Can MOQ 2026: the complete guide (250, 330, 500 ml — real prices and thresholds)
The single most frequent question we get: 'What is the minimum order quantity to produce my cans?'. The honest answer: it depends on the co-packer, the format, the liquid and how prepared you are. This guide gives the real 2026 numbers from the European market, format by format, with matching price ranges.
1. MOQ: what it really means
MOQ = Minimum Order Quantity. It is the minimum quantity a co-packer accepts to produce for a given customer, on a given SKU. It is not marketing — it is the quantity below which the plant loses money on changeover (washouts, line setup, labelling).
In reality MOQ has three axes: - MOQ per SKU (a unique reference = recipe + format + artwork) - MOQ per run (a single line pass = potentially several SKUs) - Raw-material MOQ (minimum liquid to formulate, often 1,000–5,000 L)
Ignore any of the three = nasty surprise.
2. Real MOQs by format in Europe (2026)
Ranges observed across major European co-packers: - 250 ml sleek can: 8,000–30,000 units/SKU - 330 ml standard can: 5,000–20,000 units/SKU - 330 ml slim can: 10,000–30,000 units/SKU (fewer lines equipped) - 500 ml can: 12,000–40,000 units/SKU (less common format)
Traditional co-packers (Konings, Refresco, Britvic) typically run at 100,000+ per SKU. Newer co-packers built for emerging brands (Drinkworks, BeerSelect, Riviera) go down to 5,000–20,000.
3. Unit price by volume tier
2026 ranges for a 330 ml standard can, non-alcoholic RTD, 4-colour design, delivered on Euro pallet: - 5,000 units: €0.80–1.20 (ideal retail pilot run) - 10,000 units: €0.65–0.95 - 20,000 units: €0.55–0.80 (first serious run) - 50,000 units: €0.45–0.65 - 100,000 units: €0.40–0.55 - 250,000 units: €0.35–0.48 - 500,000 units+: €0.30–0.42
These prices include liquid, printed can, seaming, labelling, secondary packaging (carton or tray + film) and palletisation. They exclude formulation, transport and storage.
4. Fixed costs: why small runs are expensive
Fixed costs amortised over volume: - Printed can artwork sign-off: €1,500–4,500 (plate + colour proofs) - Line setup fee: €800–2,500 (cleaning, calibration) - Release analyses: €400–900 per run - Post-production storage: €25–40 / pallet / month
On 5,000 units, these costs add €1.00 per can. On 100,000 units, €0.05. That is the real reason MOQs exist.
5. How to negotiate a lower MOQ
Six real levers: - Accept sharing a production window (your run inside a day already open = no extra cleaning) - Sign a 12-month forecast (the co-packer amortises setups across runs) - Share artwork with other SKUs (same plate = no extra sign-off) - Accept a wide delivery window (4–8 weeks vs 'urgent') - Pay 100% on order (cash flow = leverage) - Deliver clean, compliant artwork from the start (cuts prepress time)
6. Below the MOQ: 4 alternatives
If you do not have the budget or the market for 20,000 cans: - Microbrewery / mobile canner: MOQ 500–3,000 units but unit cost €1.50–2.50, variable quality - 250 or 330 ml glass: similar MOQ (3,000–10,000) with sometimes lower cost and premium positioning - Pre-launch on pre-order (Kickstarter, Ulule): validate demand before producing - Industrial crowdfunding: pool several brands on one run at the co-packer
Worst option: forcing a co-packer below their technical MOQ. You will get degraded quality.
FAQ
What is the real minimum MOQ for 330 ml cans in 2026?
European co-packers focused on emerging brands accept from 5,000 units per SKU. Below that, you fall into artisan micro-canning with unit costs 2 to 3× higher.
Why is the 330 ml slim MOQ higher than the 330 ml standard?
Far fewer lines in Europe are equipped for the slim format. Technical scarcity pushes MOQs to 10,000–30,000 vs 5,000–20,000 for the standard can.
Does the MOQ cover several designs?
No. MOQ is per SKU. Three flavours = 3× MOQ minimum. Some co-packers will accept a grouped MOQ on a single run if flavours share the same liquid base.
How much does printed-can artwork sign-off cost?
Between €1,500 and €4,500 depending on the number of colours (up to 8) and design complexity. It is a one-off cost per SKU, amortised across all future runs with the same design.
Ready to move into production?
Our industrial team replies within 24 business hours: feasibility, MOQ, unit cost, timeline.