How much does it cost to get something CNC machined?

  The high-pitched whir of the spindle cuts through the air, metal chips scatter across the floor, and when I pick up the freshly cut part, the surface still feels warm to the touch. That’s the moment you realize: every detail, from tool speed to material hardness, is tied to the cost. For buyers like you, the question is simple—how much will it cost me to get this done? But the real answer depends on a whole chain of factors you might not see at first glance.

    Let’s start with the basics. CNC machining (Computer Numerical Control machining, which means cutting or shaping materials with computer-controlled machines) is priced mainly by machine time. For example, if a part takes 30 minutes to mill out of aluminum, and the shop rate is $80/hour, you’re already looking at around $40 for just the machining. But that’s not the whole story. Setup time, which is the preparation before production starts, can easily add another $100–$200 for small batches. Say you only order 10 pieces—then that setup cost spreads across just 10 parts, and the per-unit price shoots up. Surprised? Many buyers are.

    Material choice also shifts the numbers. Aluminum 6061 is common, affordable, and easy to cut. Stainless steel, on the other hand, wears down tools faster, meaning longer cycle times and higher costs. I once quoted a project where the buyer insisted on titanium (a very strong but tough-to-machine metal), and the final price was nearly double what they expected. The takeaway: the harder the material, the more it stresses the machine, and the more you pay. So when you compare quotes, don’t just ask “What’s the price?”—ask “Why is the price what it is?” That one question saves a lot of back-and-forth.

    Of course, design complexity is another hidden driver. A simple flat bracket with two holes? Cheap. A pocketed housing with 3D curves and tight tolerances (meaning allowed size variation, like ±0.01mm)? Much more expensive. And here’s where we once made a costly mistake: a client gave us a drawing with tolerances that were tighter than necessary. We followed the specs exactly, but later they admitted those tolerances weren’t critical. The result? They paid for extra machining hours that weren’t needed. It was a painful but valuable lesson—always clarify which dimensions matter most.

    So, how much does CNC machining really cost? Honestly, it’s a balance. Machine time, setup, material, design complexity, finishing processes (like anodizing for aluminum, which adds corrosion resistance and color), and volume all combine. For a small batch of simple aluminum parts, you might see $30–$50 each. For complex stainless steel parts with surface treatments, $200+ isn’t unusual. And here’s the big picture: the more parts you order, the cheaper each one gets, because those fixed costs spread out. That’s why we often tell buyers—if you need 50 parts later, don’t start with 5 now.

    At the end of the day, CNC machining isn’t just about cutting metal. It’s about smart decisions—choosing materials wisely, balancing tolerance needs, and ordering in volumes that make sense. Once you see the process this way, the cost question feels less like a mystery and more like a calculation you can actually control. And that’s exactly where we’ll pick up next time: how to optimize your RFQs so you always get a fair, transparent quote.