask what assumption the quotation uses.
02Separate what is included
A price may cover making the garment only, or it may include materials and other work. Ask for a written breakdown instead of relying on a term whose meaning has not been agreed.
Development
Patterns, specifications, samples, revisions and grading. Record whether these are separate charges.
Production
Fabric, trims, cutting, sewing, finishing, inspection, labels and packing. Note exclusions explicitly.
Delivery
Where the quoted responsibility ends, and who handles transport, insurance, import procedures and applicable charges.
Record the currency, payment stages, quote validity and any conditions attached to the price. For cross-border orders, have the named delivery terms and responsibilities clarified before agreeing to them.
03Understand minimums and timing
Ask what each minimum applies to: the total order, a style, a colour, a material or a component. A factory may accept the garment quantity while the chosen fabric has a separate minimum.
Ask when the lead time starts. It may depend on an approved sample, confirmed materials, a deposit or a production slot. Separate sample development from bulk production and transport; a single number can hide work that has not begun.
Ask what happens if material availability changes or a sample needs another revision. You need a plan for those decisions, not an assurance that they can never happen.
04Agree approvals and responsibilities
Identify the physical sample and documents that production will follow. Clarify who approves fit, colour and finishing, who performs checks, and how issues are reported and resolved.
Also establish which files and physical materials you receive at handover, what you may reuse and how ownership or usage rights will be documented. Do not assume that paying for a sample automatically settles every handover question.
For garments or destinations requiring specific evidence, ask what testing or documentation is included and what remains your responsibility. Review the applicable requirements separately from the commercial quotation.
05Put the answers side by side
Use the same fields for every supplier. Mark an unanswered item “not confirmed” rather than treating it as included.
| Field | Record this |
|---|---|
| Product basis | Specification version, materials, size range and order breakdown. |
| Development | Work included, revision allowance and separate charges. |
| Production scope | Materials, making, inspection, labelling and packaging. |
| Minimums | Minimum quantities and the exact item each applies to. |
| Timing | Milestones, start conditions and estimated transport time. |
| Commercial terms | Currency, payment stages, validity and delivery responsibilities. |
| Approvals and handover | Approved references, checking process, issue handling and files supplied. |
| Open questions | Every assumption, exclusion and item awaiting confirmation. |
06Resolve the gaps before choosing
Return the open questions to each manufacturer and ask for a revised written quotation where the scope changes. A lower headline price is not yet a better offer if it leaves essential work outside the quote.
Choose using the confirmed scope, relevant capability, communication, timing and a budget you can support. Keep the accepted quotation with the agreed specification and approvals so the team is working from the same instructions.
If your product is still being defined, start with the brief before the specification. If you are comparing complete launch costs, first separate development from the cost of stock.