Where to manufacture hoodies
What a 320gsm French terry pullover hoodie with standard labels and packaging should cost to make in Bangladesh, India, Vietnam, China, and Portugal, at four order sizes. Every price comes from the same model as our free calculator and is FOB per unit, before freight and duty.
01The short answer
Bangladesh costs the least, and Portugal about 70% more
At 500 units, a hoodie should cost $9.58 to $14.98 to make in Bangladesh and $17.05 to $24.82 in Portugal. Most of that gap is the price of a sewing minute. The fabric costs about the same wherever the hoodie is sewn, and it is the largest line on every one.
02Cost by country
What a hoodie should cost, per unit
FOB per hoodie for a 320gsm French terry pullover hoodie with standard labels and packaging. Each range is the model's band, about plus or minus 20%. Choose a country to open the calculator with it selected.
| Country | 300 units | 500 units | 1,000 units | 5,000 units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | $11.02 to $17.55 | $9.58 to $14.98 | $8.65 to $13.40 | $7.66 to $11.78 |
| India | $11.64 to $18.30 | $10.13 to $15.62 | $9.14 to $13.98 | $8.10 to $12.29 |
| Vietnam | $12.77 to $19.66 | $11.11 to $16.77 | $10.03 to $15.01 | $8.89 to $13.19 |
| China | $14.47 to $21.82 | $12.59 to $18.60 | $11.37 to $16.64 | $10.08 to $14.62 |
| Portugal | $19.58 to $29.12 | $17.05 to $24.82 | $15.39 to $22.20 | $13.65 to $19.50 |
Cost tables reviewed September 2026. Ranges, not quotes, and FOB only.
03Where the money goes
One hoodie, two countries
The same hoodie at 500 units, built up line by line in the cheapest and the most expensive of the five.
Bangladesh
about $12.28- Fabric630g of French terry, plus 14% loss
- $5.75
- Cut, make, trim30 minutes at Bangladesh rates
- $1.13
- Trims and packagingLabels, closures, and packaging
- $0.90
- Factory overhead and marginLoaded on materials and labor alike
- × 1.29
- Quantity loading500 units: small run
- × 1.23
Portugal
about $20.93- Fabric630g of French terry, plus 14% loss
- $5.75
- Cut, make, trim30 minutes at Portugal rates
- $6.60
- Trims and packagingLabels, closures, and packaging
- $0.90
- Factory overhead and marginLoaded on materials and labor alike
- × 1.29
- Quantity loading500 units: small run
- × 1.23
04Beyond price
The cheapest country is not the whole decision
What each country does well for this garment, and what to watch for before you commit.
Bangladesh
about $12.28 at 500 units
Good at
The lowest sewing cost of the five, and a deep base of knit factories built for fleece and basics at volume.
Watch for
Minimums tend to run higher than elsewhere, and lead times stretch when the fabric has to be imported before cutting can start.
India
about $12.87 at 500 units
Good at
Cotton grown, spun, and knit in the same country, with strong printing and embroidery close at hand.
Watch for
Communication and lead times vary more between factories than prices do, so sample with two before you choose.
Vietnam
about $13.94 at 500 units
Good at
Consistent quality and a strong base in sportswear, which makes it a good fit for technical fleece and performance blends.
Watch for
Costs have risen with demand, and the factories with the best records book their capacity months ahead.
China
about $15.60 at 500 units
Good at
The deepest supply of fabric and trims and the fastest sampling, so custom colors, specialty fleece, and unusual trims are easiest here.
Watch for
Sewing costs more than in the other Asian options, and US import duty on Chinese apparel has changed often since 2025. Check the current rate before you commit.
Portugal
about $20.93 at 500 units
Good at
European quality, smaller minimums, and short transit into Europe, which suits small premium runs.
Watch for
The highest sewing cost of the five, so it pays off on price only when the run is small or the customer is in Europe.
05What moves the price
What changes the price of a hoodie
Each change priced on its own, in Bangladesh at 500 units, against a base of about $12.28.
| Change | Adds about | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Heavyweight fabric, 400gsm | $2.27 | Fabric is the largest line, so weight moves the price more than anything else. |
| Heavyweight fabric, 500gsm | $5.11 | A weight common in premium streetwear. |
| Full zip instead of pullover | $2.74 | A zipper, more sewing minutes, and a little more fabric. |
| Embroidered left chest | $1.66 | Priced per placement. A larger design costs more. |
| Screen print on the back | $1.03 | One placement in a few colors. Each extra screen adds to it. |
| Garment dyed | $1.50 | Dyed after sewing for a washed look, which also adds a shrinkage step. |
| Organic cotton | $1.36 | A fiber premium on the fabric line only. |
06Next
From a range to a real price
A factory quotes the hoodie you describe, so the quotes are only as comparable as the spec behind them.
07Questions
Common questions
- How much does it cost to manufacture a hoodie?
- For a 320gsm French terry pullover hoodie with standard labels and packaging, at 500 units, the model puts the factory price at $9.58 to $14.98 each in Bangladesh and $17.05 to $24.82 each in Portugal. Those are FOB prices at the factory door, before freight and import duty, and they move with fabric weight, decoration, and order size.
- What is the cheapest country to manufacture hoodies?
- Bangladesh, by sewing cost. The gap is mostly the price of a sewing minute, because fabric is the largest line and costs much the same wherever the hoodie is sewn. The least expensive country is not always the best value once minimums, lead time, and the cost of a failed sample round are counted.
- What is the minimum order for custom hoodies?
- Overseas factories commonly start at a few hundred units per style, and many also set a minimum per color. Below about 150 units the price per hoodie rises sharply, because setting up a cutting table and a sewing line costs the same for 100 pieces as for 1,000.
- Do these prices include shipping and import duty?
- No. They are FOB, the price at the factory door. Freight, insurance, and US import duty come on top, and US duty on apparel has changed several times since 2025, so price the landed cost with current rates before you choose a country.
- Are these quotes?
- No. They are should-cost ranges built from published averages for fabric, sewing time, labor rates, and factory margin, last reviewed in September 2026. A real quote depends on the exact spec and the factory, which is why the ranges are wide and why the next step is a tech pack.
Get it made
Hoodies, priced for real.
Send us the hoodie you want made, how many, and when. We will tell you which country fits, and get quotes back side by side.