What 300 hoodies from Bangladesh really cost to make and land

Big export factories in Bangladesh usually ask for 1,000 pieces or more. That is not the only route. Below we cost one realistic first order from the factory to the door: 300 basic pullover hoodies in one colour. Our example uses 300–330 GSM cotton or CVC (80% cotton, 20% polyester) fleece, a one-colour chest print, a woven label and a polybag. GSM means grams per square metre, a measure of fabric weight.

Who will make only 300 hoodies?

The MOQ (minimum order quantity) is the smallest order a factory accepts. At small and mid-sized export factories in Bangladesh it is usually 1,000 pieces per style per colour (July 2026). The largest plants want 5,000–10,000. Exporters say the limit is set by the fabric mill, not the sewing floor.

A smaller group of makers publish much lower minimums: 100 blank or 200 printed, 150 per style per colour and 300 per style. These are the sellers’ own claims from their websites in 2026. Linking to them is not a recommendation; run our five checks before a deposit on any maker you shortlist.

The trade-off is price. One 2026 seller guide estimates that unit costs rise by about 50% below 300–500 units.

What does the factory charge per hoodie?

Factory prices are quoted FOB (Free On Board). The price covers making the goods and loading them onto the ship in Bangladesh. After that, freight, insurance, duty and delivery are your costs.

At 300 pieces, published price lists point to about $9–13 a hoodie. One maker lists $8–14 at 300 pieces; another lists $11.40 at 100 and $10.80 at 500. Our mid-point estimate is $10.50. Bigger runs cost less: one exporter lists $6.50–9 at 1,000 pieces, and another $8.90 at 3,000 or more.

Our estimated FOB build-up, based on one maker’s line-item costs and fabric price listings (October 2026):

Cost line	300 pieces	3,000 pieces
Fabric (0.65–0.80 kg per hoodie)	$3.60–5.60	$3.40–5.00
Cut and make (CM, the sewing labour)	$2.50–4.00	$1.50–2.20
Trims and packing	$0.80–1.50	$0.50–0.90
One-colour print or small embroidery	$0.60–1.80	$0.30–0.90
Overhead, quality checks and margin	$0.80–1.50	$0.50–1.00
FOB per hoodie	$9–13 (mid $10.50)	$6.50–9

Fabric is the largest line, about 40% of the price in our estimate. The price of 30/1 carded cotton yarn rose from $2.70/kg in December 2025 to $3.50/kg on 31 August 2026. If fabric prices jump again, $10.50 may be low.

Directory listings show hoodies at $4.00–6.85 FOB. Those are asking prices for plain bulk orders of 500–1,500 pieces, not checked quotes for a printed 300-piece run.

How much does a hoodie cost landed?

Landed cost is the full cost of getting goods to your door: factory price, freight, duty and fees. Duty depends on where you sell:

• UK: 0% for Bangladesh with proof of origin, against a standard 12% (checked 12 October 2026). Proof of origin is the document showing the goods were made in Bangladesh. Without it, you pay the full rate.
• Canada: 0% under the Least Developed Country Tariff; the normal rate is 18%. After graduation, Canada has stated only an intent to keep this for three years.
• US: 16.5% normal duty plus 10% Section 301 duty since 24 July 2026, so 26.5% on the FOB value. Section 301 is a US trade law that lets the government add tariffs. If polyester is the main fibre, the total is 42%. The US has also suspended its duty-free route for low-value parcels for all countries.

Bangladesh is due for LDC graduation, leaving the UN list of Least Developed Countries, on 24 November 2026. It has asked to delay this to 2029; as of 11 October 2026, no final UN decision had been published. The EU and UK say duty-free access continues for three more years, to at least the end of 2029. Our duty guide sets out each market’s timeline.

Our estimate for 300 hoodies at $10.50 FOB, shipped by sea in a shared container (LCL, less than container load):

Cost line	London	New York
FOB (300 × $10.50)	$3,150	$3,150
Samples and courier	$150	$150
Freight to door	$750	$850
Customs broker (US: plus bond)	$130	$300
Duty	$0	$835
US processing fees	–	$38
Total for 300	$4,180	$5,323
Per hoodie	$13.90 (about £10.50)	$17.70
Realistic range	£9–14	$15–23

Freight figures are our estimates, guided by published LCL rates. UK broker fees run about £50–150 per declaration, and the US fee follows the merchandise processing fee schedule. We convert at £1 ≈ $1.32.

Air or express costs more but takes 1–2 weeks: our estimate is about $18.10 (£13.70) a hoodie in London and $22.40 in New York. Spot air rates from Dhaka were about $4.50/kg to Europe and $6.50–7/kg to the US and Canada in May 2026.

UK import VAT of 20% adds about $2.50 a hoodie in our estimate. VAT-registered businesses can usually reclaim it. A third-party final inspection costs $268–298 per inspector-day, about $1 a hoodie on this order.

Why do extra colours cost more?

Minimums usually count per colour, because each colour is a separate dye lot. Three colours means three minimums. Splitting 300 pieces into three colours of 100 adds about $0.50–1.50 a piece in our estimate, and only small-order makers accept it. One colour in four sizes, S to XL, is the cheapest start.

How long does it take, and how do you pay?

1. Sample: $60–120 at one maker and $150–400 at another, made in 7–15 days. The first maker refunds it on orders over 200 pieces.
2. Bulk production: 20–35 days after sample approval, plus 1–3 weeks for fabric and trims.
3. Payment: usually 30% deposit, 70% before shipment.
4. Shipping: about 6–8 weeks door to door to London by sea, 8–10 weeks to New York (our estimate).

An order placed in October 2026 should land by sea around February 2027. It will not arrive for this winter.

What this means for your order

Plan on about £10.50 a hoodie landed in London, or $17.70 in New York, then get two or three real quotes before you set a retail price. Start with one colour, send a tech pack (the spec sheet with fabric weight, fibre content, measurements, print size and colour references), wash-test the sample for shrinkage, and pay the balance only after a final inspection. Loom & Harvest does factory checks, sample coordination and pre-shipment inspections for fixed fees; you can send an enquiry.