CNC Machining Prices — How Quotes Are Built (2026)
The first machined part quote is always a shock: '$180 for this little bracket?' Here's what's inside that number — and why part #10 costs $35.
Quick answer: CNC price per part = cycle time × shop rate + setup ÷ batch + stock + tooling. US rates: 3-axis $40–75/h, lathe $50–90, 5-axis $90–150. A 22-minute part with 90-min setup at $60/h, $8 stock: $33/part at 50 pieces — $102 at 1. Setup is the whole story of small-batch pricing.
Shop rates (US, 2026)
- 3-axis milling: $40–75/hour
- CNC turning: $50–90/hour
- 5-axis and swiss: $90–150/hour
- Rates bundle the machine, operator, coolant, inspection and overhead — quotes show hours, not the rate.
Setup — the small-batch tax
Fixturing, tool selection, program proofing and first-article inspection run 1–3 hours before part #1. At $60/hour that's $60–180 spread across the batch: $1.80/part at 100, $18/part at 10, the whole quote at 1. This is why 10 identical parts cost barely more than 1 — and why designers who batch their hardware orders save 3–5× per part.
Stock — the second surprise
- Bar and plate run $2–10/lb by alloy: 6061 aluminum $3–5, 303 stainless $4–6, titanium multiples.
- Shops price the closest stock size, not the finished weight — remnant pricing is higher per pound.
- Machining away 70% of a billet is paying to make chips; design near stock sizes when volume matters.
Reading a quote line by line
A good quote shows: setup hours, cycle hours, material, finish (anodize ~$50–150 lot charge, plating similar), and quantity breaks. Push back with math, not vibes: 'can we run this at 50 pieces to amortize setup?' is a question every shop respects — 'can you do better on price?' without a lever is not.