MOQ and Lead Time for Wooden Pet Furniture
The minimum order is 100 pcs per design, or 300 pcs total across mixed designs when you are combining designs into one container. Samples start at one piece, cost $80-350 and take 10-15 days. Mass production runs approx. 30-45 days counted from signed sample approval and deposit — not from the date you first write to us.
Everything below explains what moves those numbers, so you can plan a ship date rather than discover one.
Minimum order quantities
| Order type | Minimum | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Single design, full custom | 100 pcs | Any new structure, or an existing design with dimensional changes. |
| Mixed-design container | 300 pcs total | Across multiple designs, minimum 100 pcs of each. |
| Existing ODM design | 100 pcs | Unmodified design, factory-standard finish, no custom carton. |
| Custom-printed retail carton | 300 pcs | Set by the printer's own minimum, not by us. |
| Sample | 1 pc | Sample orders require 100% payment in advance. Sample charges are refunded against the first bulk order of the same design. |
Why 100 and not 20: a production run needs a finishing-line changeover — the booth is cleaned, the spray guns are flushed and the colour is matched to your signed drawdown. That changeover costs the same for 20 pieces as for 500. Below about 100 units the changeover dominates the unit price, and the quotation stops being competitive for you rather than merely inconvenient for us.
Lead time by stage
The dashed bar is yours. Everything else is ours, and we can commit to it — but the approx. 30-45 days production clock does not start until the golden sample and colour drawdown come back signed. Slow approval is the single most common cause of a missed ship date, and it is the one stage we cannot compress for you.
| Stage | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Quotation | 24 hours | 48-72 h if a new drawing review or BOM build-up is needed. |
| Sample — existing design | 7-10 days | Patterns and CNC files already exist. |
| Sample — new design | 15-20 days | Add 5-8 days for curved or carved parts. |
| Production — 100-500 pcs | 30-35 days | From signed sample approval and deposit received. |
| Production — 500-1,000 pcs | 35-40 days | From signed sample approval and deposit received. |
| Production — 1,000+ pcs | 40-45 days | From signed sample approval and deposit received. |
| Inspection | 2-3 days | Add 3-5 days if you book a third-party inspection. |
What adds days
- Chinese New Year — the workshop closes for roughly 2 weeks and staffing recovers over another 2. Add 7-10 days to anything crossing it.
- October Golden Week — 1 week closed, plus port congestion either side.
- Peak booking — Capacity is booked 4-6 weeks ahead between July and October.
- Buyer-nominated fabric — must arrive at the factory 15 days before the production start date, or it becomes your critical path, not ours.
- FSC-certified timber — adds about 7 days on top of the standard sourcing window.
- Slow sample approval — the single most common cause of a missed ship date. The clock does not start until the golden sample and colour drawdown come back signed.
What does not add days
- Changing wood species within the standard list.
- Changing finish colour, as long as a Pantone reference is supplied with the order.
- Logo engraving or silk-screen printing.
- Increasing quantity within the same tier.
Terms by service model
| Model | MOQ | Sample lead time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| OEM | 100 pcs per design | 15-20 days | Brands with an in-house design team and a fixed product spec |
| ODM | 100 pcs per design | 7-10 days | Buyers who need a catalogue quickly without paying for development |
| Private Label | 100 pcs per design; 300 pcs for custom-printed retail cartons | 10-15 days | Retailers, distributors and e-commerce sellers building a house brand |
Capacity and payment
Output runs at 15,000-20,000 pcs per month, roughly 180,000 pcs per year across 3 lines. Capacity is booked 4-6 weeks ahead between July and October.
Sample orders require 100% payment in advance. Bulk orders require a 50% deposit, with the remaining 50% paid before shipment. Trade terms available: EXW Foshan, FOB Guangzhou, FOB Shenzhen, CIF, DDP (on request).
MOQ and lead time — direct answers
What is the minimum order quantity?
We accept OEM and ODM orders, with a minimum order quantity of 100 pieces per design. Mixed-design container orders start from 300 pieces total, with at least 100 pieces of each design.
Can I order less than 100 pieces for a first order?
The minimum for OEM and ODM production orders is 100 pcs per design, including first orders. Samples are available from 1 piece before a bulk order. Sample orders require 100% payment in advance.
Is the MOQ per design or per order?
Per design. 100 pcs per design is the production run for one SKU. If you are filling a container with several designs, the order-level minimum is 300 pcs total across mixed designs, so you can take 100 of one bed, 100 of a wardrobe and 100 of a storage basket rather than 300 of a single item.
How much does a sample cost and how long does it take?
$80-350 depending on size, wood species and finish complexity. Sample orders require 100% payment in advance. Existing designs take 7-10 days; a new design from your drawings takes 15-20 days. Sample charges are refunded against the first bulk order of the same design. Sample freight is paid by the buyer (courier account or prepaid).
When does the production lead time start counting?
Counted from signed sample approval and receipt of deposit, not from the date of enquiry. Add 7-10 days in the four weeks before Chinese New Year and during the October Golden Week.
Does the lead time change with quantity?
Yes, but less than most buyers expect: 100-500 pcs takes 30-35 days, 500-1,000 pcs takes 35-40 days, 1,000+ pcs takes 40-45 days. Finishing is the bottleneck, not machining — the 4-coat system plus a 48-72 hour cure costs the same number of days no matter the run size.
Do you have seasonal capacity constraints?
Yes. Capacity is booked 4-6 weeks ahead between July and October. Add 7-10 days in the four weeks before Chinese New Year and during the October Golden Week. Buyers shipping for Q4 retail typically place orders by early July.
How fast do you reply to a quotation request?
Quotations on existing designs are returned within 24 working hours. New designs requiring a drawing review or a BOM build-up take 48-72 hours.
What are your payment terms?
Sample orders require 100% payment in advance. Bulk orders require a 50% deposit, with the remaining 50% paid before shipment. All quotations are in USD.
Where to go next
CatFurnitureHome production team — Tira Chan, Export Sales Manager, with the workshop supervisors in Lecong Town, Shunde District, Foshan. Last reviewed 2026-09-03. Figures on this page are indicative for standard specifications; confirmed values are issued with your quotation.
Need a firm date, not a range?
Send the design, quantity and required delivery date. We confirm the achievable ship date against current line loading and return it with the quotation within 24 hours.