Minimum order quantity at Senior Flags depends on the product, not the artwork: 10 flags for feather and teardrop flags, 50 pcs for body flags and banners, 100 pcs for national, hand, car, table, wall, garden and pennant flags, and 100 individual flags for bunting. A sample takes 5 to 7 calendar days and bulk flag production 15 to 20 calendar days, both counted from artwork confirmation and excluding shipping.
From our factory
Senior Flags has made custom flags in Lu’an, Anhui since 2003, from a single 24,000 m² factory. Lead times are calendar days counted from artwork confirmation, excluding shipping: samples 5 to 7 days, flags 15 to 20 days, poles, bases, stands and sticks 20 to 25 days, umbrellas and tents 20 to 30 days. Bulk orders generally take a 30% T/T deposit and small orders are generally paid in full; the exact terms are confirmed on the quotation or contract.
MOQ by product
| Product | MOQ | Sample | Bulk production |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feather flags | 10 flags | 5-7 days | 15-20 days |
| Teardrop flags | 10 flags | 5-7 days | 15-20 days |
| Body flags | 50 pcs | 5-7 days | 15-20 days |
| Custom banners | 50 pcs | 5-7 days | 15-20 days |
| National flags | 100 pcs | 5-7 days | 15-20 days |
| Hand, table and wall flags | 100 pcs | 5-7 days | 15-20 days |
| Car flags | 100 pcs | 5-7 days | 15-20 days |
| Garden flags | 100 pcs | 5-7 days | 15-20 days |
| Pennant flags | 100 pcs | 5-7 days | 15-20 days |
| Bunting | 100 individual flags | 5-7 days | 15-20 days |
| Football fan scarves | 100 pcs | 5-7 days | 15-20 days |
| Car hood covers | 20 pcs | 5-7 days | 15-20 days |
| Outdoor and wall-mounted flagpoles | 20 pcs | 5-7 days | 20-25 days |
| Umbrella bases | 20 pcs | 5-7 days | 20-25 days |
| Hand flag sticks | 100 pcs | 5-7 days | 20-25 days |
| Patio umbrellas and advertising parasols | 10 pcs | 5-7 days | 20-30 days |
| Pop-up tents | 10 sets | 5-7 days | 20-30 days |
| Beach umbrellas | 50 pcs | 5-7 days | 20-30 days |
| Promotional umbrellas | 100 pcs | 5-7 days | 20-30 days |
All times in the table are calendar days counted from artwork confirmation, and none of them includes shipping. Bunting is counted in individual flags, not strings; how many flags go on each string is confirmed on the quotation.
Car mirror covers start at 50 pairs. Beach flag poles start at 50 sets. Car flag poles, desk flag stands and metal garden flag poles start at 100 pcs. Each product page carries the full specification.
MOQ 100 pcsWholesale National FlagsSenior Flags makes national flags of any country in 68D or 100D polyester, 110gsm knitted polyester, 165g spun polyester, Oxford or satin, from 60 × 90…View specifications →Why there is a minimum at all
Buyers often hear “no minimum” from resellers and then a hard number from the factory. The minimum exists because every custom order has fixed work before the first piece: preparing the print for your artwork, matching colors on the sample, setting up cutting and sewing for the size, and packing to your instructions. Spread over 100 pieces, that work is a small part of the unit price. Spread over 5, it is most of it.
A screen printer on r/SCREENPRINTING described the same wall from the buyer’s side: suppliers “will not print anything less than 25 flags”. The number varies by supplier and print method. The reason does not.
Can the MOQ be split across designs or sizes?
Sometimes. Splitting across designs adds print setup. Splitting across sizes can change how efficiently the fabric is cut. We review both against the specific order rather than apply a blanket rule, so say what you want to split in the first enquiry and the quotation will reflect it.
When does the production clock start?
At artwork confirmation. At Senior Flags both the sample time and the bulk production time are counted in calendar days from the day you confirm the artwork, and neither includes shipping.
Suppliers describe this differently, and the difference matters. Some count from “order”, some from “artwork approval”, some from “payment”. Before you compare two quotes, ask each supplier the same question: what event starts your production days, and are they working days or calendar days?
Work backwards from the date you need goods in hand:
- Your delivery date
- minus transit time and customs clearance (typical shipping times are below)
- minus 15 to 20 calendar days of production (20 to 25 for poles and bases, 20 to 30 for umbrellas and tents), counted from artwork confirmation
- minus your own artwork preparation and proof checking time
If you want to approve a physical sample before bulk production starts, ask how that changes the bulk date.
Approval time is the part that slips most. One reseller on r/CommercialPrinting needed feather flags “about a 4 business day turn around or less… blind shipped” for an event a week away. Factory production cannot meet that window, and neither can shipping from China. Production alone takes 15 to 20 calendar days from artwork confirmation before anything ships, so for an event, count back from the in-hand date before the artwork is final.
How long does shipping from China take?
Typical ocean transit from Shanghai or Ningbo, port to port:
| Destination | Ocean, port to port |
|---|---|
| US West Coast (Los Angeles, Long Beach) | 15-20 days |
| US East Coast (New York, Norfolk, Charleston) | 30-40 days |
| Rotterdam, Hamburg and UK ports | 40-50 days while most sailings route around the Cape of Good Hope; 30-35 days on services back on the Suez route |
| Sydney, Melbourne | 14-21 days |
Air freight takes 1-5 days airport to airport, according to Freightos. Door to door always takes longer than port to port: Flexport’s ocean timeliness indicator put the time from cargo ready in Asia to leaving the US West Coast port at 38 days in August 2026. The ocean ranges are based on Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk service information, checked in October 2026. Ask your forwarder for the current routing before you count back.
Can you rush an order?
We do not publish rush timelines. If you have a fixed in-hand date, put it in the first enquiry so the schedule is checked before you pay.
What a complete flag quotation should include
A unit price alone is not a quote. Ask for every line below, so two suppliers can be compared on the same basis:
| Line | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Unit price by size, fabric and number of printed sides | Double-sided and heavier fabrics change the price |
| Sample fee, and whether it is credited against bulk | Sample fees are quoted per item, for example USD 80 on a national flag sample |
| Hardware (poles, bases) priced separately | Feather and teardrop sets often hide pole costs |
| Packing: pcs per carton, gross weight, carton size | Drives freight cost more than unit price on light goods |
| Trade term with a named place (EXW, FCA, FOB, DDP) | Decides who pays freight, insurance and duty |
| Lead time and what starts it | See above |
| Payment terms | Deposit, balance timing, bank charges |
| Quote validity | Fabric and freight prices move |
Real packing examples from our current production:
- National flags: 1 pc per polybag, 150 pcs per carton, GW 16 kg / NW 15 kg, carton 50 × 40 × 30 cm.
- Car window flags: 1 pc per polybag, 220 pcs per carton, GW 10 kg / NW 9 kg, carton 50 × 40 × 30 cm.
- Car mirror covers: 1 pair per polybag, 400 pairs per carton, GW 17 kg / NW 16 kg, carton 50 × 40 × 30 cm.
- Hand flags: 1 pc per polybag, 500 pcs per carton.
- Garden flags: each flag and stand set in its own bag, 250 sets per carton.
- Teardrop flags: each set in its own carry bag, 5 sets per carton.
Without carton count, gross weight and carton size on every line, you cannot calculate landed cost.
EXW, FCA, FOB, CIF, DAP or DDP: which should you ask for?
The trade term (Incoterm) on a quote decides where the factory’s responsibility ends and yours begins.
| Term | What the factory covers | What you cover | Good fit when |
|---|---|---|---|
| EXW (Ex Works) | Goods ready at the factory | All transport, export clearance, freight, import | You have a forwarder who collects in China |
| FCA (Free Carrier, named place) | Export clearance and handover to your carrier at the named place | Main freight, insurance, import clearance, duty | Your forwarder books container or air freight |
| FOB (Free On Board, named port) | Delivery onto the vessel at the Chinese port, export clearance | Sea freight, insurance, import clearance, duty | You book your own ocean freight |
| CIF (named destination port) | Sea freight and minimum insurance to your port | Import clearance, duty, delivery from port | You want the factory to book the ship |
| DAP (Delivered At Place) | Delivery to your address | Import clearance and duty | You handle customs yourself |
| DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) | Delivery to your address, duty paid | Unloading | You want a single landed price |
Three cautions before you choose:
- DDU no longer exists. Incoterms 2010 replaced it with DAP, so treat a quote that still uses DDU as a reason to ask more questions.
- FOB and CIF are sea terms. The ICC classes them as rules for sea and inland waterway transport, and its Incoterms 2020 checklist recommends FCA for containerised goods. CIF also includes only minimum insurance cover (Institute Cargo Clauses C), while CIP requires all-risks cover (Clauses A).
- Low-value US shipments now need a customs entry. The US ended duty-free de minimis entry for goods from China and Hong Kong on 2 May 2025 and suspended it for all countries from 29 August 2025. The suspension is still in force, so even sample and courier shipments pay any applicable duties, taxes and fees. Check the duty on your product with your customs broker before you pick a term.
Tell us your preferred term and the named port or address in your enquiry. The quotation states the term it is based on.
How Chinese New Year 2027 affects your order
Chinese New Year falls on Saturday 6 February 2027, according to the Hong Kong government holiday list. Maersk notes that factories usually cut output two to three weeks before the holiday and may not be back to full capacity until mid-March. Freight space tightens too: Freightos suggests booking freight about four weeks before the holiday.
For goods that must ship before the break, work backwards from mid-January 2027: 15 to 20 calendar days of flag production counted from artwork confirmation (20 to 25 for poles and stands), plus your own artwork and approval time. In practice that means confirming orders in November or early December 2026. We will confirm our own 2027 closure dates and last order date in a separate ordering calendar.
What are the payment terms?
Bulk orders generally take a 30% T/T deposit, and small orders are generally paid in full. The exact terms, including when any balance is due, are confirmed on the quotation or contract. Sample fees are quoted per item: a national flag sample, for example, costs USD 80 excluding freight, and the fee can be credited against the bulk order.
Inspection and repeat orders
Our production has three inspection stages: incoming materials, in-process checks and final inspection before shipment. Customers and third-party inspection agencies can visit the factory by appointment, so you can book a pre-shipment inspection.
Repeat orders usually move faster, because the approved artwork and specification are already on file and no new sample is needed. The 15 to 20 calendar day production window still applies.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOQ for custom flags?
It depends on the product. Feather and teardrop flags start at 10 flags; body flags and banners at 50 pcs; national, hand, car, table, wall, garden and pennant flags at 100 pcs; bunting at 100 individual flags. Poles, bases and stands range from 20 to 100 pcs by item.
How long does a custom flag sample take?
5 to 7 calendar days from artwork confirmation, excluding shipping.
How long is bulk production?
15 to 20 calendar days for flags, 20 to 25 for poles, bases and stands, and 20 to 30 for umbrellas and tents, all counted from artwork confirmation. Your own approval time and shipping are additional.
How long does shipping from China to the US take?
By sea, about 15-20 days port to port to the US West Coast and 30-40 days to the East Coast, plus customs clearance and delivery. Air freight takes 1-5 days airport to airport.
Do small shipments to the US still avoid duty?
No. Duty-free de minimis entry ended for goods from China and Hong Kong on 2 May 2025 and has been suspended for all countries since 29 August 2025, so even sample and courier shipments need a customs entry.
What trade terms do you quote?
Tell us your preferred Incoterm and the named port or address in the enquiry. The quotation states the term it is based on.
When should I order before Chinese New Year 2027?
Chinese New Year falls on 6 February 2027. For goods that must ship before the break, confirm the order in November or early December 2026, so sampling and production finish before factories slow down in mid-January.
Do repeat orders have the same lead time?
Production time is the same, 15 to 20 calendar days for flags, but repeat orders usually skip the sample stage, so the total time is shorter.
Ready to price an order? Send the product, size, quantity, number of printed sides, destination and in-hand date, and we will quote with packing details and lead time. Request a quotation
More buyer guides: flag fabric guide and how we print custom flags. For private-label and repeat programs, see OEM solutions.
MOQ, lead times, payment terms and packing data in this guide were confirmed by Senior Flags in October 2026 and are confirmed again per order at the quotation stage. Shipping times and trade rules come from the sources linked above, checked in October 2026.
