What Is AQL 2.5?

AQL 2.5 stands for Acceptable Quality Limit of 2.5%, which is an internationally recognized quality control standard defined by ISO 2859 and ANSI/ASQ Z1.4. In garment manufacturing, AQL 2.5 means that in a statistically random sample taken from a production lot, no more than a specific number of defective units may be found for the lot to pass inspection. Contrary to common misunderstanding, AQL 2.5 does not mean 2.5% of the total order may be defective ??it means a specific sampling and pass/fail threshold determined by the sample size and the AQL table.

How AQL 2.5 Works in Practice

When a production lot is ready for final inspection, the inspector selects a random sample based on the lot size. For a lot of 500 jackets, the standard sample size under AQL 2.5 (normal inspection level II) is 50 units. The inspector examines each of the 50 jackets against the client-approved specification sheet and defect criteria.

The classification system works as follows:

• Critical defects: Zero tolerance. Any critical defect means the entire lot is rejected regardless of the AQL calculation.
• Major defects: Under AQL 2.5 with a sample of 50 units, the lot passes if 3 or fewer units contain major defects. If 4 or more, the lot is rejected and must be sorted and re-inspected.
• Minor defects: Typically inspected under a separate AQL 4.0 standard.

Major defects include: seam opening or broken stitches, zipper malfunctioning, incorrect measurement beyond tolerance (typically ?1 cm), color deviation beyond approved range, fabric defects affecting appearance, and missing or incorrect labeling.

Why AQL 2.5 Matters for Brands

For US and EU brands importing jackets from China, AQL 2.5 is the default industry standard for garment inspection. Most third-party inspection companies including SGS, Bureau Veritas, and Intertek use AQL 2.5 as their standard inspection level for apparel. Brands that require a stricter standard can request AQL 1.0 or AQL 0.65.

Ginwen Wear applies AQL 2.5 to all bulk jacket orders and provides the inspection report to the client before shipment. Third-party inspection can also be arranged at the client's cost.

For more details, contact our quality assurance team or review our company credentials.