MOQ at FibraCraft is 1 piece. Every fiberglass sculpture is built from a mold made for that specific design, so there is no minimum order quantity to hit. The mold is a one-time tooling cost, typically $1,200 to $1,500, paid once and spread across however many pieces you order.
Why the MOQ Is 1 Piece
Fiberglass (FRP) sculpture is not injection molding. There is no steel die that needs 10,000 shots to pay for itself. The factory builds a mold from your photos, sketches, drawings or 3D files, then hand lays fiberglass and resin into that mold over a welded steel internal frame. One mold can produce one piece or fifty pieces, so the tooling does not force a minimum order.
That is why FibraCraft accepts both one-off custom pieces and batch orders. A hotel lobby wanting a single life-size figure and a franchise wanting 20 identical mascots go through the same first step: mold making, then production. This is the practical difference between a custom fiberglass sculpture manufacturer and a mass-production plastics plant.
The Economics Buyers Should Understand
The mold is the fixed cost. Production is the variable cost. When you order one piece, the entire $1,200 to $1,500 mold cost lands on that single unit. When you order 10 pieces, that same mold cost is divided by 10. The sculpture itself does not get cheaper to make, but the tooling burden per piece drops fast.
This is why 10 separate single-piece orders almost always cost more than one 10-piece order. You would pay for 10 molds instead of one, and you would repeat the setup, sampling and shipping steps 10 times. Buyers planning a rollout should think in terms of one mold and one production batch, even if the pieces ship to different sites.
Below is an illustrative example using a base unit production price of $3,000 per piece and a $1,350 mold. Freight, finish upgrades and site-specific requirements are quoted separately.
| Quantity | Mold cost per piece | Production per piece | Indicative cost per piece | Total (mold + production) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 piece | $1,350 | $3,000 | $4,350 | $4,350 |
| 5 pieces | $270 | $3,000 | $3,270 | $16,350 |
| 10 pieces | $135 | $3,000 | $3,135 | $31,350 |
| 25 pieces | $54 | $3,000 | $3,054 | $76,350 |
| 50 pieces | $27 | $3,000 | $3,027 | $151,350 |
At higher volumes the factory can also trim labor hours through batching, which is why real 25-piece and 50-piece quotes often come in below the flat production figure shown here. The table is a planning tool, not a price list. Your itemized USD quote will list mold cost, production, finish and shipping separately.
Mixed Orders: Different Designs in One Shipment
A mixed order means several different designs produced for one shipment. Each design needs its own mold, so each design carries its own tooling cost. The savings come from combining production and freight: one container, one set of export documents, one delivery window.
For example, a mall project might need 3 animal figures, 2 planters and 1 entrance landmark. That is 6 molds, but they can all run in the same production window and ship together. Sea freight door-to-door (DDP) to any US state typically takes 5 to 9 weeks total, and consolidating pieces into one container is roughly 80% cheaper than shipping large heavy pieces separately by air.
Who Pays for the Mold, and Who Owns It
The buyer pays the mold cost as a line item in the quote. In practice the buyer owns the tooling, and FibraCraft keeps it on file for future reorders. It is not reused for other clients and it is not sold to anyone else.
Keeping the mold matters for two reasons. First, reorders match the original piece exactly, including proportions, mounting points and finish. Second, you skip the design and tooling stage entirely on the next order. If you need the mold shipped to you or transferred to another factory, that can be arranged and is documented in the order paperwork.
Reorder Lead Time and Repeat Orders
The first order includes design confirmation, 3D rendering, mold making and sampling. A reorder skips all of that because the mold already exists. Standard production then runs 3 to 6 weeks from approved design, plus shipping. Very large or complex landmark pieces run 12 to 16 weeks.
Repeat orders are common with hotels refreshing a lobby theme, parks adding a second figure from the same character set, and distributors restocking a proven design. Because the mold is on file, a reorder is a production slot, not a new project. Plan on the same finish standard, the same Pantone color match (about 98% accuracy) and the same steel frame layout as the original.
| Stage | First order | Reorder (mold on file) |
|---|---|---|
| Design and 3D rendering | Included, free | Not needed |
| Mold making | $1,200 to $1,500 | $0 |
| Production window | 3 to 6 weeks | 3 to 6 weeks |
| Pre-production work | Rendering, sampling, approval | Color and finish check only |
| Typical total to US door | 8 to 14 weeks | 5 to 9 weeks |
The table shows where the time goes. The mold is the main difference between a first order and a reorder, and it is the reason repeat buyers can plan tighter installation dates.
Batch Production for Chains, Franchises and Distributors
Chains and franchises order in batches because brand consistency matters more than unit price. One mold means every location gets the same mascot, the same proportions and the same color. Ten molds means ten chances for small differences. Batch production also lets the factory sequence finishing and crating efficiently, which shortens the overall schedule.
Distributors usually order 10 to 50 pieces across a few designs, hold stock, and resell to regional buyers. FibraCraft has delivered 500+ projects worldwide, including 50+ in the United States, since 2017, and works with both end buyers and resellers. Payment terms are standard: 30% deposit to start production, balance before shipment, by wire transfer or credit card. Every piece carries a 12-month warranty against manufacturing and quality defects, documented in writing.
If you are planning a rollout, send the design files and target quantities to request a quote. You will get a free itemized USD quote within 24 hours, with mold, production, finish and shipping listed separately. You can also review our custom FRP sculptures page for material and finish options before you commit.
FAQ
What is the minimum order quantity for a fiberglass sculpture?
The MOQ is 1 piece. Each design gets its own mold, so there is no quantity threshold to reach. One-off custom pieces and batch orders both start with the same free 3D rendering and design consultation.
How much does the mold cost?
Mold and tooling for typical pieces run about $1,200 to $1,500. It is a one-time cost listed as a separate line in your itemized quote, and the mold is kept on file for your reorders at no extra charge.
Is it cheaper to order 10 pieces at once or 10 single orders?
One 10-piece order is cheaper. You pay for one mold at $1,200 to $1,500 instead of ten, and you run one production batch and one shipment. On an illustrative $3,000 unit, the mold adds $135 per piece at quantity 10 versus $1,350 at quantity 1.
How long does a reorder take compared with the first order?
A reorder skips mold making and sampling. Production runs 3 to 6 weeks from approved design, with a typical 5 to 9 weeks total to a US door by sea freight DDP. First orders take longer because tooling is built first.
Can I mix different designs in one order and one shipment?
Yes. Each design needs its own mold, but all pieces can run in one production window and ship in one container. Consolidating into one sea freight shipment is roughly 80% cheaper than sending large heavy pieces separately by air.