QuotedPartCost guides · Updated 2026-10-30
How much does a sheet metal part cost?
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A sheet-metal price is the sum of the flat blank, pierces and cut length, brake setups, hardware, finishing, and lot charges. This example uses an 8 × 6 inch flat pattern with eight holes, one window, and two 90° bends. The pricing model makes the laser and bend minutes explicit, while the assumptions call out hardware and powder coat as separate items to add when the drawing requires them.
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Flat pattern first, finish second
The workholding treats the profile as a cut sheet, not a machined block. `the routing calculation` creates laser and bend operations from cut length, pierces, bend count, and flanges. Powder coat is a catalog outside process with a lot charge, a per-part input, and a lead-day addition.
PEM hardware is intentionally excluded from this first table because the drawing has not named a fastener family. Adding hardware without a part number would create false precision; add each insert or purchased component as its own line once the design is settled.
- Price the flat blank and the formed route separately.
- Count pierces and bends from the drawing.
- Name the finish color and masking requirements.
Why one enclosure can cost more than ten
The laser and brake setups are lot costs. At quantity one, those minutes and the powder-coat lot charge sit on one part. At quantity 100, the same setup is spread across the run, while each blank, cut, bend, and finish piece remains variable.
The table uses CRS because it is an explicit US catalog sheet input. Switch the material to 5052 or 304 sheet only after checking thickness, bend radius, springback, and the actual sheet price.
- Keep the flat size and nesting assumption visible.
- Do not treat a material swap as a cosmetic change.
- Confirm whether deburr, tapping, and hardware are in-house or outside.
Where the estimate needs a drawing review
A formed enclosure can hide details that a rectangle does not capture: bend relief, grain direction, edge condition, PEM placement, weld nuts, and cosmetic faces. Those details affect both setup and handling. The example's ±0.010 inch tolerance is a general assumption, not a promise for a tight formed dimension.
When a buyer asks for a unit price, send the lot price and identify the minimum finish charge. That makes it clear why a one-off enclosure does not scale like a flat laser blank.
- Check the bend sequence with the brake operator.
- Confirm hardware and powder-coat rack limits.
- Add freight and packaging only when the order requires them.
Use the result as an estimator's starting point
For this sheet metal part cost: laser, bends, hardware, and finish example, an estimator can challenge every laser cutting and press-brake forming input. Replace this fictional geometry with the customer's STEP file or drawing, then replace the catalog stock price, work-center rate, setup minutes, and markup with the shop's current fiber laser and press brake values.
Keep the lot setup visible when you send this quote for sheet metal part cost: laser, bends, hardware, and finish. Confirm stock form, material condition, tolerances, inspection, deburr, and outside-process timing before promising a ship date. If one of those inputs changes, rerun the calculation and show the buyer what moved.
- Show both unit and lot totals.
- Label illustrative values clearly.
- Have the estimator review access, tooling, and first-piece risk.
CRS enclosure example with powder coat; every rate is a stated catalog input
- • Material: CRS sheet (1008/1010); the US catalog input is $0.95/lb and machinability 1.00 relative to 6061-T6.
- • Process: Laser cutting and press-brake forming; the pricing model includes Laser cut, Bend, 2 bends, Deburr and calculates the quantities shown.
- • Geometry: 8 × 6 × 0.063 in; Fictional 8 × 6 in flat pattern with eight holes, one window, and two 90° bends.
- • Markup: 30% catalog default. Taxes, freight, customer-specific rates, and unlisted outside services are excluded.
- • Outside process inputs: Powder coat; catalog lot minimums, piece charges, and lead days are included.
- • Every dollar and minute in the table is a reproducible example from the stated inputs, not a market average or supplier promise.
| Quantity | Setup min (lot) | Run min (part) | Material / part | Machine + labor / part | Outside / part | Quoted / part | Lot quote | Lead days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 46.0 | 2.3 | $1.42 | $4.28 | $0.00 | $406.51 | $406.51 | 11 |
| 10 | 46.0 | 2.3 | $1.42 | $4.27 | $0.00 | $47.31 | $473.10 | 11 |
| 100 | 46.0 | 2.3 | $1.42 | $4.27 | $0.00 | $12.12 | $1212.00 | 11 |
Sources and limits
Claims are dated where they can change. Product calculations are examples from the stated inputs, not a promise about a customer's quote. Competitor wording is attributed to the source shown.
- The stock price input is taken from the US catalog, which records an Online Metals check on 2026-10-21. — source (checked 2026-10-21)
Questions
Is this a guaranteed crs sheet quote?
No. It is a transparent estimating example. Replace the example inputs with the customer's drawing, stock quote, current shop rates, and inspection or finish requirements.
Why does quantity change the unit price?
Setup and programming are lot costs. The pricing calculation spreads those costs across the stated quantity and keeps the per-part run time and material inputs visible.
Price one of your own parts
Drop a PDF drawing or a STEP file. QuotedPart reads the print, measures the model and prices it in seconds, on default shop rates you can change.
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