2,880 pencils per carton
Factory buyer guide
Calculate finished-pencil quantities: 2,880 pencils in every carton.
Calculate 100 cartons per style as 288,000 pencils. Check mixed orders above 300 cartons at 50 per style, and reconcile retail sets to physical pencils.
Finished pencils: 100 cartons per style, with 2,880 pencils per carton (288,000 pencils per style). For mixed orders totaling more than 300 cartons, the minimum is 50 cartons per style (144,000 pencils). An order totaling exactly 300 cartons does not qualify for this exception.

Who this is for
Importers, distributors, school-supply buyers, private-label brands, promotional-product buyers, and procurement teams converting carton MOQ into saleable units
Use this page to prepare one measurable specification and commercial basis before comparing suppliers.
01
Start with the confirmed count: 2,880 pencils per carton
Finished pencils: 100 cartons per style, with 2,880 pencils per carton (288,000 pencils per style). The count is physical pencils, not retail boxes. Pencil slats, boards, and unfinished bodies use separately agreed quantities and packing.
100 cartons = 288,000 pencils
50 cartons = 144,000 pencils
Finished-pencil policy only
02
Calculate physical pencils before retail sets
Multiply the number of cartons by 2,880. If a retail set contains 12, 24, or 36 pencils, divide the physical pencil total by that set count. For example, 100 cartons contain 288,000 pencils, equivalent to 24,000 twelve-pencil sets, 12,000 twenty-four-pencil sets, or 8,000 thirty-six-pencil sets. These are quantity calculations; the quotation confirms the chosen retail packaging.
Pencils = cartons × 2,880
Retail sets = pencils ÷ pencils per set
Record cartons for each style
Reconcile every packing level to physical pencils
03
Check each style and the total order separately
For mixed orders totaling more than 300 cartons, the minimum is 50 cartons per style (144,000 pencils). An order totaling exactly 300 cartons does not qualify for this exception. Seven styles at 50 cartons each total 350 cartons and 1,008,000 pencils. Six styles at 50 cartons each total exactly 300 cartons and fail the mixed-order threshold.
Default: at least 100 cartons per style
Mixed exception: total above 300 cartons
Mixed exception: at least 50 cartons per style
Whole-carton allocations for each approved style
04
Separate production quantity from samples and overage
Pre-production samples, retained control samples, inspection samples, replacements, and an agreed production tolerance should not be hidden inside an unexplained total. Record which quantities are chargeable, which are shipped, and which remain with the factory or inspection party.
Buyer samples
Factory retained samples
Inspection samples
Agreed tolerance or overage
05
Compare quotations on one carton and delivery basis
Normalize the quoted price by carton, retail unit, set, and pencil piece where relevant. Then compare packing materials, gross weight, dimensions, freight basis, Incoterm, named place, lead-time trigger, inspection, documents, and exclusions before selecting the lowest number.
Price per comparable unit
Carton dimensions and weight
Incoterm and named place
Inclusions and exclusions
Quantity release gate
Approve the carton program only when every unit conversion balances.
A usable plan verifies the quantity of every style, the strict mixed-order threshold where applicable, and the conversion from cartons to physical pencils. It separately records retail sets, samples, tolerance, and shipping units.
Carton definition
Use 2,880 physical pencils per finished-pencil carton, then reconcile the chosen retail and inner packing.
SKU allocation
Assign whole-carton quantities to each grade, color, artwork, pack, and destination variant.
Quantity reconciliation
Make saleable units, physical pencils, samples, overage, and shipped quantity mathematically traceable.
Commercial comparison
Compare suppliers on the same unit, pack, carton, Incoterm, inspection, document, and delivery basis.
Factory quotation route
Approve the carton program only when every unit conversion balances.
Send the measurable product, pack, quantity, destination, sample, inspection, document, and commercial inputs identified on this page. Finished pencils: 100 cartons per style, with 2,880 pencils per carton (288,000 pencils per style). For mixed orders totaling more than 300 cartons, the minimum is 50 cartons per style (144,000 pencils). An order totaling exactly 300 cartons does not qualify for this exception. Order quantities and packing for pencil slats, boards, and unfinished pencil bodies are agreed separately by specification. Samples are for evaluating a planned production order; sample availability, quantity, cost, freight, and timing are confirmed separately.
FAQ
Questions buyers should settle before production.
How many pencils are in 100 cartons?
100 cartons contain 288,000 finished pencils: 100 × 2,880. This fixed pencil count does not define the packing or minimum quantity for raw materials and unfinished bodies.
Can the 100 cartons be split across several colors or designs?
No. The standard minimum is 100 cartons for each style. For mixed orders totaling more than 300 cartons, the minimum is 50 cartons per style (144,000 pencils). An order totaling exactly 300 cartons does not qualify for this exception.
Are samples included in the 100-carton production MOQ?
Samples are for evaluating a planned production order; sample availability, quantity, cost, freight, and timing are confirmed separately. Sample quantities are recorded separately from the production-order quantity.
Should buyers compare price per piece or per carton?
Use both when relevant. The supplier comparison should reconcile price per pencil, set, inner, and carton and also use the same Incoterm, named place, packing, quantity, inspection, documents, and exclusions.
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