QuotedPartData · November 2026 edition
QuotedPart CNC Machining Cost Index
A fixed basket of 26 representative parts, from a simple aluminum bracket to a 5-axis titanium fitting, a Swiss pin and a laser-cut blank, each with a published spec and priced at 1, 10, 100 and 1,000 pieces by our pricing engine at the default US shop rates and material prices stated below. These are engine estimates at stated inputs, not survey data or industry averages: use them to see how cost moves with quantity, material and process.
November 2026 edition · material prices checked October 21, 2026 · recomputed monthly · data under CC BY 4.0
Key findings, November 2026
- At the index's default rates, going from 1 piece to 100 cuts the per-part price of the 6061 aluminum mounting bracket by 93.8%, from $323.06 to $20.07; at 1,000 it is $11.60.
- Across all 26 parts in the basket, the median drop in per-part price from 1 piece to 100 is 92.5% (range 72.9% to 98.5%).
- The same reference bracket in Ti-6Al-4V prices at 4.2× the 6061 price at 100 pieces ($83.72 vs $20.07); in 304 stainless it is 1.7×.
- The 316 stainless Swiss pin is $605.16 for one piece and $6.12 each at 1,000, 99% less: setup and programming are 76.1% of its one-piece cost and 7.5% at 1,000.
- At 100 pieces the basket runs from $4.17 each (the stainless laser-cut gusset) to $255.63 (the 5-axis aerospace fitting); the 5-axis 7075 rotor is $61.71.
Each finding is computed from the tables on this page when the site is built. Quote it as "QuotedPart CNC Machining Cost Index, November 2026, at its default US rates".
By quantity
How price per part falls with order quantity
One of each of the 26 basket parts, priced per part. Setup and programming are paid once per lot, so they dominate one-off prices and nearly vanish by 1,000.
| Quantity | Basket total, one of each part | Median price per part | Median setup share (22 machined parts) | Median material share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $13,025.90 | $460.73 | 58.5% | 10.1% |
| 10 | $2,587.52 | $67.13 | 37.2% | 20.7% |
| 100 | $1,395.33 | $29.24 | 7.7% | 29.3% |
| 1,000 | $1,025.21 | $21.18 | 1.1% | 37.0% |
| Process | Parts | Qty 1 | Qty 10 | Qty 100 | Qty 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-axis milling | 12 | $607.29 | $119.04 | $62.47 | $45.61 |
| 5-axis milling | 2 | $1,111.70 | $288.15 | $158.67 | $121.01 |
| CNC turning | 6 | $400.12 | $55.63 | $21.56 | $14.10 |
| Swiss turning | 2 | $502.50 | $53.93 | $9.54 | $3.90 |
| Laser cut sheet | 4 | $93.39 | $16.55 | $7.86 | $5.64 |
- 1 piece$323.06
- 10 pieces$47.42
- 100 pieces$20.07
- 1,000 pieces$11.60
The basket
26 parts, each with a stated spec
The same parts, with the same IDs, are priced in every edition. Every part is fictional but typical of job-shop work: a material, a finished size, the features that drive time, a general tolerance and any outside finish.
| ID | Part and spec | Process | Qty 1 | Qty 10 | Qty 100 | Qty 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M01 | Simple mounting bracketAluminum 6061-T6 · 3 × 2 × 0.5 in · 4 through holes, 1 shallow pocket · ±0.005 in · no finish | 3-axis milling | $323.06 | $47.42 | $20.07 | $11.60 |
| M02 | Mounting plate, anodizedAluminum 6061-T6 · 6 × 4 × 0.375 in · 8 holes, 4 tapped 10-32 · ±0.005 in · Anodize Type II, clear | 3-axis milling | $423.12 | $67.81 | $31.79 | $22.30 |
| M03 | Pocketed housingAluminum 6061-T6 · 5 × 4 × 2 in · 1 deep pocket, 8 tapped 6-32 holes, 2 side holes · ±0.001 in · Anodize Type II, black | 3-axis milling | $786.24 | $170.12 | $96.19 | $74.58 |
| M04 | Electronics enclosure lidAluminum 6061-T6 · 6 × 4 × 0.75 in · 1 large shallow pocket, 4 tapped 4-40 holes · ±0.005 in · Chem film (Alodine), MIL-DTL-5541 | 3-axis milling | $538.73 | $105.38 | $53.76 | $38.88 |
| M05 | Structural link, hardcoatAluminum 7075-T6 · 8 × 2 × 1 in · pockets on both faces, 2 bores, 4 holes · ±0.001 in · Hardcoat Type III | 3-axis milling | $625.05 | $132.70 | $71.19 | $56.20 |
| M06 | Hydraulic manifold blockSteel 4140 pre-hard · 3 × 3 × 3 in · 12 cross-drilled ports on 4 faces, 6 tapped · ±0.005 in · Black oxide | 3-axis milling | $756.38 | $203.07 | $124.35 | $93.03 |
| M07 | Fixture plateSteel 1018 · 12 × 8 × 0.75 in · 24 tapped 3/8-16 holes, 2 dowel holes · ±0.005 in · Black oxide | 3-axis milling | $613.85 | $206.58 | $166.19 | $127.79 |
| M08 | Stainless valve bodyStainless 316 · 3 × 2 × 2 in · bored ports on 3 faces, 8 tapped holes · ±0.001 in · Passivate, ASTM A967 | 3-axis milling | $849.97 | $176.57 | $111.42 | $87.02 |
| M09 | Stainless sensor mountStainless 304 · 2.5 × 2 × 0.75 in · 1 pocket, 4 tapped 8-32 holes, 2 side holes · ±0.005 in · Passivate, ASTM A967 | 3-axis milling | $600.72 | $94.26 | $45.32 | $31.25 |
| M10 | Acetal wear blockDelrin (acetal) · 3 × 1.5 × 1 in · 1 slot, 2 counterbored holes · ±0.005 in · no finish | 3-axis milling | $312.30 | $43.46 | $17.51 | $11.26 |
| M11 | PEEK insulatorPEEK · 2 × 2 × 0.5 in · 1 pocket, 4 holes · ±0.001 in · no finish | 3-axis milling | $364.07 | $52.79 | $26.70 | $20.05 |
| M12 | Titanium bracketTitanium Ti-6Al-4V · 2.5 × 1.5 × 0.75 in · 1 pocket, 4 holes, 2 side holes · ±0.001 in · no finish | 3-axis milling | $684.97 | $139.36 | $91.04 | $52.33 |
| F01 | 5-axis impeller-style rotorAluminum 7075-T6 · 3 × 3 × 1.25 in · 8 curved vane slots, center bore · ±0.001 in · Anodize Type II, clear | 5-axis milling | $755.56 | $125.39 | $61.71 | $43.73 |
| F02 | 5-axis aerospace fittingTitanium Ti-6Al-4V · 4 × 2 × 1.5 in · features on 5 faces, 10 holes · ±0.001 in · Passivate, ASTM A967 | 5-axis milling | $1,467.84 | $450.91 | $255.63 | $198.28 |
| T01 | Stepped shaftSteel 4140 pre-hard · Ø1.25 × 4 in · 2 diameters, 1 groove, end bore · ±0.001 in · no finish | CNC turning | $300.08 | $51.75 | $18.77 | $11.22 |
| T02 | Keyed drive shaftSteel 1018 · Ø1.5 × 10 in · 3 diameters, keyway, tapped end · ±0.001 in · Black oxide | CNC turning | $507.31 | $83.40 | $36.36 | $26.88 |
| T03 | Brass bushingBrass 360 · Ø1 × 1 in · through bore, 1 groove · ±0.0005 in · no finish | CNC turning | $362.39 | $42.94 | $16.55 | $7.80 |
| T04 | Stainless pipe fittingStainless 304 · Ø1.5 × 2 in · through bore, hex-style shoulder, 1 groove · ±0.005 in · Passivate, ASTM A967 | CNC turning | $437.84 | $59.51 | $24.34 | $16.85 |
| T05 | Turned flangeStainless 316 · Ø4 × 0.75 in · bore, 6 bolt holes · ±0.005 in · Passivate, ASTM A967 | CNC turning | $483.61 | $111.66 | $62.57 | $52.43 |
| T06 | Acetal rollerDelrin (acetal) · Ø2 × 3 in · through bore, 2 grooves · ±0.005 in · no finish | CNC turning | $269.18 | $37.61 | $15.98 | $11.34 |
| S01 | Swiss medical-style pinStainless 316 · Ø0.5 × 2.5 in · 2 diameters, 2 grooves, 2 cross holes · ±0.0005 in · Passivate, ASTM A967 | Swiss turning | $605.16 | $66.44 | $13.09 | $6.12 |
| S02 | Swiss brass contactBrass 360 · Ø0.25 × 0.75 in · 2 diameters, 1 groove, 1 cross hole · ±0.001 in · no finish | Swiss turning | $399.83 | $41.42 | $5.98 | $1.68 |
| L01 | Sheet-metal L bracketCRS sheet (1008/1010) · 4 × 3 × 0.075 in · 4 holes, 1 bend · ±0.010 in · Zinc plate, clear | Laser cut sheet | $305.50 | $34.06 | $6.92 | $3.89 |
| L02 | Sheet-metal U channel coverAluminum 5052-H32 sheet · 8 × 8 × 0.063 in · 8 holes, 1 window, 2 bends · ±0.010 in · no finish | Laser cut sheet | $115.62 | $18.50 | $8.79 | $7.38 |
| L03 | Laser-cut plate blankSteel A36 plate · 6 × 4 × 0.25 in · flat, 4 holes · ±0.010 in · no finish | Laser cut sheet | $71.15 | $14.59 | $8.94 | $8.02 |
| L04 | Stainless laser-cut gussetStainless 304 sheet · 3 × 3 × 0.06 in · flat triangle-style blank, 2 holes · ±0.010 in · no finish | Laser cut sheet | $66.37 | $9.82 | $4.17 | $3.30 |
Tolerance class matters: parts held to ±0.001 in or tighter get a tight-tolerance inspection step on top of the standard first-article and in-process checks. Finishes are priced as outside services with the finisher's lot minimum, which is why a finished part's one-piece price carries most of a lot charge.
By material
The same part in ten materials
Two reference parts from the basket, re-priced in each material with nothing else changed: the milled bracket (M01) and the turned shaft (T01), no finish. Price moves with stock cost and with how fast the material cuts.
- Delrin (acetal)$16.90
- Aluminum 6061-T6$20.07
- Steel 1018$22.17
- Aluminum 7075-T6$24.06
- Steel 4140 pre-hard$29.21
- Brass 360$30.43
- PEEK$32.99
- Stainless 304$33.33
- Stainless 316$37.10
- Titanium Ti-6Al-4V$83.72
| Material | Stock $/lb | Qty 1 | Qty 10 | Qty 100 | Qty 1,000 | × 6061 at 100 | Material share at 100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum 6061-T6 | $9.50 | $323.06 | $47.42 | $20.07 | $11.60 | 1.00× | 20.9% |
| Aluminum 7075-T6 | $17.05 | $340.82 | $52.36 | $24.06 | $14.22 | 1.20× | 33.1% |
| Stainless 304 | $6.87 | $354.20 | $61.69 | $33.33 | $22.74 | 1.66× | 28.3% |
| Stainless 316 | $8.99 | $368.39 | $66.11 | $37.10 | $25.87 | 1.85× | 33.3% |
| Steel 1018 | $2.46 | $321.39 | $49.37 | $22.17 | $13.66 | 1.10× | 13.4% |
| Steel 4140 pre-hard | $8.42 | $361.93 | $63.01 | $29.21 | $17.43 | 1.46× | 21.6% |
| Brass 360 | $14.70 | $400.40 | $67.68 | $30.43 | $19.25 | 1.52× | 50.5% |
| Titanium Ti-6Al-4V | $71.70 | $572.55 | $128.79 | $83.72 | $49.00 | 4.17× | 57.9% |
| Delrin (acetal) | $7.50 | $309.95 | $42.99 | $16.90 | $10.39 | 0.84× | 13.3% |
| PEEK | $60.00 | $365.22 | $59.09 | $32.99 | $25.99 | 1.64× | 50.6% |
| Material | Stock $/lb | Qty 1 | Qty 10 | Qty 100 | Qty 1,000 | × 6061 at 100 | Material share at 100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum 6061-T6 | $9.50 | $266.29 | $37.58 | $13.78 | $7.94 | 1.00× | 36.1% |
| Aluminum 7075-T6 | $17.05 | $283.48 | $43.97 | $18.53 | $11.35 | 1.34× | 51.4% |
| Stainless 304 | $6.87 | $291.99 | $49.05 | $23.93 | $17.47 | 1.74× | 49.3% |
| Stainless 316 | $8.99 | $305.31 | $54.16 | $28.03 | $21.09 | 2.03× | 55.3% |
| Steel 1018 | $2.46 | $262.86 | $37.19 | $13.82 | $8.59 | 1.00× | 26.4% |
| Steel 4140 pre-hard | $8.42 | $300.08 | $51.75 | $18.77 | $11.22 | 1.36× | 37.5% |
| Brass 360 | $14.70 | $341.77 | $64.96 | $26.74 | $18.60 | 1.94× | 67.8% |
| Titanium Ti-6Al-4V | $71.70 | $497.08 | $126.76 | $72.92 | $44.69 | 5.29× | 76.9% |
| Delrin (acetal) | $7.50 | $254.41 | $32.99 | $11.36 | $7.23 | 0.82× | 25.9% |
| PEEK | $60.00 | $306.89 | $52.49 | $30.86 | $26.56 | 2.24× | 70.8% |
Methodology
How the index is computed
What it is. Each part is described the way a drawing would describe it: size, stock form, holes, pockets, turned diameters, bends, tolerance and finish. QuotedPart's pricing engine, the same one that prices a shop's quotes in the app, turns that into a routing with programming, setup and run minutes per operation, buys the stock, adds outside finishes and applies markup, at 1, 10, 100 and 1,000 pieces. The route for each part is fixed (the process column), so a part never switches machines between quantities.
What it is not. These are not quotes we collected, not an average of what shops charge and not a market survey. They are what one documented set of default rates produces. A shop with cheaper machines, faster cycles, different setups or a different markup will get different numbers; the index is useful for the shape of cost (how it moves with quantity, material and process), and for checking a quote's structure, not as a price list.
Rates. 30% markup on cost, and a $65.00 minimum per quote line. Machine and labor rates are 2026 small US job-shop ballparks (2026 small US job-shop ballparks (fabcon.com CNC machining hourly rates 2026; precisionam.com 5-axis hourly rates 2026)):
| Work center | Rate per hour | Base setup, min |
|---|---|---|
| 3-axis VMC | $95.00 | 45 |
| 5-axis mill | $145.00 | 60 |
| CNC lathe | $90.00 | 65 |
| Swiss lathe | $110.00 | 120 |
| Fiber laser | $175.00 | 15 |
| Press brake | $80.00 | 20 |
| CAM programming | $95.00 | — |
| Deburr / bench | $55.00 | — |
| Inspection | $75.00 | — |
Material prices. Checked October 21, 2026: onlinemetals.com one-bar (12 ft) list prices for the common bar grades; other grades scaled from distributor ratios to 6061 (source). Small lots pay the one-bar list price; big lots that need many full bars move toward the volume price, reached at ten bars.
| Material | Small lot | Volume |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum 6061-T6 | $9.50 | $4.50 |
| Aluminum 7075-T6 | $17.05 | $8.50 |
| Stainless 304 | $6.87 | $4.75 |
| Stainless 316 | $8.99 | $6.25 |
| Steel 1018 | $2.46 | $1.40 |
| Steel 4140 pre-hard | $8.42 | $2.10 |
| Brass 360 | $14.70 | $6.00 |
| Titanium Ti-6Al-4V | $71.70 | $28.00 |
| Delrin (acetal) | $7.50 | same |
| PEEK | $60.00 | same |
| CRS sheet (1008/1010) | $0.95 | same |
| Aluminum 5052-H32 sheet | $3.80 | same |
| Steel A36 plate | $1.10 | same |
| Stainless 304 sheet | $3.20 | same |
What is included. CAM programming and machine setup once per lot; run time from removed volume, finished area, holes, threads, grooves and loads, slower in materials that cut slower than 6061; deburr; first-article and per-part inspection, plus a tight-tolerance step at ±0.001 in or tighter; outside finishes at the finisher's lot minimum and piece price (finishers' published lot minimums and piece prices (DMF Anodizing, Elite Metal Finishing, Makplate, Metal Finishing Co.)). Above 100 pieces run time falls with a learning curve (10% per doubling, to no less than 60% of the first part's time on the machine), as a tuned program and a settled operator do.
What is not. Freight, tax, special fixtures or tooling bought for the job, material certifications, first-article reports to a customer format, expediting and any customer-specific discount.
Shares. Setup, run, material and outside shares are of the shop's cost before markup. A one-piece price can sit on the minimum line charge, so its shares describe cost, not the price.
Editions. The index is recomputed monthly on the catalog's current rates and material prices; the basket and its part IDs stay the same, so a change between editions is a change in inputs or in the engine, never in the parts. This is the November 2026 edition (cnc-cost-index-2026-11.csv).
Reproduce it with your own rates
- Work out what an hour of each machine costs you with the shop hourly rate calculator.
- For a quick check of one milled or turned part, enter your rate, setup and cycle time in the machining cost estimator; the machining time calculator shows the run-time formulas used here.
- In QuotedPart, set your machine rates, setup minutes, material prices and markup in Settings, then drop the STEP file or PDF drawing of a similar part. It is priced by the same engine, on your numbers, with every setup and cycle minute shown.
Data and license
Download, cite and reuse
The CSV has one row per part and quantity: the 26 basket parts and the two reference parts in each of the 10 materials, 184 rows in all.
Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0). Credit: "QuotedPart CNC Machining Cost Index, November 2026, quotedpart.com/cnc-machining-cost-index". Please describe the figures as engine estimates at stated default rates.
| edition | Index edition, YYYY-MM |
| table | basket (the fixed parts) or material (a reference part re-priced in each material) |
| part_id | Stable part id; the same id is the same part in every edition |
| part_name | Part name |
| process | Routing the part is priced on |
| material | Material grade |
| material_usd_per_lb | Catalog small-lot stock price, USD per lb |
| envelope | Finished size, inches |
| features | Machined features |
| tolerance | General tolerance class |
| finish | Outside finish, if any |
| qty | Order quantity |
| unit_price_usd | Quoted price per part, USD, after markup and the line minimum |
| lot_price_usd | Quoted price for the whole lot, USD |
| cost_per_part_usd | Shop cost per part before markup, USD |
| setup_share_pct | Setup and programming, percent of cost |
| run_share_pct | Machine and labor run time, percent of cost |
| material_share_pct | Stock material, percent of cost |
| outside_share_pct | Outside finishes, percent of cost |
| setup_min_per_lot | Setup and programming minutes per lot |
| run_min_per_part | Run minutes per part before quantity learning |
| lead_days | Estimated lead time, working days |
Questions
Are these industry average CNC machining prices?
No. Every number is an estimate from QuotedPart's pricing engine at the default US rates and material prices stated in the methodology. Nobody was surveyed and no shop's quotes are averaged. A shop with different rates, machines or markup will price the same parts differently; the index shows how cost moves with quantity, material and process when those inputs are held fixed.
How often is the index updated?
It is recomputed monthly. Each edition prices the same basket of parts, with the same part IDs, on the catalog's current rates and material prices, so editions can be compared part by part. This is the November 2026 edition; its material prices were checked October 21, 2026.
Can I use the data in an article or a quote comparison?
Yes. The data is published under CC BY 4.0: use, share and adapt it with credit to "QuotedPart CNC Machining Cost Index, November 2026" and a link to this page. Call the figures engine estimates at stated default rates, not market prices.
How do I get the same numbers for my own shop?
Start a QuotedPart trial, set your own machine rates, setup minutes, material prices and markup in Settings, then upload a STEP file or PDF drawing of a similar part. The same engine prices it on your numbers, every setup and cycle minute shown.
More worked numbers: the CNC cost guides break single parts down line by line.
Price your own part
QuotedPart reads the drawing, measures the STEP file and prices it in seconds. Then change the rates, quantities and markup like you would on a real quote.
Free, no account. Priced at our default rates until you set yours.
Price your own parts on your own rates
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