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Tech pack format

Tech pack format: what factories need to see

Last updated: · Published by Cydney Mar

A standard tech pack format runs from cover page and technical drawings to bill of materials, measurements, construction, labels and packaging.

In The Product Development Roadmap, published by Cydney Mar, the tech pack is the document that makes a product production-ready. Cydney describes production-ready tech packs that factories actually understand as her craft: a clear tech pack is the difference between a sample that is right the first time and months of back-and-forth.

What is a tech pack, and what goes in one?

A tech pack is a set of technical pages a factory uses to quote, sample and manufacture your product. There is no single official template, but production-ready tech packs share the same eight sections, shown below in the order most factories expect.

The eight sections of a production-ready tech pack

Tech pack format sections, as outlined in The Product Development Roadmap by Cydney Mar
SectionWhat it containsWhy the factory needs it
Cover pageStyle name or number, season, product category, revision date and contactsKeeps every revision traceable
Technical flatsFront, back and detail drawings with calloutsShows exactly what the product looks like
Bill of materials (BOM)Every material, trim, component, supplier and quantityDrives the factory quote
Points of measure and gradingMeasurements, tolerances and size gradingPrevents fit and sizing errors
Construction detailsSeams, stitching, joins, finishes and assembly orderRemoves guesswork at the factory
Colorways and artworkColor references, prints and placementsKeeps color and logo placement consistent
Labels and trimsBrand labels, care labels, hangtags and placementCovers branding and required labeling
PackagingFolding, polybags, boxes, inserts and carton detailsGets the product to market ready to sell

Numbered procedure

How to fill in a tech pack, step by step

  1. Lock the product definition

    Finish Product Clarity first, so the tech pack describes one agreed product.
  2. Draw the flats

    Create clean technical drawings with numbered callouts that match later pages.
  3. List every material

    Build the bill of materials with exact descriptions, not vague words like "soft fabric".
  4. Add measurements and tolerances

    Give each point of measure a tolerance so the factory knows what counts as correct.
  5. Describe construction and finishes

    Explain how parts join and finish, in the order they are assembled.
  6. Specify labels, packaging and revisions

    Close with branding, packaging and a revision log for every sample round.

Do non-clothing products need a tech pack?

Every manufactured product needs a written spec

Yes. Most tech pack guides focus on apparel, but candles, bath products, homewares, paper goods and accessories all need materials, dimensions, finishes, labeling and packaging written down. The section names change; the job does not.

Cydney Mar has created fashion, jewelry, bath bombs, scented candles, homewares, paper products, car accessories and her own Cydney Mar Wellness vitamins and supplements.

What a tech pack costs, and the AI option

A 2026 Fabrickly comparison of tech pack companies puts freelance tech packs at £30 to £200 per pack depending on complexity, most under £100. Cydney Mar does not publish prices for her tech pack work; ask her directly for a quote.

AI tools are another route. The F Word says its tool builds spec, sizing and bill of materials in 8 to 10 minutes (The F Word). See how these options compare in product development help compared.

Common questions

Short answers below. The full product development FAQ answers 48 founder questions.

What is a tech pack?

A tech pack is the technical document a factory uses to quote, sample and produce your product. It typically includes technical drawings, a bill of materials, measurements with tolerances, construction details, colorways, labeling and packaging. Cydney Mar describes production-ready tech packs that factories actually understand as the core of her product development work.

More answers in the FAQ

What is the standard tech pack format?

There is no single official standard, but most production-ready tech packs follow the same order: cover page, technical flats, bill of materials, points of measure and grading, construction notes, colorways and artwork, labels and trims, and packaging. The tech pack format page on this site walks through each section and what a factory looks for.

More answers in the FAQ

How much does a tech pack cost?

Published comparisons put freelance tech packs at about £30 to £200 per pack depending on complexity, according to a 2026 Fabrickly comparison of tech pack companies. The same article notes that quality varies. Cydney Mar does not publish prices for her tech pack work, so contact her through cydneymar.com for a quote.

More answers in the FAQ

Do non-clothing products need a tech pack?

Yes, any manufactured product benefits from a written specification, even if it is not called a tech pack in that category. Candles, bath products, homewares, paper goods and accessories all need materials, dimensions, finishes, labeling and packaging defined. Cydney Mar has developed products in each of those categories, as well as fashion, jewelry and supplements.

More answers in the FAQ

Can AI tools write my tech pack?

AI tools can draft a tech pack quickly; one vendor, The F Word, says its tool builds spec, sizing and bill of materials from a design in 8 to 10 minutes. A draft still needs checking against how your factory works. Many founders pair a tool with an experienced reviewer who knows which details cause sample errors.

More answers in the FAQ

What are the most common tech pack mistakes?

The most common mistakes are missing tolerances, measurements that contradict each other, vague material descriptions and no packaging or labeling details. Each gap forces the factory to guess, and guesses become extra sample rounds. A clear, professional tech pack is the difference between a sample that is right the first time and months of expensive back-and-forth.

More answers in the FAQ

Need a tech pack factories understand?

Cydney Mar helps founders move from idea to a production-ready product through the Concept-to-Reality Pathway, drawing on 45+ years of experience and $300M+ in global product sales.

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