Manufacturing
How board games get made, from quotes and samples to card stock, boxes, and quality control.
How board games are manufactured
A walkthrough of the board game manufacturing process, from file handoff and pre-production through printing, assembly, and shipping.
Domestic vs. overseas manufacturing
The real tradeoffs between manufacturing your board game in China versus domestically, covering cost, quality, components, and logistics.
Finding a manufacturer
How to find and vet board game manufacturers, from community recommendations to trade shows and first-contact questions.
Requesting quotes
How to request manufacturing quotes for your board game, what information factories need, and how to compare responses.
Understanding MOQs
What minimum order quantities mean in board game manufacturing, why they exist, and how to handle them as a small publisher.
What goes into a manufacturing quote?
How to read a board game manufacturing quote line by line, including unit price, tooling, packing, trade terms, and payment schedule.
Samples and prototypes
How to use manufacturer samples and factory prototypes to evaluate quality and components before committing to production.
Pre-production copies
What a pre-production copy (PPC) is, why approving it carefully is the most important quality step in manufacturing, and what to check.
Component materials
A guide to the materials board game components are made from, including punchboard, wood, plastic, and specialty pieces, and their cost tradeoffs.
Card stock and finishes
Understanding card stock weight (GSM), core color, and finishes like linen and varnish, and how they affect feel, shuffle, and cost.
Box construction
How board game boxes are made, from greyboard thickness and wrap to lid fit, inserts, and shelf presence, and what drives box cost.
Quality control
How quality control works in board game manufacturing, including factory QC, third-party inspections, and handling defects.
How much does it cost to manufacture a board game?
Realistic board game manufacturing costs per unit and per print run, the landed cost concept, and how manufacturing cost relates to retail price.