Injection Moulding Pricing
How we calculate prices, typical ranges by volume, optional add-ons, terms, and worked examples. Use the index to jump to what you need.
Pricing at a glance
Tooling
Single/multi-cavity steel moulds; driven by geometry, texture, sliders, tolerances.
US$ βββ
Per-unit
Resin + cycle time + labor + QC, amortized by volume tier.
US$ β / piece
Lead time
Tooling + T0/T1 trials β mass production. Rush options available.
ββ weeks
What drives cost?
- Tooling complexity (cavities, sliders, texturing, tolerance)
- Material & compliance (ABS/PC/PA, additives, color, certifications)
- Cycle time (part size, cooling strategy, wall thickness)
- Finishing (painting, pad/laser, welding, assembly)
- QA & packaging (AQL, reports, custom inserts/labels)
- Logistics (EXW/CIF/DDP, pallets, documentation)
How price changes with volume
| Tier | Quantity | Est. unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot | < 500 | US$ β | Bridge/pilot tooling options |
| Start | 500β2k | US$ β | Single-cavity, longer cycles |
| Scale | 2kβ10k | US$ β | Optimized cycles |
| High-volume | > 10k | US$ β | Multi-cavity, automation |
Optional add-ons
Finishing
- Painting, texturing
- Pad printing / laser mark
- Ultrasonic welding
QA & Docs
- Enhanced AQL
- Material certs
- Dimensional reports
Logistics
- DDP / CIF
- Palletization
- Custom labeling
Payment & commercial terms
Common structure: deposit for tooling, balance at T1/approval; deposits for mass production, balance before shipment. Incoterms available: EXW, CIF, DDP. Currency: USD/EUR. Quotations valid ββ days.
Lead times & MOQs
- Tooling lead time: ββ weeks depending on complexity
- Pilot run after T1: ββ days
- Mass production: ββ weeks by tier / capacity
- MOQ: geometry & resin dependent; pilot paths for lower risk
Worked examples
Example A β ABS housing, 5,000 pcs
- Tooling: US$ β
- Unit: US$ β Γ 5,000 = US$ β
- Packaging & QA: US$ β
- Logistics (DDP): US$ β
Total: US$ β
How to think about moulding cost (deep dive)
Two buckets drive total cost: one-time tooling and the repeat cost per unit. Tooling rises with geometry (wall transitions, sliders, texture, tolerance), while unit cost follows material choice, shot weight, cycle time, and finishing steps.
Volume shifts the curve. At low quantities, the mould cost dominates and unit costs are higher because cycle time isn't fully optimized. As volume grows, multi-cavity tools and process tuning compress unit costsβthis is why quotations show tiers.
Material is not just price per kg. It also influences cycle time, scrap, and compliance paperwork. Certified resins or additives (UV, FR, food contact) add both material and handling costs.
Finishing & QA (painting, pad/laser, welding, assembly, AQL) are real leversβgreat for brand feel, but they add stations, labor, and yield checks. Packaging also matters for protection and presentation.
Freight & Incoterms determine where responsibility shifts. EXW is cheapest up-front; DDP is predictable landed cost but includes duties and last-mile. Choose based on your in-house logistics capability.
Best way to reduce cost: simplify geometry early, pick an efficient resin, design for ejection/cooling, and target a volume tier that supports the unit economics you need.
Pricing FAQ
Can you quote multi-part assemblies?
Yesβeach mould/part is itemized with a rolled-up total and optional add-ons.
Detailed Product Pricing Table
Below are indicative prices for typical tooling and per-unit costs. All values are examples in USD and vary by material, finish, and volume tier. Each row represents one product configuration for clear comparison.
| Product | Tool 1 | Tool 2 | Base Cost (500 units) | Base Cost (2 000 units) | Base Cost (10 000 units) | Add-on A (Paint) | Add-on B (QA) | Add-on C (Branding) | Packaging Basic | Packaging Standard | Packaging Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Running Shoe | $1500 | $1100 | $22.00 | $17.80 | $14.50 | +$1.00 | +$0.40 | +$0.80 | $0.50 | $0.90 | $1.20 |
| Basketball Shoe | $2400 | $1600 | $26.00 | $21.20 | $17.60 | +$1.50 | +$0.60 | +$1.00 | $0.60 | $1.10 | $1.40 |
| Tennis Shoe | $1900 | $1400 | $24.00 | $19.10 | $15.60 | +$1.10 | +$0.50 | +$0.90 | $0.55 | $1.00 | $1.30 |
| Skate Shoe | $2100 | $1500 | $25.50 | $20.20 | $16.30 | +$1.20 | +$0.45 | +$0.85 | $0.50 | $0.95 | $1.25 |
| Trail Shoe | $2200 | $1600 | $27.00 | $22.00 | $18.00 | +$1.40 | +$0.60 | +$0.90 | $0.55 | $1.00 | $1.30 |
| Running Shoe (Light) | $1300 | $900 | $20.50 | $16.70 | $13.90 | +$0.90 | +$0.35 | +$0.70 | $0.45 | $0.80 | $1.10 |
| Lifestyle Shoe | $1700 | $1200 | $23.00 | $18.50 | $15.00 | +$1.00 | +$0.50 | +$0.85 | $0.55 | $0.90 | $1.20 |
| Performance Shoe | $2500 | $1800 | $28.00 | $23.00 | $19.00 | +$1.60 | +$0.65 | +$1.10 | $0.60 | $1.00 | $1.40 |