Quality inspection in China: types, AQL and costs
By Chen Jing, QC Lead · Last updated September 8, 2026
A pre-shipment inspection is the moment your money and your goods are both still negotiable: the batch is checked against your spec before the balance payment, on site, with photos and video. AQL sampling covers most orders; 1-by-1 checks cover the ones that cannot fail. Skipping inspection does not save its cost; it just moves it to your warehouse.
Why inspect before the balance payment
Once goods land in your warehouse, every defect is your problem: return freight to China is rarely economical, the factory has your balance, and the season is running. Inspected at the factory, the same defects are the supplier’s problem: sorting, rework and re-production happen at their cost, because the report exists before the money moves. Inspection does not add cost to an order; it moves the cost of failure back across the ocean.
The four inspections, in order
| Type | When | Catches |
|---|---|---|
| Sample check | Before bulk | Spec misunderstandings while they are free to fix |
| DUPRO (during production) | 20-60% complete | Systematic errors before the whole batch has them |
| PSI (pre-shipment) | 80-100% packed | The final verdict before the balance payment |
| CLC (container loading) | At stuffing | Quantity, right goods, loading damage, seal number |
AQL, explained with a real example
AQL sampling inspects a statistically defined sample (per ISO 2859) instead of every unit: at the common AQL 2.5/4.0 levels, a lot passes or fails based on defects found in the sample, classified critical, major and minor. It is fast, standardized and right for most consumer goods. For high-value or zero-tolerance products we inspect 1-by-1: every unit, function-tested, which is the default our clients know from our order process.
Concretely, on a 3,000-unit order at general inspection level II, the standard tables call for a random sample of 125 units: the lot passes at AQL 2.5 with up to 7 major defects in the sample and fails at 8, with zero critical defects tolerated. You approve the AQL levels in the booking, so pass and fail are defined before anyone opens a carton.
What the report contains
Quantity and packing check against the packing list, product measurements and weights against your spec sheet, workmanship review with every defect photographed and classified critical/major/minor, barcode and labeling verification, carton drop test where relevant, and the on-site tests that fit your product. Every report ships with photos, video and a clear pass/fail within 24 hours of the visit. The balance payment then has evidence behind it.
The tests that matter, by product family
| Product family | On-site checks that matter |
|---|---|
| Textiles & apparel | Measurement charts, GSM, colorfastness rub test, stitching, needle detection where required |
| Electronics | Function test 1-by-1, charging cycles, hi-pot where applicable, accessories and manuals |
| Furniture | Assembly fit, finish, moisture content, hardware, carton drop test |
| Toys & children’s goods | Sharp points and edges, small parts, labeling against EN71/ASTM requirements |
| Bags & footwear | Stitching, zipper cycles, hardware pull, logo placement, drop and abrasion checks |
What an inspection in China costs
Inspections price per man-day, published on our fees page. One man-day covers most orders up to a few thousand units at a single site in the main clusters; multi-site orders, 1-by-1 protocols on large quantities and remote factories add days, quoted before you book. Against the value of a container, it is the cheapest line on the order.
China-specific traps an inspector must know
Golden-sample drift: production quietly diverges from the approved sample; the approved unit travels with our inspector, not the factory’s memory of it. The presentation layer: best cartons stacked where inspectors reach first; we pick cartons at random from the full lot, by serial. Self-inspection photos: factory-provided QC reports and photos are marketing, not evidence. The re-inspection question: when a lot fails, the re-inspection after rework is at the factory’s cost, and that clause belongs in the PO, not in the argument afterwards.
“The factory’s best day is the day you inspect. Make sure that day is representative: random cartons, your spec on the table, and no balance until the report says so.”
Quality inspection in China FAQ
How much does an inspection in China cost?
Per man-day, published on our fees page. One day covers most orders up to a few thousand units at one site.
AQL or 1-by-1: which should I choose?
AQL for standardized goods and healthy margins for error; 1-by-1 for electronics, high value, or when a defect reaching a customer costs you the account.
What if the inspection fails?
The balance waits. Typical outcomes: sorting and rework at the factory’s cost, partial acceptance with a discount, or re-production of failed units. The report is your leverage; that is why it happens before payment.
Can the factory refuse an inspection?
A factory that refuses third-party inspection is answering your real question. Inspection access belongs in the purchase order from day one; ours always includes it.
Do you inspect 100% of units?
When it matters, yes: 1-by-1 function testing is our default on electronics and high-value goods. For standardized products, AQL sampling gives statistical confidence at a fraction of the time.
Book eyes inside the factory
Send your order details and spec. We schedule the inspection and your balance waits for evidence.
Get a free quote →