Custom Sunglasses RFQ Guide for Factory Quotes

This guide is for brands, importers, distributors, promotional buyers, and retail teams that need factory quotes they can compare. A vague RFQ creates bad pricing. One supplier may assume basic lenses and bulk packing. Another may include polarized lenses, retail packaging, testing, and tighter inspection. Those are not the same quote. A good RFQ tells the factory what to price: frame construction, lens material, UV and category requirements, decoration method, packaging, sales market, inspection level, quantity ladder, and shipping term. Use this checklist to compare OEM sunglasses suppliers on the same basis and catch exclusions before sampling or production starts.

Start With Commercial Scope, Not a Logo Mockup

Many buyers send a product photo and a logo file with one question: "How much for custom sunglasses?" That is not a complete quote request. It forces the supplier to guess.

Start with the commercial scope. Define quantity, sales market, delivery date, target price range, order purpose, and incoterm before discussing Pantone colors, hinge finish, or mirror lenses.

Factories price differently at different quantities. Setup time, machine changeover, lens cutting, logo fixtures, packaging purchases, inspection labor, and scrap are spread across more or fewer units. A one-color pad print on an existing frame may work for a small trial order. A new injection mold, custom metal badge, printed hard case, or multiple lens options usually needs more planning. It may also carry separate MOQs or tooling charges.

Be direct. Tell the factory whether you need a low-cost promotional item or a retail-ready product. State your target price range and your non-negotiables so the supplier can quote the right construction, not an overbuilt or under-specified product.

• Quantity: show pairs per design, per frame color, and per lens option; do not give only a total program quantity.
• Market: EU, US, Australia/New Zealand, UK, Canada, or mixed markets; optical standards, labeling, and chemical requirements may differ.
• Order purpose: sample run, launch order, promotional campaign, distributor stock, replenishment, or annual contract.
• Timing: separate sample approval date, bulk ready date, and required arrival date.
• Incoterm: EXW, FOB, CIF, DDP, or courier sample shipment; these prices are not interchangeable.
• Target positioning: promotional, mass retail, sport, fashion, kids, or premium retail.

Specify Frame Construction, Material, and Fit Tolerances

The frame drives tooling cost, cycle time, scrap risk, finishing labor, durability, and perceived value. "Plastic frame" is too vague. An injected PC frame, injected TR90 frame, cut acetate frame, and metal combination frame use different materials, processes, components, and inspection points.

If you are open to existing tooling, write "quote existing molds first." Ask the supplier to identify the mold or style reference used for the quote. Existing molds can reduce engineering risk and sampling time, but the schedule still depends on material availability, lens availability, decoration setup, and factory capacity.

New injection molds need drawing review, tooling, trial shots, adjustment, and approval. Timing depends on frame complexity, undercuts, temple design, inserts, and multi-color parts. Do not assume a new mold follows the same timeline as an existing frame.

Include fit dimensions where they matter: lens width, bridge, temple length, frame front width, lens height, pantoscopic angle if relevant, and base curve. Also define inspection points such as hinge alignment, temple opening, lens seating, screw tightness, nose pad position, and logo placement.

Use measurable tolerances. For example: "Logo front edge 42 mm from hinge screw center, tolerance ±0.5 mm." If you do not define fit and tolerance, the factory can only quote a general style. Not a controlled product specification.

Define Lens Material, Category, UV, and Coatings

Lenses are a common reason two quotes look similar but are not. One supplier may quote basic tinted lenses. Another may include UV400 performance, mirror coating, hard coat, or TAC polarization. The mockup may look the same. The cost and compliance risk are not the same.

Your RFQ should name lens material, lens color, visible light transmission category or VLT range, UV requirement, coating stack, thickness if critical, and polarization.

For fashion sunglasses, AC and PC lenses are common. PC is more impact resistant than many basic plastics and is often used for sport or kids programs. TAC polarized lenses reduce glare and are common in outdoor, fishing, driving, and retail programs. They cost more. They also need careful handling and assembly to reduce stress marks, edge issues, and warping.

• Material: AC, PC, TAC polarized, nylon, or another required material.
• UV: state UV400 or the exact requirement tied to the sales market and product standard.
• Category/VLT: specify lens category or visible light transmission range, especially for EU and Australia/New Zealand labeling.
• Color: smoke, brown, green, blue, yellow, gradient, mirror, or approved sample match.
• Coating: hard coat, mirror, hydrophobic, anti-scratch, anti-reflective, or none.
• Polarization: polarized or non-polarized; request a polarization check method if important.
• Warnings: include required warnings such as not for direct sun observation, not for night driving, children's use, or driving suitability where applicable.

"Same as photo" is not enough for lenses. Provide a physical reference, approved sample, target VLT/category, or written color standard.

For EU programs, reference CE EN ISO 12312-1 where applicable. For the US, reference ANSI Z80.3 where applicable. For Australia/New Zealand, reference AS/NZS 1067 where applicable. State chemical requirements such as REACH separately from optical performance. They address different risks.

Decoration: Specify Method, Position, and Durability

Decoration looks simple in a flat mockup. It is not simple on sunglasses. Temples are narrow. Surfaces curve. Products are handled often.

The decoration method affects setup charge, fixture design, defect rate, color consistency, durability, and inspection criteria. A one-color temple pad print is a different job from a recessed metal logo badge or laser engraving on plated metal.

Give exact instructions: vector artwork, logo size in millimeters, placement reference, color, side, finish, and durability expectation. Example: "Right temple only, white pad print, 18 mm wide, centered vertically, front edge 42 mm from hinge screw center, placement tolerance ±0.5 mm." That gives production and QC something to measure.

Ask whether logo setup charges, screens, pads, engraving programs, metal badge tooling, and first-article approval samples are included.

For durability, name the test: tape test, dry rub, sweat resistance, alcohol rub, or standard visual inspection only. Avoid "logo must be good quality." It cannot be inspected consistently.

Packaging, Labeling, and Cartons Change the Quote

Packaging can change both unit cost and landed cost. A polybag with barcode sticker, microfiber pouch, printed paper box, hard case, retail hangtag, and instruction leaflet all have different purchase MOQs, packing labor, carton dimensions, and freight volume.

If the RFQ says only "with packaging," the quote is not firm.

State the exact unit pack: polybag, pouch, soft case, hard case, paper box, retail card, cleaning cloth, hangtag, instruction leaflet, warning card, and barcode label. For distributor bulk, you may want one pair per polybag and a fixed number of pairs per inner box. For e-commerce, crush resistance and carton drop risk may matter more than shelf appearance. For retail, label accuracy matters: SKU, barcode, country of origin, lens category, warnings, CE mark where applicable, importer details where required, and product traceability information if your market or retailer requires it.

1. Define unit packaging and material: PE bag, microfiber pouch GSM, paper box board weight, EVA case, or metal case.
2. Define printed content: logo, barcode, model number, lens category, warnings, country of origin, and compliance marks where applicable.
3. Define packing ratio: pieces per inner box and pieces per export carton.
4. Define carton marks: SKU, color, quantity, gross weight, net weight, carton number, and destination.
5. Ask whether packaging is included in the unit price or quoted separately with its own MOQ.
6. Confirm who supplies barcode data, print artwork, warning text, and final label approval.

Packaging also affects lead time. Simple bulk packing may fit normal production timing. Printed boxes, custom pouches, zipper cases, custom hangtags, and metal badges often need separate artwork approval and material purchasing.

Ask the supplier to state the production trigger clearly: sample approval, deposit receipt, artwork approval, and packaging file confirmation. If barcode data, warning text, or retail artwork changes after packaging production starts, expect cost or schedule changes.

Compliance and Testing: State the Market Requirement

Compliance requests should be specific. Asking every supplier for every certificate wastes time and often produces irrelevant documents. State the sales market, product standard, chemical requirement, and whether you need existing reports, new third-party testing, or shipment documents only.

For sunglasses, common requirements include CE EN ISO 12312-1 for many EU programs, ANSI Z80.3 for US sunglasses, AS/NZS 1067 for Australia/New Zealand, REACH for EU restricted substances, and FDA registration or FDA-related documentation where applicable to the US market. ISO 9001 and BSCI may support factory-level quality and social compliance review. They do not replace finished-product testing for the sunglasses being sold.

A report for one style may not cover another. A black PC frame with smoke category 3 lenses is not the same as a tortoise acetate frame with blue mirror TAC polarized lenses. Lens material, lens category, coating, frame material, paint, plating, printed parts, and packaging components can all affect the required checks.

Ask the supplier or test lab to confirm report applicability. Do not assume.

Practical RFQ wording: "Product is for EU retail sale and must meet CE EN ISO 12312-1 and REACH. Quote production to this requirement. Please state whether third-party testing on the final approved sample is included or excluded, identify any existing reports that may apply, and list the cost and lead time for new testing if required."

This wording makes compliance cost visible. If testing, courier samples to the lab, re-test fees, label review, or documentation preparation are excluded, add them to your comparison sheet before choosing a supplier.

Quantity Breaks, Samples, Tooling, and Lead Time

A serious RFQ asks for a price ladder, not one number. Quote the same specification at several quantities so you can see where setup costs flatten out.

At lower quantities, logo setup, lens cutting, packing labor, and material purchasing can have a larger per-unit effect. At higher quantities, material purchasing, packaging purchasing, and production scheduling may become more efficient. That only works if the design and approvals are stable.

Separate product MOQ from accessory MOQ. A frame may be possible at one quantity, while a custom box, pouch, metal badge, or printed label may have a different minimum.

Also ask whether tooling, logo fixtures, sample freight, third-party testing, pre-shipment inspection, and export cartons are included.

Lead time must start from a defined trigger: approved sample, approved artwork, deposit received, confirmed packaging files, and all materials available. If any of these are missing, the production clock has not truly started.

Rush orders are possible only when raw materials, mold capacity, decoration capacity, packaging, inspection, and QC slots are available. Require written assumptions, especially when the quote depends on existing mold availability or current material stock.

Copy-Ready RFQ Template and Quote Checklist

Use a structured RFQ so every supplier answers the same questions. It speeds comparison and exposes weak answers. If a factory skips lens category, packaging, testing, lead-time assumptions, or exclusions, ask again before comparing prices.

1. Company and project: buyer name, sales market, order purpose, launch date, target price range.
2. Product type: adult, kids, sport, fashion, promotional, or optical-style sunglasses.
3. Frame: material, existing mold or new design, dimensions, colors, hinge type, nose pad style, finish, tolerances.
4. Lens: material, color, UV requirement, category/VLT, polarized or non-polarized, coating, thickness if critical, compliance standard.
5. Decoration: vector logo, method, color, size, side, location, placement tolerance, durability test.
6. Packaging: unit pack, pouch/case/box, printed items, barcode, warnings, carton packing, carton marks.
7. Compliance: CE EN ISO 12312-1, ANSI Z80.3, AS/NZS 1067, REACH, FDA registration or FDA-related documentation if needed, plus any retailer-specific requirements.
8. Quantities: quote 50, 300, 1,000, and 5,000+ pairs with price validity and MOQ limits, or provide your own required quantity ladder.
9. Samples: sample cost, sample lead time, courier method, whether the sample is production-grade, and what is functional versus cosmetic.
10. Commercial terms: incoterm, payment terms, production lead time, inspection plan, shipment documents, and exclusions.

Attach drawings, reference photos, approved samples, Pantone references, packaging artwork, barcode files, and previous QC notes. Name files clearly. "Right temple logo 18mm white.ai" is better than "final logo new new.ai."

Ask the supplier to list exclusions in writing. A clean quote states whether tooling, testing, sample freight, packaging molds, barcode labels, inspection, export cartons, and duties are included. The lowest unit price is not useful if key parts of the product or compliance work sit outside the number.

Why source this from Wenzhou with LumiShades

Wenzhou in Zhejiang Province is widely regarded as China’s eyewear manufacturing capital, producing a large share of the world’s sunglasses. That concentration matters to buyers: a deep local supply chain for acetate sheet, hinges, lens blanks, plating and packaging means shorter component lead times, easier color and material matching, and a workforce with decades of eyewear-specific skill. LumiShades has manufactured in this ecosystem since 2009, and our vertical integration — in-house injection molding, acetate cutting, CNC milling, lens tinting, decoration and quality control — means no part of your order is quietly subcontracted to a workshop you cannot audit.

For international buyers, that vertical control translates into accountability. When a single factory owns every step, defects are traced and fixed at source rather than bounced between vendors, and your specifications survive intact from first sample to bulk. We back this with 15+ years of experience, shipments to 60+ countries, more than 5 million pairs produced per year and a 98.5% on-time delivery rate. Our certifications — CE EN ISO 12312-1, FDA registration, ANSI Z80.3, AS/NZS 1067, REACH, ISO 9001 and BSCI audit — mean the compliance documentation your market requires already exists. Explore our manufacturing capabilities and quality control process to see how this works in practice.

Frequently asked questions

Can I request a quote with only a product photo? Yes, but treat it as a rough estimate only. For a firm quote, send the photo plus frame material, target dimensions, lens material, UV requirement, lens category or VLT, quantity per color, logo method, packaging, sales market, compliance requirement, inspection expectations, and incoterm. Ask the supplier to list every assumption used.

What quantity should I use for comparing sunglasses suppliers? Use the same quantity ladder for every supplier, such as 50, 300, 1,000, and 5,000+ pairs per design, or another ladder that matches your buying plan. Keep the specification identical at each quantity. Ask suppliers to separate product MOQ from packaging, logo, badge, lens, and accessory MOQs.

Should testing be included in the factory quote? State your preference directly. If the product will be sold in the EU, US, or Australia/New Zealand, ask whether testing or documentation for CE EN ISO 12312-1, ANSI Z80.3, AS/NZS 1067, REACH, or FDA registration-related requirements is included or excluded. Also ask whether any existing report applies to the exact frame, lens, coating, and color combination you are buying. If not, request the cost and lead time for new third-party testing.

How long do samples and bulk production usually take? Sample and production timing depends on existing mold availability, material stock, lens type, decoration, packaging, testing, and factory capacity. Ask for two timelines: sample lead time and bulk lead time. Require the supplier to define when the clock starts, such as after sample approval, deposit receipt, artwork approval, packaging confirmation, and material availability.

Why did two factories quote very different prices for the same sunglasses? They may not be quoting the same product. Check whether both quotes use the same frame material, lens material, UV requirement, lens category, polarization, coatings, logo method, packaging, testing, inspection level, incoterm, payment terms, and quantity assumptions. Put the quotes into a comparison sheet and mark each included or excluded item before judging the unit price.

What is the most common RFQ mistake for custom sunglasses? Leaving lenses and packaging vague. Lens material, UV performance, category/VLT, polarization, and coatings affect cost, compliance, and labeling. Packaging affects unit cost, carton size, freight, barcode accuracy, retail readiness, and lead time. Specify both in writing before asking for a final price.