OEM space capsule pods start at one unit on an existing shell and reach ten units before a new profile becomes economic. New tooling runs $6,000 to $15,000, samples take 15 to 30 working days, and FOB prices as of 2026 sit between $11,800 and $33,000 per unit depending on floor area.
Most OEM programmes that go wrong fail on sequence, not price: a colour approved after the panels were laminated, a drawing signed after the frame was cut. This guide covers the three numbers a procurement team needs before issuing a purchase order — the minimum quantity that unlocks your specification, the tooling cost and its ownership, and the calendar from brief to loaded container.
What OEM actually changes on a capsule
Three commercial models get used interchangeably in this industry, and they price differently.
Private label — a stock model from our range, with your logo, your colour and your packaging. No engineering. One unit is enough.
OEM — a stock structural shell built to your layout, your specification schedule and your brand. The shell geometry is ours; the building inside it and the documentation are yours.
ODM — a new shell, new proportions, new exterior. This is a product development project, not a purchase order, and it is priced and scheduled as one.
The distinction matters because a capsule is constrained on the outside and free on the inside. Body width is fixed at 3.5 m and external height at 3.2 m across the M-Series, because both are transport decisions before they are design decisions. Inside those envelopes, almost everything can move: partition positions, wet core location, glazing within the structural bays, floor area in 0.5 m steps along the length, finishes, circuit count, voltage and frequency. A request for a 3.8 m wide unit does not extend the range — it resets the jigs, and it is quoted as ODM. The full map of what is fixed and what is flexible is set out in our guide to custom capsule house scope, and it is worth reading before you brief anyone.
For a trade buyer, that means OEM is usually cheaper and faster than it sounds: a layout change costs drawing hours, not tooling.
MOQ: what the number actually depends on
Published MOQs in this category range from one unit to ten, and the spread is not arbitrary. The MOQ is set by the least flexible thing in the order.
If you are changing a layout, there is no MOQ worth arguing about — one unit is fine, because the change is cut on the same jig as the standard plan. If you are changing a finish, the constraint is the material supplier's minimum: a custom PVDF colour is typically a 500 kg order, which is enough panels for three to five units, so the factory will either absorb the surplus or ask you for it. If you are changing the shell profile — a new width, a new roofline, a curved end — the constraint is tooling, and tooling only amortises above roughly ten units.
| Order type | Typical MOQ | Tooling | Sample lead time | FOB effect vs stock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock model, your logo and colour | 1 unit | $0 | 10–15 working days | 0% |
| Re-specified interior, glazing, electrical | 1–2 units | $0–$1,500 | 15–20 working days | +3% to +7% |
| New shell profile or new body length | 10 units | $6,000–$15,000 | 25–35 working days | +8% to +15% |
| Full new model (ODM) | 10–20 units | $12,000–$25,000 | 30–45 working days | +10% to +20% |
Two clarifications we give every distributor. First, a ten-unit MOQ is usually a per-run figure, not a per-year figure: it can be met across two shipments if the specification is frozen once and the second batch is called off within twelve months. Second, it applies to the new element only — eight units of a new profile and forty of a stock model can sit on the same contract, and the stock units hold the base price.
Where buyers misjudge MOQ is on mixed containers. A ten-unit order split across four models and three lengths will not load cleanly, and the freight penalty on a half-filled 40HQ is larger than the discount it was chasing. Below about four containers, standardise the model.
Tooling cost, line by line
"Tooling" is the vaguest line on a capsule quotation, so break it into components. These are the ranges we quote, and what we see from other Shandong factories.
Aluminium extrusion dies, for a new frame profile: $400–$1,800 per profile, 20–30 days to first article. A shell typically needs four to six profiles, so $2,000–$8,000 including the trials.
Forming and welding jigs, one per station for a new geometry: $800–$3,500 each, two to four stations.
Composite moulds for a curved end cap or a shaped wet core tray: $2,500–$9,500, and this is the item that usually decides whether a curved design is worth building.
Panel lamination moulds for a non-standard panel width or a profiled surface: $1,500–$4,000.
Export crates and stacking frames sized to the new pack: $300–$900, and these are consumable rather than reusable.
The arithmetic that matters is amortisation. Take a new profile at $12,000 of tooling. Across five units that is $2,400 per unit, which usually erases the advantage of the new design. Across twenty units it is $600, which sits comfortably inside the 8–15% premium a differentiated shell commands at retail. That crossover, between ten and fifteen units, is the honest answer to whether to tool.
Two points for the contract. Tooling is normally paid with the deposit and is your property once paid; ask for a written schedule listing each die and mould, its cost, and a commitment to retain it for at least three years so a repeat order does not pay twice. And ask who pays for modification — dies get adjusted during first-article trials, and "included" versus "billed at cost" is a four-figure difference.
The sampling calendar, stage by stage
Sample timing is quoted as one number — 15 to 30 days — which never includes the parts you control. This is the full path for a re-specified unit, where most OEM orders sit.
| Stage | Duration | What you receive |
|---|---|---|
| Brief and feasibility | 3–5 days | Specification summary, exclusions list, indicative FOB |
| Drawing set | 5–7 days | Plan, elevations, wall section, single-line diagram, water and waste layout |
| Drawing sign-off | 2–5 days | Frozen specification — this date starts the clock |
| Sample build | 15–30 days | Finished unit, photographed at frame, panel, first fix and final |
| Inspection and video walk-through | 1–2 days | Electrical continuity, pressure test, door and window operation |
| Sample shipment | 14–22 days to US West Coast | One kit, export crated |
A sample is charged at 100–130% of the unit price, because it consumes a production slot and is built by the same line as a sold unit. Most factories, including ours, credit 50–100% of that charge against the first volume order — ask which, and get it in the quotation rather than in an email.
Approve the sample against a written checklist, not photographs. The four items that cause disputes later are panel colour in daylight, the wet core at the tray-to-wall junction, socket positions against the drawing, and extract fan noise. Keep the approved unit, or sealed material coupons, as the golden sample; a factory that will not hold one will interpret your specification differently on unit forty.
If your opening date is fixed, work backwards from it: 30 days sample, 30 days production, 25 days sea freight, 30 days site works and commissioning — about 115 days before any drawing revisions. That is the number for your board, not the production lead time on the quotation.
Price by volume, and one landed cost
FOB bands as of 2026, for a standard specification with bathroom, kitchenette, air conditioning and factory wiring terminated at one external point:
| Model class | Floor area | FOB per unit, 1–4 units | FOB per unit, 10–19 units |
|---|---|---|---|
| M10 class, flat-pack, 5.8 m | 20 m² | $11,800–$17,500 | $10,600–$15,900 |
| M30/M50 class, 9–10 m | 24.5–30 m² | $15,500–$24,000 | $14,100–$21,800 |
| M42/M70 class, 12 m | 42 m² | $21,000–$33,000 | $19,100–$30,000 |
Step discounts on a single model and specification: 4–6% at 5–9 units, 8–12% at 10–19, 12–18% at 20–49. The curve is steepest between one and five, because that is where fixed engineering and setup are absorbed — which is why the one-five-ten comparison is worth asking for in writing.
Price is only half the delivered number. Worked example — one M10 at $14,200 FOB, shipped to Los Angeles, duties at the rates in force in late 2026:
| Line | USD |
|---|---|
| Unit, FOB Qingdao | 14,200 |
| Export crating and haulage to port | 380 |
| Ocean freight, share of a 40HQ at two kits | 3,400 |
| Marine insurance, 0.4% of CIF | 75 |
| Duty: 2.9% MFN + 25% Section 301 + 12.5% country surcharge | 5,737 |
| Port charges, ISF, broker, clearance | 650 |
| Drayage to site, 120 km | 780 |
| Crane, 4 hours, roof and wall panels | 900 |
| Levelled pad or adjustable screw piles | 2,400 |
| Trenching and connection to power and water | 3,200 |
| Landed and installed, before land and permits | 31,722 |
Verify duty before you commit, because it moves. Confirm the classification and current Chapter 99 treatment with your broker in writing: steel modular building units have been classified under HTS 9406.20 at 2.9% MFN, and the China-specific additional duties have changed repeatedly since 2018. The full build-up is in our price and landed cost guide.
Freight moves more than duty does. A 40HQ measures 12.03 m × 2.35 m × 2.69 m internally, with a door aperture of 2,340 mm × 2,585 mm and a payload of roughly 26,000–28,000 kg; a flat-packed 20 m² kit loads two to three of those, while an assembled 12 m unit does not pass the door at all. China–US West Coast 40HQ rates in late 2026 have been quoted anywhere from $2,600 to $7,500 depending on booking window and carrier, so plan at $3,000–$3,500 per kit where two share a box. The clearance sequence is set out in our guide to shipping a capsule overseas.
A twelve-week OEM programme
This is the schedule we hold for a ten-unit order on a re-specified existing shell, counted from purchase order.
| Week | Activity | Buyer action |
|---|---|---|
| 0–1 | Brief, feasibility, quotation with exclusions | Confirm destination voltage, climate data, site access |
| 1–2 | Drawing set issued | Engineer and brand review |
| 2–3 | Drawings frozen, deposit paid | Freeze. No changes after this point |
| 3–4 | Material and colour coupons approved | Approve in daylight, retain the coupon |
| 4–8 | Production, hold-point photographs weekly | Review photographs, raise snags in writing |
| 8–9 | Pre-shipment inspection, full function test | Attend or book third-party inspection |
| 9–10 | Packing, load plan issued, container booked | Confirm booking and ISF filing |
| 10–12 | Loading at Qingdao, vessel departure | Receive documents, arrange clearance |
Two things break this schedule, and neither is production. A change after the frame is cut sends the unit back two stages and takes a slot allocated to another buyer, so a ten-unit order can slip four to six weeks. A material that has to be imported adds lead time before the line starts. With drawings frozen and standard materials, the dates hold.
The documentation pack that should ship with an OEM order
This is the list we issue with every export order, and it is the list to ask for from any factory quoting against us: dimensioned plan and wall section; electrical single-line diagram at the destination voltage; water and waste layout; finish schedule with material names; panel specification stating core material and thickness in millimetres; structural design statement with the wind and snow loads used; CE declaration of conformity for the electrical assembly where the EU is the destination; ISO 9001 certificate with the issuing body's number; packing list and load plan drawn to scale; and a warranty split by component — structure, panel, coating, electrical and wet core carry different terms.
Be precise about what a factory can and cannot provide. We supply structural calculations, material declarations and component test reports. We cannot declare a building compliant for a jurisdiction we do not operate in — that declaration belongs to the importer or the engineer of record. Units are engineered to meet typical requirements for wind, snow and seismic loads; the design statement tells your engineer which assumptions were used so they can be checked locally. For anything touching permits or occupancy, confirm with your local authority before you order.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOQ for OEM space capsule pods?
One unit for a private-label build on an existing shell, or a re-specified interior. Ten units is the practical minimum for a new shell profile, because tooling of $6,000–$15,000 only amortises at that volume. Full ODM projects usually start at ten to twenty units.
How much does capsule pod tooling cost?
Nothing on a stock shell. $0–$1,500 for a re-skin. $6,000–$15,000 for a new profile including extrusion dies, jigs and a composite end cap. $12,000–$25,000 for a complete new model. Tooling is paid with the deposit and belongs to the buyer.
How long does a sample take?
15 to 30 working days from drawing sign-off for a re-specified unit, 10 to 15 days for a stock model with your logo, and 25 to 45 days for a new profile. Add 14 to 22 days of sea freight to the US West Coast if you need the unit in hand.
Can I order one unit to test the market?
Yes. Minimum order is one unit on every M-Series and Y-Series model, shipped with full production, packing and export documentation. The penalty is freight, not price: one kit in a 40HQ carries the whole container charge.
How many units fit in a 40HQ container?
Two to three flat-packed 20 m² kits, or one kit where the wet core ships assembled and the panels are crated individually. A 12 m unit ships flat-packed only — an assembled 12 m shell leaves 30 mm inside a 40HQ and cannot pass the 2,340 mm door aperture.
What payment terms are normal for an OEM order?
30% deposit with the order and 70% before shipment; letters of credit are accepted above roughly $50,000. Tooling and sample charges are usually payable with the deposit. Avoid any request for full payment in advance.
If you are comparing MOQs, send the destination port, floor area, unit count, electrical standard, and whether you will brand the product or resell it as is. That returns a configuration, a tooling position and a delivery plan rather than a catalogue page. The range starts with the 20 m² M10 flat-pack capsule and runs to the M70 flagship; for a phase-two order, the 42 m² M42 with smart control as standard is the model most distributors settle on, and the 16.8 m² Apple Cabin covers the entry price point. Buyers building a reseller business should start with the reseller and developer guide, and anyone still choosing a factory should read how to vet a Chinese capsule supplier.
