CNC Processing Price List Guide
A price list for CNC work is only useful if you know what sits behind each line. This guide is written for design engineers and sourcing staff who have to compare quotes and defend the number to a program manager. Read it and you can tell which cost drivers are real, which are padding, and which supplier terms you should pay for.
In this article
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What matters most
What actually moves a CNC processing price list
Ranges below are typical shop-floor effects, not quoted rates.
| Cost driver | Low end | High end | Why it changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tolerance | ±0.1 mm | ±0.005 mm | Slower passes, extra inspection, possible second op |
| Setup count | 1 setup | 4+ setups | Each setup adds fixture time and re-datum risk |
| Material | Aluminium 6061 | Inconel or Ti-6Al-4V | Tool wear and spindle time rise sharply |
| Finish | As machined | Ra 0.2–0.8 μm | Polishing and re-measurement add hours |
| Volume | 1 piece | 10,000+ pieces | Setup is spread across more parts |
| Part size | 500 × 500 × 450 mm | 4,000 × 400 × 150 mm | Bigger travels need larger machines and handling |
| Documentation | Standard report | Full inspection pack | Metrology time and record keeping |
| Lead time | 3–5 days | Rush scheduling | Machine slots are re-planned around your job |
The short version
A CNC processing price list is only meaningful when it is broken into material, machine time, setup, finishing and inspection. Ask for the route, match the tolerance to the drawing, and pay for capability only where the part needs it.
How a CNC processing price list is built
Every quote is a sum of five things: material, machine time, setup and programming, finishing, and inspection. Some shops hide all five inside one number. That number is hard to argue with because you cannot see which part is heavy. Ask for the split and the conversation changes. You can then decide whether the tolerance callout on a cosmetic face is worth the extra pass.
Material is usually the easiest line to check. Bar stock, plate and near-net forgings are priced per kilogram, and the buy-to-fly ratio decides how much you pay for chips. A part machined from 7075 plate that removes 80 percent of the stock costs more in material than the same part near-net formed. When the geometry allows it, a casting or extrusion blank cuts both material and cycle time.
Machine time is the line most often inflated. On a three-axis job, cycle time is roughly the path length divided by feed rate, plus tool changes. On a five-axis job with a Ø400 mm rotary table, the same feature can be cut in one setup instead of three. That is where the saving lives, not in the hourly rate. A shop quoting a lower rate but four setups will usually land above a shop quoting a higher rate with one.
Setup and programming are fixed costs, so they hurt most at low volume. A single prototype may carry the full cost of a fixture, a probe routine and a first-article report. At 10,000 pieces the same fixture cost is negligible. This is why the cheapest prototype quote and the cheapest production quote often come from different suppliers.
- 1MaterialBar, plate or near-net blank, plus scrap rate
- 2Machine timeCycle time, tool changes, spindle hours
- 3SetupFixture, programming, first-article checks
- 4Finishing and inspectionPlating, anodizing, CMM time, reports
Five checks before you accept a number
First, check that the tolerance on the drawing matches the one in the quote. A shop that prices ±0.05 mm when the drawing says ±0.005 mm is either planning to fail or planning to renegotiate. Both cost you later. If a feature does not need tight tolerance, loosen it on the drawing and say so. Engineers who mark only the critical dimensions usually get a lower price and fewer inspection disputes.
Second, count the setups. A part that can be reached from two faces on a five-axis center should not appear as a four-setup job. Ask which operations are performed and on what machine. If the answer is vague, the quote is a guess. A written process route with machine names takes ten minutes to read and saves weeks of argument.
Third, look at the finishing line. Anodizing, electroless nickel and powder coating are priced per batch, not per part, so a small run carries a fixed charge. Bead blasting and tumbling are cheaper than polishing. If the finish is only cosmetic and hidden inside an assembly, say so and drop it. If it is a sealing surface at Ra 0.8–1.6 μm, keep it and expect to pay for it.
Fourth, check the inspection scope. A standard dimensional report, a full CMM report and a material certificate are three different products. For medical and automotive parts, the paperwork is not optional. Ask what is included and what is billed separately, because a low quote with no inspection is not comparable.
- 1ToleranceMatch the quote to the drawing callouts
- 2SetupsAsk for the process route and machine list
- 3FinishBatch charges hurt small runs
- 4InspectionStandard report vs full CMM pack
Lead time, MOQ and certification in the price
Lead time is a cost, not a courtesy. A quote of 12 hours for quotation and free DFM analysis is useful only if production can actually start within 24 hours. Ask when the machine slot is booked, not when the paperwork is filed. Historical late-delivery probability below 2% is a number a supplier should be able to state; if they cannot, treat the date as a target.
Minimum order quantity quietly changes the unit price. A supplier with no minimum order quantity can run one prototype and a 10,000-part batch on the same process sheet, so the prototype price reflects real machining rather than a batch penalty. Where an MOQ exists, the first units absorb tooling and setup, and the price curve is steep at the start.
Certifications are a real line item in the overhead. ISO 9001:2015 covers general quality systems. IATF 16949:2016 adds automotive traceability and PPAP discipline. ISO 13485:2016 governs medical device records. ISO 27001:2022 covers information security, which matters when you upload CAD for a product that has not launched. A supplier holding all four has already paid for audits, document control and staff training.
Confidentiality belongs in the same conversation. Secure uploads and an NDA on request are standard at this level, but confirm the terms before you send the model. It is easier to sign first than to pull a file back.
- 1Lead timeAsk for the machine slot date, not the reply date
- 2MOQNo minimum means one price curve, not two
- 3CertificationsEach one carries audit and record overhead
- 4NDASign before the CAD leaves your side
When a cheap quote is the right call, and when it is not
A low price is fine when the part is simple, the tolerance is open, and the finish is cosmetic. A bracket in 6061-T6 held to ±0.1 mm with an as-machined surface does not need a five-axis center. A three-axis machine with a good fixture will hit it, and you should not pay for capability you do not use. Choosing the cheaper route here is engineering judgment, not risk taking.
The calculation flips when the part is hard to hold. Thin walls, deep pockets, tight true position on a bolt circle, or a sealing face at Ra 0.8–1.6 μm all punish a shop that lacks the right machine. If the supplier has to improvise a fixture or hand-finish a critical face, the price will rise anyway, and it will rise after you have committed.
Material is the other deciding factor. Aluminium 6061, 6082 and 7075 cut quickly. Stainless 17-4PH and 316L work-harden, so feeds and speeds must be conservative. Titanium TC4 and Inconel burn tools and spindle hours. A shop that quotes titanium at aluminium cycle times has either misread the drawing or is planning to pass the overrun to you.
The practical test is simple. Ask the supplier which machine will run the part and why. A clear answer with travel sizes and setup count tells you more than any rate table.
- 1Pay less whenOpen tolerance, simple geometry, cosmetic finish
- 2Pay more whenThin walls, tight true position, sealing faces
- 3Material checkTitanium and Inconel change cycle time
- 4Ask one questionWhich machine, and why that one
How to get a comparable CNC processing price list
Follow these steps in order. Skipping step 1 is the most common reason two quotes cannot be compared.
- 1Prepare a manufacturing drawingSend 3D CAD plus a 2D drawing with critical dimensions marked. State the tolerance only where it matters, and mark datum features for inspection.
- 2State material and stock formName the alloy, for example 6061-T6 or 17-4PH, and say whether bar, plate or a near-net blank is acceptable. This single choice often moves the price more than the machine rate.
- 3Define the finish by functionWrite Ra 0.2–0.8 μm for sealing faces, Ra 0.8–1.6 μm for sliding fits, Ra 1.6–3.2 μm for as-machined. Add anodizing or plating only where the part needs it.
- 4Declare the inspection scopeSay whether you need a standard dimensional report, a full CMM report, or material and finish certificates. Ask which of these are included before you compare totals.
- 5Ask for the process routeRequest the setup count, machine type and estimated cycle time. A quote without a route is a number, not an offer.
- 6Confirm volume and deliveryGive the prototype quantity and the expected annual volume separately. Ask for the machine slot date so the 3–5 day shipping window has a real starting point.
- 7Request DFM feedbackAsk for a manufacturability review with the quote. Free DFM analysis within 12 hours lets you remove a deep pocket or relax a tolerance before the tool is cut.
- 8Lock the paperworkSign the NDA and confirm that uploads stay confidential. Do this before releasing CAD for an unannounced product.
Common questions
Why do two suppliers quote different prices for the same drawing?
The drawing is the same, but the process route is not. One shop may plan three setups on a three-axis machine with a custom fixture, while another cuts the same features in one pass on a five-axis center. Cycle time, fixture cost and inspection time all differ, and those differences show up in the total.
Machine capability also changes the risk allowance. A shop that is unsure it can hold ±0.005 mm will build slack into the quote. Ask both suppliers for the setup count and the machine type, and the gap usually explains itself.
Does a higher hourly rate always mean a higher total?
No. Setup count and cycle time usually dominate. A shop with a higher rate but one setup and a shorter cycle often lands below a low-rate shop running four operations. Compare the process route, not the rate card.
The exception is very simple parts at high volume, where cycle time is short and the hourly rate becomes the main variable. In that case, the lower rate does win.
How much does tolerance really add to the price?
It depends on where the tolerance sits. A general ±0.1 mm callout on a milled pocket costs almost nothing extra. A ±0.005 mm bore or a true position callout on a bolt circle adds inspection time, slower finishing passes and sometimes a separate operation.
The practical move is to tighten only the features that affect function. Marking every dimension at ±0.005 mm raises the price without improving the assembly.
Is a low prototype quote a good sign for production pricing?
Not necessarily. Prototype work is dominated by setup and programming, so a supplier may absorb those costs to win the first order and recover them at volume. Production pricing depends on cycle time and material, which are different numbers.
Ask for both a one-off price and a 1,000-piece price up front. A supplier with no minimum order quantity can give you both from the same process sheet.
What should I check before sending CAD to a new supplier?
Confirm the certifications that apply to your industry, check that the tolerance in their capability statement matches your drawing, and agree the confidentiality terms. Uploads should be secure and an NDA should be available on request.
Then send a drawing with clear datums. A supplier who asks about datums and critical features before quoting is reading the part, not just the file size.
Which finishes are worth paying for?
Pay for a finish when it does a job. Hardcoat anodizing on a wear surface, electroless nickel on a corrosion-exposed part, and polishing to Ra 0.2–0.8 μm on a sealing face all earn their cost.
Skip decorative finishes on parts that are hidden inside an assembly. Batch charges make small decorative runs expensive for no functional gain.
Send a drawing, get a route with the number
Quotation and free DFM analysis within 12 hours. Uploads stay confidential, and an NDA is available on request.
12-hour quoteNo MOQ100% inspection
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