24hQuotation response on every brief
Activewear cost
What activewear actually costs to make.
A straight answer on activewear manufacturing cost: indicative FOB ranges, what moves the number, and how the full landed cost is built — so you can compare quotes on the same basis instead of a headline unit price with the real costs stripped out.
3–4 daysStock samples · custom first sample in 7
MOQ 100Stock styles · custom 300–500 by style
AQL 2.5Final inspection by our own QC team
98%On-time delivery · our own record
5,000+Delivered by our count · 100+ countries · since 2018
$8.50–18Indicative FOB · leggings · Aug 2026
$4.50–9Indicative FOB · sports bras · Aug 2026
$40–80Custom sample, per piece · credited back
What buyers need to know
How an activewear quote is really built.
A straight answer on activewear manufacturing cost: indicative FOB ranges, what moves the number, and how the full landed cost is built — so you can compare quotes on the same basis instead of a headline unit price with the real costs stripped out.
What these ranges are, and what they are not
The figures on this page are indicative market ranges for mid-weight synthetic knit activewear produced in China, observed across partner-facility quotations as of August 2026 — not a SEAMDANCE quotation and not a commitment. They assume a single style at mid-volume with standard branding. Fabric choice, construction, quantity, trims and compliance testing move every one of them, in both directions. A real number for your style comes from a real brief: send the specification and the quantity, and the quotation follows within 24 hours.
FOB is not your landed cost
The unit price leaving the factory is only part of it. Samples, labels, packaging, freight and import duties all sit on top. A very low FOB with those excluded routinely ends up more expensive than a fair one that includes them.
What moves the number
Fabric, construction, quantity, branding and compliance — roughly in that order of impact. Nylon-spandex and certified yarns cost more than basic fleece; flatlock and seamless cost more than overlock; volume brings the unit down.
Fabric and constructionWhy we do not chase the lowest quote
An activewear FOB below roughly $3 to $4 usually means substandard fabric or corners cut on labour and QC. We would rather quote a fair, real number than win on a headline price you pay for later in returns.
Samples credited back
Custom sample fees of $40 to $80 per piece are credited against your first bulk order, so validating the product is not a sunk cost. Quotation comes back within 24 hours of a clear brief.
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The lines that are not on a factory quotation
| Cost line | On the factory quote? | What it depends on | Who carries it if you buy direct |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit price (FOB) | Yes — this is the quote | Fabric, construction, quantity, branding | Comparable either way |
| Sampling rounds | Partly | Rounds needed, and how many suppliers you sample with in parallel | You — separately with each supplier |
| Minimum order per supplier | Stated per factory | Each factory sets its own; a four-category range meets four separate minimums | You — as stock you did not intend to hold |
| Freight | No | LCL is charged with a minimum per booking, so three suppliers shipping separately pay that floor three times | You |
| Customs entry | No | Charged per entry, not per garment — three shipments means three clearances | You |
| Inspection before shipment | Sometimes, to the factory’s own standard | Whether an agreed AQL and sealed reference exist, and who inspects against them | You — or nobody |
| Rework or replacement | No | Whether the defect is traced to spec or to production, and who is contractually accountable | You negotiate it, per factory |
| Coordination hours | No | Number of suppliers, time-zone gap, how many approval rounds each category needs | You — usually the founder |
| A slipped launch | No | The slowest supplier sets the date for the whole range | You — in lost selling weeks |
01How much does it cost to manufacture activewear?
As an indicative FOB range (ex-works, before freight and duties): activewear leggings run roughly $8.50 to $18 per piece and sports bras roughly $4.50 to $9, depending on fabric, construction and quantity. Sets stack their pieces. These are industry ranges — your exact quotation depends on the tech pack, materials and volume, and we quote within 24 hours of a clear brief.
02What drives the cost of activewear?
Five things move the number most: fabric (nylon-spandex and recycled or certified yarns cost more than basic cotton fleece), construction (flatlock, bonding and seamless knitting cost more than simple overlock), quantity (higher volume lowers the unit cost), branding (custom colour matching, woven labels and packaging), and compliance (tested or certified materials). Activewear sits above standard knitwear because the machinery and QC are more demanding.
03How much are activewear samples, and how long do they take?
Custom sample fees typically run $40 to $80 per piece, with a lead time of about 2 to 3 weeks for a first sample; stock samples are faster, from 3 to 4 days. On our programs, sample fees are credited back against your first bulk order.
04Why should I be wary of a very low quote?
An FOB quote below about $3 to $4 per piece for activewear usually signals substandard fabric, hidden costs added later, or corners cut on labour and QC. Quality activewear needs fair material and construction investment, and a low unit price becomes expensive once sampling, packaging, freight and duties are added back.
05What is the full landed cost, not just FOB?
FOB (ex-works) is only the garment leaving the factory. Your landed cost adds samples, labels and packaging, freight, and import duties for your market. We map these into one plan so the quote you compare is the cost you actually pay, not a headline number with the real costs stripped out.
A clear approval path
From first direction to shipment release.
Brief review
Product category, market, quantity, target price and launch timing — quotation back within 24 hours.
Material + construction
Fabric, support level, seamless program or cut-and-sew route.
Sample + fit
Prototype, measurements, workmanship and movement review — stock samples in 3–4 days, custom first samples in 7.
Pre-production approval
Color, logo, labels, packaging and sealed production standard.
Bulk + quality control
In-line checks, AQL 2.5 final inspection, packing and shipment release.
Transparent operating model
厦门西丹思供应链管理有限公司 (Xiamen Seamdance Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd.)
Xiamen · Fujian · China
Since 2018Export trading + supply chain management company
Managed network of independent specialist production partners
Company profile Managed network of independent specialist production partners
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