Sunglasses Manufacturers in China: Regions, Samples and MOQs
Quick answer: China makes most of the world's sunglasses, and each region works at its own level. Duqiao, in Linhai (Zhejiang), turns out high volumes of budget and fashion sunglasses; Wenzhou is a big export eyewear base across price points; Xiamen specializes in mid-to-high-end sunglasses made for brands; Shenzhen in premium frames; and Danyang (Jiangsu) supplies lenses. Match the region to your price point, then compare factories on how they make the frame (injection-molded plastic, TR90, acetate or metal), which lenses they can source, and what your logo and case add to the minimum. Run at least two sample rounds before bulk. The US rules (FDA impact testing, UV and polarized claims) are covered in our sunglasses compliance and QC guide.
Where sunglasses are made in China
| Region | What it's known for | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Duqiao, Linhai (Taizhou, Zhejiang) | Over 250 million pairs of sunglasses a year, about 30% of China's output | Budget and fashion styles, stock designs in large ranges |
| Wenzhou (Ouhai), Zhejiang | One of China's largest eyewear industries; over 80% of output exported | Export OEM across price points |
| Xiamen, Fujian | Mid-to-high-end sunglasses; local figures credit it with most of China's output at that level | Brands paying for finish, polarized lenses and consistency |
| Shenzhen (Henggang, Longgang) | Premium frames in acetate, metal and titanium | Higher price points and optical-style frames |
| Danyang, Jiangsu | Lenses: over 400 million a year, roughly 70% of China's lens output | Where many factories buy their lenses; not mainly a sunglasses assembler |
The region narrows the search; it doesn't pick the factory. Within each one you'll find makers, assemblers that buy frames and lenses in, and traders selling stock.
Maker, assembler or trader?
A pair of sunglasses has three main parts made in different places: the frame, the lenses, and the hinges and small hardware. Most sunglasses factories mold or cut frames in-house and buy lenses from a lens maker. Ask which steps happen under their roof: molding or cutting, polishing, coating, logo printing, assembly. A factory that molds its own frames can change colors and add your logo without a middleman. A trader is useful for small mixed orders of stock styles, but can't explain a defect in the hinge or the coating. To check who you're talking to, see who you actually buy from in China.
Frame type drives price, feel and minimums
| Frame | How it's made | Feel and price | What sets the minimum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Injection-molded plastic | Molded in a steel mold | Light, cheapest | Color runs on an existing mold; a new shape needs a new mold |
| TR90 | Injection-molded nylon-based material | Light and flexible, good for sport and kids' styles | Same as above |
| Acetate | Cut from sheets, then polished largely by hand | Premium, heavier, adjustable with heat | Sheet colors and patterns, and more hand finishing per pair |
| Metal or titanium | Formed parts, soldered and plated | Thin and refined | Part tooling and plating color batches |
Lenses are a separate choice. TAC polarized lenses (a polarizing film laminated between layers) are cheap and common but have low impact resistance. Polycarbonate is the most impact-resistant. Nylon lenses offer better optics at a higher price. Mirror and gradient coatings photograph well but need checking on samples for peeling.
A custom frame shape means a new mold, which is a one-off cost. If you pay for it, agree in writing that it's yours and won't be used for anyone else.
Branding: what each option adds
- Logo printed on the temple (pad printing or silk screen): the cheapest way to brand a stock frame.
- Laser-marked logo on the temple or the lens corner: no ink to rub off.
- Metal logo plate set into the temple: looks premium, but needs a small tool for the plate.
- Case, pouch and cloth with your logo: often from separate suppliers, each with its own minimum.
- Retail box, hang tag or insert card with care and lens information.
Each option carries its own minimum, and the highest one sets your order size. Ask the factory which item is binding before you design around it. Our packaging and branding page shows what can be added at our warehouse.
What to put in your request for quotation
- Frame material, color (with a physical or Pantone reference) and finish (matte or gloss).
- Size in the standard eyewear format: lens width, bridge width and temple length in millimeters, for example 54-18-145.
- Lens material, color, polarized or not, and coating.
- The claims you plan to make, such as UV400 or polarized, and the test reports you'll need to support them.
- Hinge type: standard or spring hinge.
- Logo method and position, case, cloth and packaging.
- Quantity per color, a target ready date, and the drop-ball test certificate required with each shipment.
Send the same document to three or four factories so the quotes can be compared line by line. Our strategic sourcing guide covers the full RFQ process.
Running samples
- Stock samples from two or three factories. Compare weight, hinge feel, lens clarity and how the frame sits. Look through the lens at a straight edge to spot distortion.
- A pre-production sample in your color, lens and logo. Check it against your spec sheet line by line, and get the test documents for this lens type before you approve.
- Keep the approved pair as the golden sample. Every batch is checked against it.
The batch QC checklist (polarization, UV spot checks, alignment, hinges) is in our sunglasses compliance guide, so we won't repeat it here.
Timing a seasonal product
Sunglasses sell hardest in spring and summer in the Northern Hemisphere, while Chinese factories stop for Chinese New Year, which falls on February 6 in 2027. Work backward: samples approved in the autumn, bulk produced and inspected before the holiday, stock in place before spring demand starts. A reorder placed right after the holiday lands while factories are still getting back to full speed.
A worked cost example
Take a hypothetical first order of 500 pairs of polarized TR90 sunglasses with your logo printed on the temples, at $3.60 a pair: $1,800 of product. The PackQuay sourcing fee in tier 1 is 10% ($180), plus 2.5% for private label ($45), so $225. Cases and cloths are quoted separately. 20% of the batch is inspected free. Per order, pick and pack is $2.00 on days with 1 to 19 paid orders, and a second pair of the same style in the same order adds $0.50. Every parcel from China to the US pays duty, so price on landed cost. Full rates are on our pricing page.
How PackQuay helps
We find sunglasses factories in the right region for your price point, send one spec sheet to several of them, follow samples to an approved golden pair and ask for the test documents before bulk. Batches are checked and stored at our warehouse in Xinxiang, Henan, and each order ships with your case and branding. Send us the styles you're considering on WhatsApp.
FAQ
Where are most sunglasses made in China?
Duqiao in Linhai, Zhejiang, makes about 30% of China's sunglasses, mostly budget and fashion styles. Wenzhou is a large export eyewear base, Xiamen focuses on mid-to-high-end sunglasses, Shenzhen on premium frames, and Danyang in Jiangsu supplies most of China's lenses.
What is the minimum order for custom logo sunglasses?
It depends on the branding method and the frame. A logo printed on a stock frame usually has the lowest minimum, while metal logo plates, printed cases and a new frame shape each carry their own tooling and minimums. Ask which item sets the order size.
Which sunglasses lens material is best?
Polycarbonate is the most impact-resistant and the easiest to get through impact testing. TAC is the usual cheap polarized lens, and nylon offers better optics at a higher price. Choose for your price point, then test samples.
How do I know if I'm dealing with a sunglasses factory or a trader?
Ask which steps happen in-house, such as molding or cutting frames, coating, logo printing and assembly, and ask for a short live video of those lines. Traders can be fine for small mixed orders of stock styles.
Do sunglasses from China need FDA approval?
There's no approval, but non-prescription sunglasses are FDA-regulated medical devices: lenses must pass the drop-ball impact test and each shipment should come with a test certificate. Our sunglasses compliance guide covers the details.