Tech packs
A tech pack format is a set of pages, from cover sheet and sketches to bill of materials, points of measure, grading, construction and packaging, that tells a factory exactly how to make your product. In this Source to Spec guide, Cydney Mar explains each page and the order to fill it in.
Published by Cydney Mar · Last updated:
A tech pack is the instruction document a factory uses to quote, sample and produce your product. There is no single official template, but factories expect the same core sections in a consistent order, with one revision number and date on every page.
Cydney Mar’s view, from decades of production work, is that a clear, professional tech pack is the difference between a sample that is right the first time and months of expensive back-and-forth.
| Section | What it contains | Answers for the factory |
|---|---|---|
| Cover page | Style name and number, season, revision number and date, contact, product sketch | Which version is current |
| Technical flats | Front, back and side drawings in line, with callouts for every detail | What the product looks like |
| Bill of materials | Every material, trim, label and packaging part with placement, code, color and quantity | What it is made of, and the basis for costing |
| Points of measure | Each measurement, how to take it, the target value and tolerance | How samples are checked |
| Grading | Measurements for every size in the range | How sizes scale |
| Construction details | Seams, stitches, finishes, assembly order and close-up drawings | How it is put together |
| Colorways | Each color combination mapped to components | What changes between versions |
| Labels and packaging | Label content and placement, folding, bagging and cartons | How it arrives ready to sell |
Filling the pages in this order means each decision feeds the next and nothing is decided twice.
Definition
Yes. Any physical product needs materials, dimensions, finishes, tolerances and packaging defined, even if the factory calls it a specification sheet. Cydney Mar has applied the same discipline across fashion, jewelry, bath bombs, scented candles, homewares, paper products, car accessories and vitamins, as described in her Source to Spec guidance.
Numbers
Fabrickly’s 2026 comparison puts freelance tech packs at £30 to £200, most under £100. The F* Word states on its own comparison page that its AI tool generates a factory-ready tech pack in 8 to 10 minutes and flags contradictions in measurements, grading and tolerances.
Sources: Fabrickly, The F* Word
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A tech pack is the instruction document a factory uses to quote, sample and produce your product. It combines technical sketches, materials, measurements, construction details, colors, labels and packaging into one reference. Cydney Mar describes production-ready tech packs that factories actually understand as the core of her product development work.
More in the FAQThere is no single official format, but most factories expect the same sections: a cover page, technical flat sketches, a bill of materials, points of measure, a size grading table, construction details, colorways, and label and packaging instructions. Keeping one revision number and date on every page prevents the factory from working from an outdated version.
More in the FAQA bill of materials lists every component in the product: main materials, linings, trims, zippers, buttons, thread, labels, tags and packaging. Each line should include the placement, supplier or reference code, color, size and quantity per unit. A complete bill of materials is also where accurate product costing begins.
More in the FAQPoints of measure are the exact places a product is measured, such as chest width or sleeve length on a garment, each with a target number and an allowed tolerance. They let the factory and you check samples the same way. Without them, two people can measure the same piece and get different answers.
More in the FAQYes, most physical products benefit from a technical specification even if the factory calls it something else. Candles, homewares, jewelry, paper products and accessories all need materials, dimensions, finishes, tolerances and packaging defined. Cydney Mar has developed products across fashion, jewelry, bath bombs, scented candles, homewares, paper products, car accessories and vitamins.
More in the FAQAI tools can now draft a tech pack quickly. The F* Word, an AI tech pack tool, states on its own comparison page that it generates a factory-ready tech pack in 8 to 10 minutes and flags contradictions in measurements, grading and tolerances. Whatever drafts the document, someone still needs to judge whether the product, materials and costs make sense.
More in the FAQIt depends on how clear the design already is and who builds it. AI tools state a draft in minutes; a designer working from sketches takes longer, and most of the real time goes into deciding materials, measurements and details. Founders who settle those decisions before starting usually finish faster and receive more accurate quotes.
More in the FAQFreelance tech packs commonly cost £30 to £200, with most under £100, according to Fabrickly’s 2026 comparison of tech pack companies. Price rises with product complexity, number of sizes and number of components. Fabrickly also reported that in its own test 17% of results were excellent, 67% workable and 33% wasted money, so quality varies widely.
More in the FAQCydney Mar helps founders take consumer products for retail, TV and direct-to-consumer from idea to production through her Concept-to-Reality Pathway.
Published by Cydney Mar