Transparent 2026 Pricing
QC Inspection Cost in India (2026)
Per-man-day pricing for every type of quality inspection and factory audit in India — benchmarked against QIMA, SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek and TÜV. Updated for 2026.
Get a Custom Quote2026 QC Inspection Pricing — India
All rates in USD per inspector per 8-hour man-day, unless otherwise stated.
| Service | India-specialist | Global firms (QIMA/SGS/BV) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI) | $220–$280 / man-day | $300–$450 / man-day | AQL 2.5, ISO 2859-1 sampling, 24-hour photo report |
| During-Production Inspection (DUPRO) | $220–$280 / man-day | $300–$450 / man-day | Run at 20–80% completion to catch systemic defects early |
| Pre-Production Inspection (PPI) | $200–$260 / man-day | $280–$420 / man-day | Raw material, trims and first-article check |
| Container Loading Supervision (CLS) | $220–$280 / man-day | $300–$450 / man-day | On-site at port/factory during stuffing |
| Factory Audit (capability) | $350–$550 / audit | $600–$1,200 / audit | ISO 17020-aligned, capacity + QMS + machinery |
| Social Compliance Audit (SEDEX/BSCI) | $450–$750 / audit | $800–$1,500 / audit | SMETA 4-pillar or BSCI methodology |
| Lab Testing (REACH / CPSIA / OEKO-TEX) | $300–$1,500 / SKU | $400–$1,800 / SKU | Coordinated via SGS / BV / Intertek labs in India |
What drives the cost?
Lot size & sample plan
AQL 2.5 sample size scales with lot size — 200-unit sample for 3,201–10,000 units, 500 for 35,001–150,000. Larger lots = more man-days.
Product complexity
Garments and homeware = ~1 man-day per 5,000 units. Electronics, furniture and engineering goods can need 2× the time for functional testing.
Location
Tier-1 hubs (Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Tirupur) carry no travel surcharge. Remote factories (NE India, smaller clusters) add $80–$150 travel/lodging.
Lead time
Standard 48-hour scheduling is included. 24-hour rush bookings add ~20%. Same-day bookings in Tier-1 cities add ~30%.
Re-inspection
Free with Small World India when a lot fails. Most global firms charge a full re-inspection fee ($300–$450/man-day).
Reporting depth
Standard 24-hour PDF report is included. Same-day verbal + summary report adds ~15%. Buyer-specific custom checklists are included at no extra cost.
FAQs — Inspection Pricing
How much does third-party inspection in India cost in 2026?
Third-party inspection in India costs $220–$280 per inspector per man-day with India-specialist firms, vs. $300–$450 per man-day with global QC firms (QIMA, SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek, TÜV). Factory audits cost $350–$750 per audit. Lab testing ranges $300–$1,500 per SKU depending on test scope (REACH, CPSIA, OEKO-TEX, FDA, BIS).
How many man-days does a pre-shipment inspection take?
Most pre-shipment inspections take 1 man-day per 5,000 units for garments/homeware and 1 man-day per 2,000–3,000 units for electronics, furniture or engineering goods. A 20-foot container (~15,000 units of apparel) typically needs 1 inspector for 1 full 8-hour day.
Is the inspection cost cheaper if I use a sourcing agent?
Yes. When QC is bundled with end-to-end sourcing, the per-man-day cost typically drops 30–50% because the sourcing-agent already has on-ground QC infrastructure at the factory cluster. Stand-alone inspections (no sourcing relationship) are priced higher to cover travel and scheduling overhead.
Do I pay for the inspection if the goods fail?
Yes — you pay for the inspection itself regardless of pass/fail. However, re-inspection after the factory has reworked the defective lot is free with Small World India (most global firms charge a full second inspection fee of $300–$450 per man-day).
Are travel and accommodation included in the man-day rate?
For Tier-1 manufacturing hubs (Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Tirupur, Jaipur, Moradabad, Ludhiana, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata), travel is included. For remote or smaller clusters, a flat $80–$150 travel charge is added — quoted upfront, no surprise invoicing.
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Complete Quality Inspection Services in India
Independent third-party inspections and factory audits across 15+ Indian manufacturing hubs — supporting buyers in the US, UK, EU, Australia, Canada and UAE since 1994.
Third Party Inspection
Independent AQL-based product inspections
Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI)
Final QC before goods leave the factory
Quality Control Company
End-to-end QC programmes & supervision
Inspection Company India
Full-service inspection partner since 1994
Product Inspection Services
Category-specific quality checks
Factory Audit
On-site capability & compliance audits
During-Production Inspection (DUPRO)
AQL 2.5 mid-run quality check at 20–80%
Pre-Production Inspection (PPI)
Raw material, trims & golden sample verification
Initial Production Check (IPC)
First-article inspection at 10–15% completion
Container Loading Supervision
Carton count + ISO 17712 seal at loading
AQL Inspection Services
ISO 2859-1 / ANSI Z1.4 sampling inspections
ISO 17020 Inspection Body
Type A independent inspection methodology
Amazon FBA Inspection
FNSKU, polybag, carton & AQL for FBA sellers
Supplier Audit
Verify suppliers before placing orders
Garment Inspection
Apparel QC in Tirupur, Ludhiana, Delhi NCR
Furniture Inspection
Wood, metal & upholstery QC across India
Electronics Inspection
Mobile, EMS, battery & LED QC in India
Leather Inspection
Footwear, bags & saddlery — Chrome VI, SATRA, LWG
Home Textile Inspection
Towels, bed linen, rugs — OEKO-TEX & ISO 105
Toy Inspection
EN 71, ASTM F963, CPSIA & BIS IS 9873
Ceramics Inspection
Morbi tiles, tableware, sanitaryware — ISO 10545
Jewellery Inspection
Gold, silver, diamonds — BIS HUID & XRF
Auto Components Inspection
IATF 16949, PPAP, dimensional CMM
Cosmetics Inspection
EU CPNP, US MoCRA, ISO 22716 GMP
Inspection — Tirupur
Knitwear & T-shirt QC specialists
Inspection — Moradabad
Brass, metal & home-décor QC
Inspection — Delhi NCR
Garments, leather & fashion QC
Inspection — Jaipur
Block-print, quilts & jewellery QC
Inspection — Panipat
Towels, blankets & home textile QC
Inspection — Jodhpur
Wooden furniture & moisture QC
Inspection — Ludhiana
Sweaters, bicycles & hand tools QC
Inspection — Mumbai
Chemical, pharma & JNPT loading QC
Inspection — Chennai
Leather, auto & Karur textile QC
Inspection — Kolkata
Jute, leather & tea QC
Inspection — Bengaluru
EMS, PCBA & aerospace QC
Inspection — Ahmedabad
Denim, chemical & Morbi ceramic QC
QIMA Alternative
30–40% lower cost, same AQL standards
SGS Alternative
India-specialist QC, 24-hr reports
Bureau Veritas Alternative
Same ISO 2859-1, 30–40% lower cost
Intertek Alternative
Same AQL methodology, 25–35% lower cost