Ask any supplier for a price and the first thing you will hear is "it depends on quantity". That is true. But a good supplier will also show you how.

We publish our volume curve so you can see what a bigger order does to your price before you ask.

The curve

Volume discount tiers: trial pricing at 500 to 999 pieces; 8 to 12 percent off at 1,000 to 2,499; 15 to 20 percent off at 2,500 to 4,999; 22 to 27 percent off at 5,000 to 9,999; 30 to 35 percent off at 10,000 and above — Our published curve, per piece. We confirm the tier on your quote.

500 to 999 pieces: trial pricing

1,000 to 2,499 pieces: 8 to 12 percent off

2,500 to 4,999 pieces: 15 to 20 percent off

5,000 to 9,999 pieces: 22 to 27 percent off

10,000 pieces and above: 30 to 35 percent off

The trial tier is above the base price, and we say so openly. Trial runs are the smallest orders we take. They carry a small premium because setting up a run for a few hundred pieces costs nearly as much as for a few thousand.

What it looks like on one piece

Say a piece has a base price of $10. Here is what it comes to at each tier:

1,000 to 2,499 pieces: $8.80 to $9.20

2,500 to 4,999 pieces: $8.00 to $8.50

5,000 to 9,999 pieces: $7.30 to $7.80

10,000 and above: $6.50 to $7.00

So moving from a 1,000-piece order to a 5,000-piece order cuts the price per piece by roughly 15 percent. That is real money, but you only get it if you will use the pieces.

Why the price falls

Making a batch has fixed costs. The loom or the dye lot has to be set up. The samples have to be approved. The cartons and labels have to be prepared. Those costs are the same for 500 pieces or 5,000. The more pieces you share them across, the less each piece carries.

What it means for bed linen

Bed linen is quoted in sets, not pieces, and a set is three pieces (one flat sheet and two pillowcases). Our trial order starts at 200 sets. The curve above is our published curve for pieces. For bed linen, we confirm where each tier begins on your quote. If you tell us now that you plan to grow, we'll quote both sizes.

How to use the curve

Plan the year, not the month. If you will use 5,000 sheets this year, one order may cost less than four. But only if you have the space and the cash, and only if the product is proven.

Test first. Do not place a big order on the strength of a sample. Run a trial order and a wash test.

Watch shelf life. Linen does not go off, but your needs change. A change of brand standard or colour can leave stock stranded.

Count the whole cost. A lower price per piece can be undone by storage, freight on a heavier order or tied-up cash. See the landed cost guide.

Ask for the full ladder. A quote with only one quantity hides the curve. Ask for two or three.

Four things that also move price

Quantity is not the only lever. Your price also moves with the thread count, the colour, the packing and the delivery terms. See why two 300 thread count sheets cost different amounts. For ways to negotiate without hurting quality, read how to negotiate with Indian linen suppliers.

Where to start

If you are not sure how much to order, begin with the hotel linen budget calculator. It turns rooms and par level into quantities and applies our published volume discount. Then ask us for a quote with two quantities, and we'll show you the difference.