“How much does it actually cost?” — it’s the first question every new brand asks, and almost no manufacturer answers it honestly. This guide gives you real numbers for clothing production in Turkey: per-unit costs, setup fees, sampling, and what affects the final price.
6–22€
per unit depending on product
50–150€
typical sample cost
What Determines the Cost?
Before the numbers, it helps to understand what you’re actually paying for. Clothing manufacturing cost in Turkey — or anywhere — is made up of four components:
01
Fabric cost — the single biggest variable. A 180gsm basic jersey costs a fraction of a 400gsm heavyweight fleece or an organic cotton fabric with OEKO-TEX certification.
02
Cut & sew (CMT) — the labour cost of cutting fabric and sewing the garment. More seams, panels, and construction details = higher CMT cost.
03
Branding & finishing — woven labels, hang tags, screen print, embroidery, polybags. These add 1–6 EUR per unit depending on what you include.
04
Quantity — the most powerful cost lever. The difference between 50 pieces and 200 pieces of the same hoodie can be 3–5 EUR per unit. Factories price risk into small orders.
Per-Unit Costs by Product (Turkey, 2025)
These are realistic price ranges for production in Istanbul at 50–150 pieces per style, including fabric and CMT, but excluding branding, shipping, and sampling:
Oversized T-Shirt
6–10€
per unit · 50–150 pcs
180–300gsm cotton jersey. Price rises with heavier gsm and boxy silhouette. Acid wash adds ~1–2 EUR.
Oversized Hoodie
12–18€
per unit · 50–150 pcs
300–500gsm fleece or French terry. Kangaroo pocket and drawstring included. Garment dye adds ~2–3 EUR.
Sweatshirt / Crewneck
9–14€
per unit · 50–150 pcs
Same fabric as hoodie, lower CMT due to no hood construction. Good margin product for brands.
Jogger Pants
10–16€
per unit · 50–150 pcs
French terry or fleece with elasticated waist and cuffs. Often ordered as a set with hoodie or crewneck.
Leggings
8–13€
per unit · 50–150 pcs
4-way stretch fabric, moisture-wicking finish. High-waist construction standard. Pocket adds ~1 EUR.
Sports Bra / Training Top
7–12€
per unit · 50–150 pcs
Stretch fabric with built-in support. Commonly ordered as a set with leggings for activewear brands.
Cargo Pants
14–22€
per unit · 50–150 pcs
Higher CMT due to multiple pockets and panels. Ripstop or twill fabric. Strong demand in DACH market.
Zip-Up Hoodie / Track Jacket
14–20€
per unit · 50–150 pcs
Zipper hardware and placket add to CMT cost. Popular for co-ord sets and sports brands.
Volume discount example
A 300gsm oversized hoodie priced at 16 EUR at 50 pieces typically drops to 13–14 EUR at 150 pieces and 11–12 EUR at 300 pieces. Every doubling of quantity yields roughly 10–15% cost reduction.
Add-On Costs: Branding & Finishing
These costs are on top of the per-unit production price and cover everything that makes the garment retail-ready under your brand:
| Item |
Setup (one-time) |
Per Unit |
| Woven neck label |
80–150 EUR |
0.30–0.60 EUR |
| Printed care & size label |
no setup |
0.10–0.20 EUR |
| Hang tag (350gsm, printed) |
no setup |
0.15–0.30 EUR |
| Polybag with sticker |
no setup |
0.10–0.20 EUR |
| Screen print (1 colour) |
50–80 EUR |
1.50–3.00 EUR |
| Screen print (2–3 colours) |
80–150 EUR |
2.50–5.00 EUR |
| Embroidery (small chest logo) |
40–60 EUR |
2.00–4.50 EUR |
| DTG print (full colour) |
no setup |
3.00–6.00 EUR |
| Puff print |
50–80 EUR |
2.50–4.00 EUR |
Sampling Costs
Before bulk production, you will need at least one physical sample. This is not a luxury — it is the only way to confirm fit, fabric, and quality before committing to a full order.
→
Basic sample (1 piece, no branding) — 50–100 EUR. Covers fabric, cut, and sewing. Used to check fit and construction only.
→
Branded sample (with labels, print/embroidery) — 100–200 EUR. Full representation of what your customer will receive. Recommended for first orders.
→
Sample shipping to Europe — 15–35 EUR by express courier (DHL/FedEx). Arrives in 3–5 days from Istanbul.
→
Sample credit — many factories deduct part or all of the sample cost from your first bulk order once you proceed.
Budget for your first order
A typical first order for a new brand — 100 hoodies + 100 tees, fully branded with woven labels, hang tags, and a chest print — comes to roughly 2,500–3,500 EUR total including sampling and shipping to Europe. This is the realistic cost to launch a two-product collection from Istanbul.
What Affects Cost the Most?
Fabric weight & type
Very high impact
Order quantity (MOQ)
Very high impact
Number of colours & styles
High impact
Construction complexity
High impact
Print & embroidery
Medium impact
Branding (labels, hang tags)
Low–medium impact
Special finishes (acid wash, garment dye)
Low–medium impact
Turkey vs Other Countries: Total Landed Cost
The unit price is only part of the story. The total landed cost — what you actually pay per garment in your hand — includes duty, shipping, and lead time risk. Here is how Turkey compares:
| Cost Factor |
Turkey |
Portugal |
China |
| Hoodie unit price (100 pcs) |
12–18 EUR |
16–24 EUR |
8–12 EUR |
| EU import duty |
0% |
0% |
+12% |
| Shipping cost (100 pcs) |
~80–120 EUR |
~60–100 EUR |
~200–400 EUR |
| Effective unit cost (landed) |
13–19 EUR |
17–25 EUR |
17–26 EUR |
| Delivery time |
3–7 days |
5–10 days |
25–40 days |
Key insight
Once you add import duty and shipping to a Chinese order, the effective landed cost is similar to or higher than Turkey — with four to six times the wait. For European brands, Turkey’s price advantage is real.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do prices include fabric or is it charged separately?
Most Turkish low MOQ factories quote a full CMT + fabric price (sometimes called FOB price). Always confirm what is included: fabric, labels, packaging, or just cut and sew. At CustomApparelIst, we quote a full landed price with all components specified upfront.
Why does price vary so much between factories?
Fabric quality, finishing standard, and the factory’s overhead all affect pricing. A quote of 8 EUR for a hoodie likely means thin fabric, no quality control, and no private label capability. A quote of 18 EUR includes premium fleece, full branding, and proper QC. The cheapest quote is rarely the best value.
Can I reduce cost by providing my own fabric?
Yes — this is called CMT (Cut, Make, Trim) pricing. If you source fabric independently and ship it to the factory, you only pay for labour and trims. This can reduce per-unit cost but adds complexity: you need to manage fabric procurement, quality, and shipping to Istanbul yourself.
Is organic or sustainable fabric significantly more expensive?
GOTS-certified organic cotton typically costs 20–35% more per metre than standard cotton. For a 180gsm tee, this adds roughly 1–2 EUR per unit. Many European brands find this worthwhile given the marketing value and customer expectations around sustainability.
Are there any hidden costs I should know about?
Watch for: (1) setup fees for new patterns — 30–80 EUR per style on first order; (2) colour change fees if ordering the same style in multiple colourways — typically 20–40 EUR per additional colour; (3) express production surcharge if you need a faster turnaround. A transparent factory will list all of these upfront.
Get a Real Quote for Your Collection
Tell us what you want to produce and we’ll send you a full itemised quote within 24 hours — fabric, CMT, branding, and delivery included.
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