How Much Does CNC Machining Cost?

Whether you’re planning to prototype a part, evaluate a project budget, or just getting started with CNC machining, a question is likely to pop into your head:

“How much does CNC machining cost?”

The fastest way, of course, is to go to platforms like Protolabs or Xometry. Upload your 3D file, select the material, surface finish, and quantity, and the system will give you a quote within seconds.

But this method doesn’t always apply.

If your part has complex geometry or tight tolerances, the online system might not generate an accurate price. At that point, you’ll need a real manufacturing engineer to evaluate and quote.

Next, you might reach out to a few suppliers for quotes—only to find that prices for the same drawing vary by several times.

This is common and nothing to be surprised about. CNC machining isn’t a standard product; there’s no universal pricing formula. The cost is influenced by a number of factors, such as material type, structural complexity, tolerance requirements, quantity, surface treatments, as well as regional differences and the equipment used by the supplier.

In this article, we’ll break down the cost structure of CNC machining item by item, helping you understand where every dollar goes.

Material Selection: The Starting Point—and a Key Variable

The price differences between materials can be significant. Take titanium alloy, for example: its raw material cost is typically 3–5 times that of aluminum alloy. Moreover, the material not only affects purchase costs but also directly impacts machining efficiency and tool life.

Titanium is much harder to cut than aluminum. It takes longer to machine and wears down tools faster. This means that if the same part is changed from titanium to aluminum, not only will the raw material cost drop significantly, but machining time can be greatly reduced. Overall manufacturing cost can often be cut by more than half.

There’s a recent news—Apple is reportedly replacing the titanium frame in the iPhone 17 Pro with aluminum. Beyond considerations like weight and signal performance, the deeper logic might be balancing manufacturing cost and machining efficiency.

Let’s look at a few common materials and their machining characteristics:

For example, a 100×40×10mm bracket made from aluminum might cost just $6–8 per piece. Switch it to stainless steel, and the price could jump to $10–15 due to higher material and machining time. If your part doesn’t require high rigidity or corrosion resistance, choosing aluminum instead of steel can save a lot.

Machining Time: The More Complex, the Slower—and the More Expensive

In CNC machining, time is money. Most suppliers calculate costs based on machine runtime, and the complexity of your part’s geometry is the biggest time driver.

If your part is just a flat shape with a few holes, it might take 10–30 minutes to machine. But once you introduce deep holes, curves, internal cavities, or multi-axis features, machining time shoots up—possibly taking several hours for a single piece.

And that’s before we factor in regional differences. Labor costs and equipment efficiency vary widely by country. Hourly machine rates can differ by 2–3 times. Here are some typical machining rates by region:

For example, a complex stainless steel part might cost $25/hour to machine in China, but $80 or more in Germany.

Programming and Setup Costs: Small Quantities Feel the Impact

CNC machining requires several upfront engineering steps before a part can be made, and those steps contribute to the total cost:

• Generate toolpaths from the 3D model (CAM programming)
• Select appropriate tools and cutting parameters
• Install or custom-make fixtures

These steps are typically categorized as setup costs. Here’s a general price range:

Note: If you’re only making one prototype, these costs can’t be spread out—so they appear quite high. But with 10 or more units, each part only carries a few dollars of this cost. That’s why small batches have higher unit costs, and larger batches bring those costs down.

Surface Finish: More Than Just Looks, It Affects Price Too

Surface finishing is an often-overlooked cost. While unit prices may seem low, if the batch size is large or the process is non-standard, the total cost can be considerable.

For aluminum parts, common finishes include:

If you request mirror polish, dual-color anodizing, or special textures, these are non-standard treatments and will cost more.

We recommend choosing standard surface treatments whenever possible, as long as they meet both functional and aesthetic needs. This helps control the overall machining budget.

Tolerance Requirements: Tighter Tolerances Mean Higher Costs

Many people see ±0.01mm on a drawing without realizing the implication. For CNC machining, this means slower feed rates, more frequent inspections, and possibly higher-end machines. Tighter tolerances slow everything down and increase cost.

Here’s how different tolerance ranges affect pricing:

For general parts or housings, ±0.1mm is often sufficient. Only for tight fits, bearing seats, or high-precision assemblies are tighter tolerances necessary.

So we advise setting tolerances based on functional needs to avoid overdesign and unnecessary cost.

Order Quantity: The More You Order, the Lower the Unit Cost

Whether you’re prototyping or doing small batch production, quantity is always key to unit price.

That’s because many machining steps have fixed costs. The more pieces you produce, the more those costs get spread out.

Here’s a common relationship between quantity and unit price:

So once your design is finalized, consider ordering a reasonable quantity upfront. This improves cost-efficiency and saves on back-and-forth and shipping.

Shipping Costs: Don’t Overlook the “Last Mile”

Shipping is often not included in quotes but can be significant in international orders—especially since metal parts tend to be compact yet heavy.

Let’s look at a real example: 100 aluminum brackets (size 100×40×10mm), total packed weight about 13–15kg, shipped from China to the US or Europe.

Unless it’s a rush order, choose economy channels to keep the overall cost manageable. Some factories also offer courier consolidation and flexible logistics—worth discussing in advance.

CNC Machining Cost Estimate Example

Here’s a real client request:

• Material: 6061 aluminum
• Drawing: 100×40×10 mm
• Quantity: 100 pieces
• Tolerance: ±0.05mm
• Surface finish: black anodized

Total price: $680–1020 (for 100 pcs), with cost breakdown as follows:

• Machining time: ~$300–500 (each piece takes 30–45 min; machine rate $25/h)
• Programming & fixtures: ~$150 (one-time cost, amortized)
• Material and scrap: ~$100–150 (based on aluminum price and utilization)
• Anodizing: ~$80–120 ($0.8–1.2/piece)
• Inspection, packing, misc.: ~$50–100

Plus shipping: $100–120 (DHL from China to US West Coast).

How to Control CNC Machining Costs? 5 Practical Tips

Now that you know how the cost breaks down, here are some ways to make your budget more reasonable:

• Simplify part geometry—reduce deep holes, curves, complex features
• Set tolerances realistically—don’t apply tight tolerances where not needed
• Choose standard materials and finishes
• Once design is confirmed, order at least 10 pieces to offset setup costs
• Seek early DFM (Design for Manufacturing) advice to avoid costly designs

Final Thoughts

By now, you probably have a much clearer picture of how CNC machining costs work. If you’re budgeting or ready to request a quote, feel free to send us your drawings. We typically respond within 12 hours and can offer practical machining suggestions based on our experience—so you can spend smart and produce with confidence.