Alibaba RFQ: How to Post a Request and Compare Quotes
Quick answer: An Alibaba RFQ (Request for Quotation) is a buying request you post once on Alibaba.com so that many suppliers send you quotes, instead of you messaging each supplier. It works best when you state exact specs, quantity, target price, delivery terms and destination. You then compare quotes on landed cost, not unit price.
Last updated: 13 October 2026.
Key takeaways
RFQ reverses the search. Suppliers come to you, which saves time when you do not yet know who makes your product.
Vague requests get vague quotes. A request with material, size, quantity tiers and Incoterms gets quotes you can actually compare.
Compare on landed cost. A low unit price with high sample, tooling or shipping costs is often the most expensive quote.
Quotes are a shortlist, not a decision. Vet the supplier and order samples before you pay for a full order.
Keep the order on platform. Paying through Alibaba.com checkout keeps Trade Assurance cover and keeps the order eligible for rebates.
What is an Alibaba RFQ and how does it work?
An Alibaba RFQ is a public or semi-public buying request. You describe what you want to buy, and suppliers who make that product reply with a price and terms. Alibaba.com reviews each request before it goes live and then matches it to suppliers in the right category.
The process has four stages:
You post a request with product details, quantity and target price.
Alibaba reviews the request and releases it to the RFQ marketplace.
Suppliers quote through your message centre, often within a day.
You compare and shortlist, then continue the conversation with two or three suppliers.
Alibaba's own marketing says buyers receive up to 15 quotes on average, sometimes within hours, according to Wise's summary of the Alibaba RFQ feature. Treat that as an average, not a promise. Niche or custom products often get fewer replies, and very generic products can get many low-quality ones.
When should you use RFQ instead of searching suppliers?
RFQ is not always the faster route. It wins when you have a clear spec but no supplier list. Direct search wins when the product is standard and listings already show prices and MOQs.
Situation | Better route | Why |
|---|---|---|
Custom or private-label product (logo, packaging, new mould) | RFQ | Listing prices do not reflect custom work; suppliers must quote anyway. |
Standard product with many listings | Direct search | Prices and MOQs are already visible; RFQ adds a waiting step. |
You do not know the right product category or term | RFQ | Suppliers suggest the correct name, material and options. |
You need one specific certified factory | Direct search + filters | Verified and audited filters narrow faster than open quotes. |
Price benchmark for an existing supplier | RFQ | Several quotes on the same spec show if your current price is fair. |
Small test order (under a few hundred dollars) | Direct search or AliExpress | Many RFQ replies assume factory MOQs; a small order may not get serious attention. |
If you are new to the whole process, start with our step-by-step Alibaba sourcing guide and come back to RFQ once you know your spec.
How to post an RFQ on Alibaba, step by step
Menu names change from time to time, but the flow is stable. You can start from the RFQ page or from My Alibaba.
Sign in with a buyer account and complete your profile. A complete business profile gets more serious replies.
Open the RFQ form. Use the "Request for Quotation" link on the homepage, or go to My Alibaba and look for the buying request section.
Write a precise product name. "Stainless steel insulated water bottle 500 ml" beats "water bottle".
Pick the most specific category. Alibaba matches your request to suppliers by category, so a wrong category means wrong suppliers.
Add the specification (see the template below), quantity and unit.
Upload reference photos or drawings. Images cut misunderstanding more than any paragraph.
Set your target price, delivery terms and destination. Include the shipping method you prefer, if you know it.
Submit and wait for review. After approval, quotes arrive in your message centre. Close the RFQ once you have enough.
A copy-ready RFQ template
Most weak quotes come from missing details. Use this structure in the description field:
Product: name, model or reference link, intended use.
Specs: material, size, weight, colour (Pantone if possible), finish.
Customisation: logo method (print, engrave, emboss), packaging type, labels or barcodes.
Quantity tiers: for example 500 / 1,000 / 3,000 units, so you see price breaks.
Target price: per unit, per tier, with currency.
Terms: Incoterm (EXW, FOB or DDP), destination country and port or city.
Compliance: certificates you need, such as CE, FCC or food-contact tests.
Timeline: sample date and target ship date.
Ask for: sample cost, mould or setup fee, lead time, and payment terms.
Asking for quantity tiers is the single most useful line. It shows you the supplier's real cost curve and gives you a starting point for negotiating MOQ and price later.
How do you compare Alibaba RFQ quotes fairly?
Quotes rarely arrive in the same format. One supplier quotes EXW, another FOB, a third DDP to your door. The only fair comparison is landed cost per sellable unit: everything you pay until the goods reach your warehouse, divided by units you can sell.
Here is an illustrative example for 1,000 units. The numbers are made up to show the method, not real market prices.
Cost line | Supplier A (EXW) | Supplier B (FOB) | Supplier C (DDP) |
|---|---|---|---|
Unit price × 1,000 | $2,800 | $3,100 | $3,900 |
Mould / setup fee | $400 | $0 | $0 |
Inland transport to port | $120 | Included | Included |
Freight to destination | $450 | $450 | Included |
Duties, customs, delivery | $380 | $380 | Included |
Landed cost | $4,150 | $3,930 | $3,900 |
Landed cost per unit | $4.15 | $3.93 | $3.90 |
Supplier A had the lowest unit price and the highest landed cost. This pattern is common. Build the same table for every serious quote before you reply to anyone. For freight options, see our comparison of Alibaba shipping methods.
Red flags in RFQ replies
Price far below every other quote. Often a different material, thinner gauge or a bait price that rises after samples.
No questions about your spec. Good factories ask about details; copy-paste replies usually come from traders.
Pressure to move to WhatsApp or email and pay outside Alibaba. This removes buyer protection.
Refusal to send samples or a product photo with your request written on paper.
Company profile that does not match the product (for example, a garment supplier quoting electronics).
What should you do after you receive quotes?
Narrow the list to two or three suppliers. Then move from price to proof:
Vet the supplier. Check business type, years on platform, verification and transaction history. Our guide on how to vet Alibaba suppliers safely has a full checklist.
Order samples from the finalists and compare them side by side. See how Alibaba sample orders work.
Confirm the final quote in writing in Alibaba chat, including spec, packaging, lead time and Incoterm.
Place the order through Alibaba.com with Trade Assurance, using one of the on-platform Alibaba payment methods.
Once your unit price is set, the next lever is what you get back on the order itself. On Alibaba.com, cashback can return up to 9% of qualifying order value, on top of whatever discount your RFQ negotiation produced. The two do not compete. See how cashback works on Alibaba.com sourcing orders, or our cashback guide hub if you also test products on AliExpress.
Frequently asked questions
Is posting an RFQ on Alibaba free?
Yes. Posting a buying request is free for buyers. RFQ access is part of the paid tools that suppliers use, which is one reason you may receive many replies quickly. You only pay when you order samples or place an order.
How many quotes will I get from an Alibaba RFQ?
It varies by product. Alibaba says buyers receive up to 15 quotes on average, but custom or niche products may get only a few. A precise spec, photos and a realistic quantity usually raise both the number and the quality of replies.
Why was my Alibaba RFQ rejected or not getting replies?
Common causes are a vague product name, a wrong category, a quantity far below factory MOQs, or a target price far below market. Rewrite the request with clear specs and quantity tiers, and choose the most specific category.
Should I share my target price in an RFQ?
Usually yes, if it is realistic. A target price filters out suppliers who cannot meet it and anchors the negotiation. If you set it far too low, serious factories may ignore the request, so base it on listing prices for similar products.
Can I get cashback on an order that started as an RFQ?
Often yes, if the final order is placed and paid through Alibaba.com checkout. Through Refundy, Alibaba.com cashback is up to 9% of qualifying order value. It excludes shipping, fees, taxes, split payments and orders over $5,000, and pays to PayPal from $5 about 90 days after approval.
Images: Photo by Jonathan Francisca on Unsplash; Photo by Headway on Unsplash.
Refundy is a free Chrome extension that gives cashback on AliExpress, Alibaba.com, 1688 and Taobao. Cashback excludes shipping, fees, taxes and split payments — see the cashback terms for details.