Sourcing glossary
Tooling
Also known as: Moulds, Molds, Tooling cost, 模具, 금형
The custom moulds, dies, jigs and fixtures a factory makes to produce a specific design, usually charged to the buyer as a one-off cost before mass production.
Injection moulds, die-cutting tools and metal stamping dies can cost from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars, and making them adds weeks to the lead time. Some factories refund or amortise the cost over a quantity of orders; ask how it is handled before you pay.
Paying for tooling does not automatically mean you control it. Put in writing that you own the moulds, that they may only be used for your orders, and whether you can move them to another factory. See OEM vs ODM.
Related terms
Guides that use this term
Private label
Custom Packaging from China: Options, Printing, MOQs and Labels
How to order custom packaging from China: poly bags, colour boxes, mailers and inserts, printing methods, MOQs, dielines, barcodes and origin marking.
Updated 2026-09-24 · 5 min read
Private label
How to Negotiate MOQ with Chinese Suppliers
Why Chinese factories set minimum order quantities and practical ways to lower them: stock colours, shared materials, trial orders, mixed SKUs and how to ask.
Updated 2026-09-18 · 5 min read
Compliance
How to Calculate Landed Cost When Importing from China
A step-by-step landed cost formula for China imports: product cost, freight, insurance, duty, VAT, fees and delivery, with why US and EU/UK duty bases differ.
Updated 2026-09-17 · 6 min read
Suppliers
China Manufacturing Hubs: Which City Makes What (Cluster Map)
A verified map of China's industrial clusters by product: where toys, socks, shoes, eyewear lenses, appliances, ceramics, furniture and hardware are made.
Updated 2026-09-14 · 6 min read
Private label
Product Samples from China: Types, Costs and How to Evaluate Them
Stock, custom, pre-production and golden samples explained: what they cost, who pays, sample fee refunds, express shipping and how to judge a sample properly.
Updated 2026-09-11 · 5 min read
Private label
OEM vs ODM: Which Manufacturing Model Fits Your Product?
OEM, ODM, private label and white label compared: who owns the design, tooling costs, MOQs, lead times and how to protect your IP when manufacturing in China.
Updated 2026-09-04 · 6 min read
Part of OEM & Private Label.