Three rules decide how a finished-zipper order is counted. The minimum order is usually 1,000 pieces. Colors can be mixed within that order. And because dyeing is arranged per color, any color ordered below 2,000 pieces carries a dyeing fee of RMB 150 for that color.
Once you see how the three fit together, planning a color split takes a few minutes, and the cost of each option is clear before you send an inquiry.
The minimum counts the whole order
The 1,000-piece minimum applies to the order as a whole, not to each color. An order of 1,000 pieces can be one color or several, as long as the split is agreed.
That makes it practical to order a range of colors for a collection without committing to a large quantity of each. Whether a color can go as low as a particular quantity is confirmed when we review the split.
Why dyeing is charged per color
Zipper tape is dyed color by color. Each color goes through its own dye run, which is how the shade stays consistent across the batch.
That is where the fee comes from. At 2,000 pieces or more, a color carries its own dye run with no extra charge. Below that, the color still needs its own run, and the RMB 150 fee covers it.
A worked example
Take an order of 3,000 pieces:
- 1,000 pieces in each of three colors: every color is below 2,000 pieces, so the dyeing fee is 3 × RMB 150 = RMB 450.
- 2,000 pieces in one color and 1,000 in another: only one color is below 2,000 pieces, so the fee is RMB 150.
The total quantity is the same. What changes is how many colors sit below the 2,000-piece line.
When mixing colors is worth the fee
A fee on a small color is often the cheapest way to get what a collection needs:
- Development and sampling runs, where several colors are needed in modest quantities to test a range.
- Collections with many colorways, where each garment color needs a matching zipper.
- Accent colors that appear on only part of a range.
If the design allows, merging a few similar shades into one color can bring it to 2,000 pieces or more and remove the fee.
Zipper rolls are quoted separately
These rules apply to finished zippers. Zipper rolls, the continuous chain that you cut and fit yourself, are quoted separately, so share the quantity and colors you need and we will quote them directly.
From sample to bulk
For standard specifications, a sample usually takes about 3 days. Once the sample and the order details are confirmed, bulk production usually takes about 10 days. New colors, special structures, or orders with many styles can take longer, and we confirm the schedule before the order is placed.
What to send with your inquiry
The fastest quotations start with the split already written out:
- the colors, with a color card number, fabric swatch, or reference sample
- the quantity of each color
- the material, size, and structure, for example a size 5 resin zipper or nylon zipper, closed-end or open-end; if the material is still open, our comparison of metal, resin, and nylon zippers can help
- the length of each zipper
Our guide to preparing a zipper inquiry covers the rest, and the FAQ answers the most common questions about quantities and timing.
Conclusion
A finished-zipper order starts at 1,000 pieces, can mix colors, and carries a RMB 150 dyeing fee for each color below 2,000 pieces. Knowing that, you can plan the split so the fee is either avoided or clearly worth paying.
Send your color split through our quote page, and we will confirm the quantities and the dyeing fees before anything is produced.