Oct 14, 2026Product Planning
Pool Robot MOQ and Lead Times, Explained
Neutral stock from 100–300 units, private label from 500, ODM from about 120 days. What each route includes and what really sets your lead time.
Two questions come up early in almost every conversation with a new buyer: what's the minimum order, and how long will it take? Both answers depend on how much of the product you want to change. We run four kinds of programs, and each one trades quantity and time for more control over the product.
Neutral stock: 100–300 units in 7–14 days
Neutral stock is an existing model in neutral packaging, with no logo. It's the fastest way to get units into a market: minimums start at 100–300 units and orders ship in 7–14 days. It suits a buyer who wants to test a model, fill a gap mid-season or see how a product sells before committing to their own packaging.
Private label: 500–2,000 units, about 90 days the first time
Private label puts your brand on an existing model: your logo, a housing color from the available range, your packaging and manuals in your market's languages. Minimums run from 500 to 2,000 units depending on the model. A first program takes about 90 days, and repeat orders take 30–45 days.
Most of the difference between those two figures is approvals. The first time round, packaging artwork, color samples and the translated manual all need sign-off before boxes can be printed and the run can start. On a repeat order they're already approved, so we go straight to production and to the water test every unit gets before packing.
Volume programs: 2,000+ units
For seasonal orders of 2,000 units or more, we plan production ahead so the units are ready for your season. It's the route for a retailer placing one large order before the pool season, or a distributor stocking several models in a single shipment.
ODM: from about 120 days, usually 5,000+ units a year
ODM is a new design built for your market. It takes from about 120 days and usually runs as an annual program of 5,000 units or more. It makes sense when no existing model fits your price point or your customers' pools, and you're planning a full year of volume around it.
What really sets your timeline
On a first order, three things set the pace besides production. The first is samples: test them in your own market before you approve packaging, and give that real time in your plan. The second is approvals for artwork, color and the manual, which move as fast as both sides answer. The third is documents. Lithium-powered robots need a UN38.3 report and an MSDS before a forwarder will book them, and market certifications such as CE or FCC are issued per model, so confirm the documents for your exact model before you finalize the order.
Working back from your season
The simplest way to plan is backwards. Start with the date the robots need to be in your warehouse, subtract your shipping time, then subtract about 90 days for a first private-label program plus the time you need to test samples. If that date has already passed, start with neutral stock this season and move to private label for the next one.
FAQ
Can we start with neutral stock and move to private label later?
Yes. That's what neutral stock is for: test the model in your market, then switch to your own packaging on the next order.
Are the MOQs the same for every model?
No. The ranges above show where programs start, and we confirm the exact quantity and timing by model.
Do these lead times include shipping?
No. They cover the time until the goods are ready to ship. Add your sea or air freight time on top.
Planning your first program? Tell us your market, models and target quantity in the form below. We'll suggest the right route and confirm MOQ and timing for each model.
Written by the Silver Home OEM program team.
