Creator guide / Published August 9, 2026
Kickstarter Dice Manufacturing Guide
Quick answer
Get your manufacturing quote and a physical sample before you launch, not after. Cost each reward tier on real numbers, set your funding goal so the base MOQ is covered, and design stretch goals that add value without exploding your bill of materials or timeline. After the campaign, expect ~25–45 days production once art and payment are locked, plus freight. Building a schedule backward from your promised delivery month is the single most important thing you can do.
Quote and sample before you launch
The most common crowdfunding mistake is pricing a dice reward from a guess, then discovering the real cost after backers have paid. Send your manufacturer the material, faces, quantity range, and packaging before the campaign and get a written quote. If budget allows, approve a physical sample too — a real set in your campaign photos converts better and proves the product exists. Avoid the classic sourcing traps in mistakes to avoid when sourcing.
Costing your reward tiers
Work out landed cost per tier: dice + packaging + freight + fulfillment + platform/payment fees + a margin for lost/damaged replacements. Price the pledge above landed cost, not above unit cost. A dice set that costs a few dollars to make can still lose money once trays, boxes, and shipping are added — so build the full bill of materials early. The pricing guide lists the cost drivers per material.
MOQ, funding goals, and stretch goals
- Cover the MOQ in your funding goal. Custom dice typically start ~100 sets per design; set the goal so a funded campaign always clears the minimum for every SKU you promise.
- Design stretch goals that scale cleanly. An upgraded ink color, an extra die, or better packaging adds perceived value with limited cost/time risk. A brand-new mould or a second material adds real cost and weeks of lead time.
- Watch SKU sprawl. Every color and tier is a separate production and QC line. Fewer, better SKUs ship on time; many small variants invite delays.
The production timeline
| Stage | Typical time | |
|---|---|---|
| Quote + pre-launch sample | Before campaign — 2–3 weeks | Photos + costed tiers |
| Campaign + art finalization | Campaign length + 1–3 weeks | Lock faces & files |
| Sample approval | ~10–21 days | Approve in hand |
| Bulk production | ~25–45 days | By material & effect |
| Freight to hub / backers | Sea 25–40d · Air 5–10d | Plan Incoterms |
Read the full flow in the manufacturing process, and the sea-vs-air trade-off in our shipping dice from China guide.
Fulfillment: direct vs regional hubs
For anything beyond a small run, ship in bulk to a fulfillment partner (US/EU/UK) who mails to backers, rather than posting hundreds of parcels from China yourself — it is cheaper per unit and avoids customs headaches for backers. Confirm who is the importer of record and which Incoterm (EXW/FOB/DDP) you are agreeing to before production.
Pre-launch checklist
- Written quote for every SKU and quantity break.
- Physical sample approved (or on the way) for campaign photos.
- Full landed-cost model per tier, including replacements.
- Funding goal that clears MOQ for all promised SKUs.
- Delivery month set with a buffer behind the real production + freight timeline.
Frequently asked questions
Should I get dice samples before launching my Kickstarter?
Yes. A written quote and a physical sample before launch protect your pricing and improve conversion — real photos of the actual product build backer trust. If a full custom sample is not possible in time, at minimum lock a written quote and use a close in-stock set for reference photos.
How do I price a dice reward tier?
Price on landed cost, not unit cost: dice + packaging + freight + fulfillment + platform and payment fees + a replacement buffer, then add margin. A set that is cheap to manufacture can still lose money once trays, boxes, and shipping are included, so model the full bill of materials before you set pledge levels.
What MOQ should I plan for on a crowdfunding campaign?
Custom dice usually start around 100 sets per design. Set your funding goal so a funded campaign always clears the minimum for every SKU you offer, and keep the number of colors and tiers small so each one comfortably meets its MOQ.
How long does dice production take after the campaign ends?
Plan on ~10–21 days for sample approval and ~25–45 days for bulk production after art and payment are locked, plus freight (sea ~25–40 days, air ~5–10 days). Set your promised delivery month by counting backward from that timeline with a buffer.
Should I ship dice directly to backers from China?
For most campaigns, no. Ship in bulk to a regional fulfillment partner who mails to backers — it is cheaper per unit and avoids customs surprises for each backer. Agree the Incoterm and importer of record before production so responsibilities are clear.
Planning a campaign? Get a costed quote and a pre-launch sample plan for your dice — send your tiers and art and we reply within 24 hours.