Garment Costing Estimator

What is a garment costing estimate?

A garment costing estimate is the approximate factory price to manufacture one piece of clothing to your specification. For exports it is usually quoted as the FOB price (Free On Board) — the cost of the finished, packed garment loaded at the port of origin, before international freight and import duties.

The Garment Costing Estimator above turns your product choices into an instant per-piece FOB estimate and a full order total, so you can budget a private-label run before requesting a formal quote.

How the costing estimator works

Pick your specification and the tool builds the price from the ground up:

• Product type (t-shirt, polo, hoodie, joggers, etc.) sets the base garment cost.
• Fabric and GSM adjust the material cost — heavier fabric and premium yarns cost more.
• Printing, embroidery, and wash add value-addition costs.
• Packaging covers polybags, hangtags, or custom boxes.
• Order quantity applies a volume adjustment — larger runs lower the unit price.

A worked example

A basic combed-cotton t-shirt at 180 GSM, no print, in a 500-piece run estimates around $2.38 per piece FOB — roughly $1,190 for the order. Add a screen print and a hangtag and the per-piece figure rises accordingly.

Why estimating cost early matters

Knowing your likely FOB price before you design lets you set retail prices, plan margins, and compare suppliers without waiting on back-and-forth quotes. It also helps you decide where to spend — for example, whether a heavier fabric or a premium finish is worth the extra cost for your market.

Factors that change your final quote

• Exact fabric composition, GSM, and yarn count.
• Trims and accessories (zips, drawcords, custom labels).
• Number of print/embroidery placements and colours.
• Order quantity and number of styles.
• Current yarn and dye prices at the time of order.

Frequently Asked Questions