How Much Does Injection Molding Cost?

The most frequently asked questions in the molding industry are, “How much does plastic injection molding cost?” and “How much does an injection mold cost?” Well, the answer to those questions largely depends on several factors, especially given that plastic mold production has the highest upfront cost of all injection molding types.

If you’ve been wondering about the same thing and are struggling to find the right answer, you’ve come to the right place. This post will delve deeply into the variables that determine the cost of plastic injection molding and the cost of producing the plastic molding parts. By tackling the underlying factors, it will be simple to estimate the expected cost. If you are still unsure about the cost of your plastic injection molding project, you are welcome to send us your 3D drawing, plastic materials, and quantity of parts. We will quote you a price within 24 hours, which will include the complete injection mold cost, injection molding cost, packing cost, and delivery cost.

Basic of injection molding

Injection molding is a widely used manufacturing process that involves injecting molten material into a mold cavity to create complex and precise parts. If you need injection molding parts, it’s crucial to understand the mold and injection molding cost. By gaining insights into the factors that influence injection molding cost and implementing effective cost reduction strategies, businesses can optimize their production and maximize profitability.

If you are searching for plastic molding parts for your upcoming project, the most crucial aspect to consider is the cost of the plastic mold and injection molding components. Your project’s success or failure hinges on these costs. Make sure to thoroughly review these costs before initiating a new project, as failure can result in significant financial and time losses. Let me share some ideas to help you understand the cost of plastic molds and plastic injection molding. This will save you time when developing your new products.

Another easy way to understand the costs for your new project is to send us your 3D part design or sample pictures, along with your specific requirements, such as the materials needed for each part. Estimate the number of parts per time. Do you have any specific requirements for the visible surface? We will provide you with the most competitive price for mold and unit injection molding parts, starting as low as $500 for the mold and as low as $0.005 for the injection-molded parts. You are welcome to use this as a reference for your product and market research.

Various factors influence the cost of injection molding.

There are a variety of factors that can affect the cost of plastic injection molding. These factors include the part’s features, weight and size, type of plastic resin, the number of plastic parts produced each time, and the annual production volume. Each of these factors can impact the plastic injection molding cost and will affect the injection mold cost as well.

Determine the number of cavities and the volume of your mold.

When determining the cost of plastic injection molding, it’s crucial to consider the number of parts produced and the production volume. Producing a small batch of parts may be more expensive on a per-unit basis than producing a larger volume of parts. Additionally, larger production volumes may allow for economies of scale, resulting in lower production costs per piece.

There is a close correlation between the number of cavities in your mold and their cost. A high number of cavities in the mold indicates a longer manufacturing time and the need for additional injection molding tooling cost. The lower the number of cavities in each mold, the lower the pressing time, and the lower the cost of manufacturing for each injection mold.

Part Design Complexity

The part geometry is one of the primary factors that can affect the plastic injection molding cost, because this will increase the initial mold cost. Tight tolerances or intricate geometries necessitate additional time and machining expenses, leading to elevated production costs. Additionally, parts that require special features such as undercuts, threads, or inserts will also increase the mold cost of manufacturing. The size and weight of the part can also have an impact on the plastic injection molding cost. Larger parts necessitate more plastic material, longer cycle times, and a larger tonnage of injection mold machines, all of which can increase overall production costs. Additionally, larger part sizes need larger mold sizes, which will increase mold manufacturing costs.

A more complex part design leads to a more complex mold, which in turn increases the cost of the plastic mold. Choosing a less complex part design could significantly lower your costs. However, it is important to keep in mind the factors that determine design complexity. These factors include surface finishing, fine detailing, and the use of undercuts. You can always seek expert advice to help you choose a design that won’t eat into your budget unnecessarily.

Type of plastic part material

The type of plastic material used for plastic injection molding parts can also have an impact on production costs. Different types of plastics have different costs, with some materials more expensive than others. Additionally, some special materials may cost 5–10 times more than the normal plastic material, so choosing the material is important to save the overall injection molding cost.

There are a number of variables that will influence the cost of plastic injection molding based on your resin choice. Ranging from the quantity, grade, and resin availability to whether the resin requires extreme molding temperatures, all these will affect the overall upfront cost. For example, the presence of abrasive materials in the resin, such as glass or minerals, can impact mold maintenance costs.

This may seem like a straightforward consideration, given that we’re discussing plastic injection molding, which requires only plastic parts. However, there are numerous types of plastic available, including PP, PS, PET, PVC, and HDPE, to name a few. Each type comes with different prices depending on the material and part size. Large parts will require similar large molds and additional material, which in turn will affect the time taken for machining. All of these variables will impact the overall cost for plastic injection molding.

Plastic Injection Molding Cost Guiding Tips

There are roughly four parts of cost for injection molding: plastic material cost, molding production cost, plastic mold cost, part color cost, and packing cost. Let us explain those four mean costs one by one.

Plastic Material Cost

First, the weight of the required material and its unit price determine the plastic raw material cost, which in turn affects the plastic injection molding cost. The weight of the material is determined by the part volume and material density; however, the part’s maximum wall thickness can also play a role. The weight of material that is required includes the material that fills the channels of the mold.

The thickness of the part design largely determines the size of those channels and, consequently, the quantity of raw material. The choice of material also influences the cost of the injection molding part; different types of plastic material have varying prices. For instance, the cost of PP injection molding material differs significantly from that of ABS injection molding material. Therefore, the material cost for a plastic molded product comprises two components: the weight of the material and the type of material used for the plastic molding part.

Injection Molding Processing cost

Second, the injection molding machine process cost will affect the plastic injection molding cost; it is primarily calculated from the hourly rate and the cycle time. Understanding how the part design influences molding machine selection is crucial, as the hourly rate directly correlates with the tonnage of the injection molding machine in use. The machine typically references injection molding machines for the clamping force they provide. The projected area of the part and the pressure of the material injection determine the required clamping force.

Therefore, a larger part will require a larger clamping force and, hence, a more expensive molding machine. Also, certain materials with high injection pressures may require higher tonnage machines. The size of the part must also comply with other machine specifications, such as clamp stroke, platen size, and shot capacity. The cycle time, which includes the injection time, cooling time, and resetting time, will influence the cost of plastic injection molding.

Reducing any of these times will lower the production cost. You can reduce the injection time by reducing the maximum wall thickness and part volume. Lower wall thicknesses also reduce the cooling time, as they require less time to cool completely. The cooling time is also influenced by several of the material’s thermodynamic properties. Finally, the resetting time is dependent on the machine and part size. A larger injection molding part will require larger motions from the machine to open, close, and eject the part, and a larger machine requires more time to perform these operations.

Injection Plastic Mold Cost

Third, the plastic injection mold cost has two main components: the mold base and the machining of the cavities. The size of the part’s envelope and design feature primarily determine the mold base’s cost. A larger plastic injection-molded part requires a larger, more expensive mold base. The complex part design requires complex plastic injection molds, which will affect the injection mold cost.

Nearly every aspect of the part’s geometry influences the cost of machining the cavities. Complex plastic mold cavities necessitate significant CNC machining expenses and time, which in turn raises the cost of the plastic injection mold. The primary cost driver is the size of the cavity that must be machined, measured by the projected area of the cavity (equal to the projected area of the part and projected holes) and its depth. Any other elements that will require additional machining time will add to the cost, including the feature count, parting surface, side-cores, lifters, unscrewing devices, tolerance, and surface roughness.

The number of parts also affects the cost of the plastic injection mold. A larger production quantity will require a higher-class injection mold that will not wear as quickly. The stronger mold material results in a higher mold base cost and more machining time. One final factor to consider is the number of side-action directions, which can have an indirect impact on the cost of plastic injection molding. The number of side-cores used determines the additional cost.

However, the number of directions may limit the number of cavities the mold can accommodate. For example, the injection mold for a part that requires three side-action directions can only contain two cavities. While adding more cavities may not directly increase costs, it could potentially lead to further savings.

Injection molding Color Cost

Forth, the color of the injection molding also affects the cost of the plastic injection molding product. Generally, it doesn’t have a significant impact, but it still depends on the specific part color you require. For example, if you need white injection molding parts, the cost will be 10% higher than another color; if you require clear color (clear plastic injection molding) molding parts, the cost will be 15–25% higher than normal color molded parts.

If you require white color injection molding parts, the molding shop must thoroughly clean the barrel, preventing any other color from entering the injection unit and material. This process not only consumes time and material, but also increases the waste rate, which is why the cost of white plastic molded parts is slightly higher than other colors.

When it comes to producing transparent injection molding parts such as PC, PMMA, or PS, a molding shop must utilize a specialized injection unit and a high-quality injection molding machine. This is necessary because any minor defects in the transparent molding parts can easily be detected. So you need to make the best quality molding parts, the waste rate is higher, and you need to use the high-tech injection molding machine, and all of those are more costly than normal molding production.

Injection molding packing cost

If your injection molded parts have special packing requriement, then there will be additional cost as well, small size of molding part will be less packing cost than big size of injection molded parts, special packing materials will increase the packing cost as well, so you need think about about how to pack your injection molded products when you order the molded parts from your plastic molding supplier.

Plastic injection molding cost estimation method

1. Feature-based estimation

For plastic molding production quantities (over 10,000 units), this feature-based cost estimator allows for the use of more durable and costly injection molding tooling due to its minimal impact on the per-part cost. We estimate the material cost based on the part geometry and current material prices. For the production cost, we choose a compatible injection molding machine from a database of over 50 machines and estimate the cycle time based on the part geometry, material properties, and machine specifications.

We select a suitable mold base for the injection molding tooling cost based on standard mold dimensions and mold classes and estimate the required mold machining based on the part geometry and other user specifications. We calculate these three costs (material, production, and tooling) for 4 different cavity arrangements (1, 2, 4, and 8 cavities), and provide the most cost-effective option.

2. Estimate the cost of low volume injection molding.

This feature-based cost estimator is for the injection molding of low volumes (under 10,000 units), where rapid tooling methods (high-speed machining of Class 104 molds) are used to create the mold due to the large impact on the per-part cost. We estimate the material cost based on the part geometry and current material prices. We select a compatible injection molding machine from a database of over 50 machines for the production cost, and estimate the cycle time based on the part geometry, material properties, and machine specifications.

Using standard mold dimensions, we select a suitable mold base for the plastic tooling cost, and estimate the required mold machining based on the part geometry and other user specifications. We calculate these three costs (material, production, and tooling) for 4 different cavity arrangements (1, 2, 4, and 8 cavities), and provide the most cost-effective option.

3. Standard estimate

This standard plastic injection molding cost estimator does not require any part geometry, but more process parameter inputs are required to calculate a more accurate estimate. We estimate the material cost using the part and runner volumes, an updated material database with pricing, and customizable process parameters. You must specify the cycle time, machine rate, and labor rates for the production cost. We provide a detailed cost breakdown for the material, production, and tooling costs after adding the mold cost.

4. Plastic mold cost estimate

This feature-based cost estimator calculates the mold cost for plastic molding. We select a suitable mold base using standard mold dimensions, taking into account the part geometry and mold requirements, such as the number of cavities. We estimate the necessary mold machining for the chosen SPI mold class, and opt for rapid plastic tooling techniques for a Class 104 mold or other low volume products. Go to injection mold cost page to know more.

I trust that this information will provide you with a clear understanding of the costs associated with your project. If you’re ready to begin your plastic injection molding project, please feel free to send us your requirements for a quotation. We will provide you with a comprehensive quote for the mold and molding price, ensuring you have a comprehensive plan for your project.

Strategies for reducing the cost of injection molding

When creating an injection mold for a plastic part, there are several factors to consider. Firstly, we must create a Design for Manufacture (DFM) report for the part design to ensure there are no significant issues. Secondly, we need to identify potential changes that could lower the mold cost without compromising its functionality. Some designers may find it difficult or impossible to create the mold, which is why we need to create a DFM analysis report. As we all know, reducing the cost of the injection mold and molding is crucial for boosting sales and profits.

Below, we will list some strategies to reduce injection mold and molding costs:

Cost reduction is a critical aspect of injection molding that can significantly impact a company’s profitability. Implementing effective cost reduction strategies can help businesses optimize their manufacturing processes and reduce expenses without compromising quality. Here are some cost reduction strategies to consider:

1. Material Selection: Choosing cost-effective materials is a beneficial way to reduce injection molding costs. Typically, we utilize materials such as ABS, PA6, and PC/ABS for our projects, but it’s crucial to consider their durability. PP and PE are other cost-effective materials for some suitable projects. Therefore, choosing the right material for your project is crucial; if you’re uncertain about the best option, feel free to reach out to us, and we’ll be pleased to offer our recommendations.
2. Part Design Optimization: It is important to improve the part design so that it is both manufacturable and cost-effective. Simplifying part geometries, minimizing undercuts, and reducing wall thickness can help lower production costs without compromising functionality. When making a DFM analysis report based on this, you will have some suggestions for design improvement.
3. Injection molding Tooling Optimization: When embarking on a new project, the cost of injection molding tooling is a crucial consideration, as the initial cost of creating injection molds can be substantial. Even if you only need 100 pieces of injection-molded parts, lowering the cost of the injection mold will help you reduce your tooling investment.
   Once the mold design is finished, all of the team should have a meeting to check if there are any possible ways to simplify the mold manufacturing cost. Those include reducing the slider action, reducing the mold base and caivity size, simplifying the parting line, etc.
4. Automating injection molding processes: Using automated or robot production can help reduce labor costs and increase production efficiency. By implementing automation technologies such as robotics and sensors, businesses can optimize production and reduce expenses associated with manual labor.

Final summsrize:

We have some simple suggestions on how to reduce the injection mold and molding cost. When you have a small volume of injection molding parts, the first idea is to think about how to reduce the injection mold cost, because the simplest injection mold cost will be at least a few hundred dollars. If you only need a few thousand plastic parts, then trying to save the mold cost will be more helpful.

If you have plastic parts that will need millions of parts in the future, then the first idea is to think about how to reduce the injection molding cost. For high-volume injection molding, unit molding cost is critical for businesses aiming to optimize their manufacturing processes and maximize profitability.

If you have a plastic project in mind and would like to know the cost of injection molding, feel free to send us your requirements for a quotation. Sincere Tech is regarded as one of the top 10 leading plastic mold companies in China. We offer a wide range of custom plastic injection molds, die casting molds, metal parts, CNC machining, surface finishing, and mold components.

Quality is of the utmost importance to us. To make sure we make high-quality molds, we will use a CMM measuring machine to measure all of the mold components, electrodes, and dimensions according to a 2D drawing. To make sure all of the dimensions are within the tolerance, we will test the function of parts and materials to make sure that the final part will meet your requirements. if not quite clear, there is another page related to injection molding cost.

Our capabilities include:

1. Gas-assist injection molding: We have rich experience in making gas-assist injection molding; when you have this type of mold, welcome to contact us.
2. Precision CNC machining: Our advanced CNC machines enable us to create high-quality mold components with tight tolerances; this will currently ensure tolerance and precision in the injection-molded products.
3. Overmolding and Two-Shot Molding: We make overmolding and two-shot injection molding for some handle tools; some of the overmoling is used in the die casting molds as well. Contact us for a quote for your overmolding project.
4. Insert Molding: Insert molding is similar to overmolding but will be a little different; insert molding normally uses metal parts as substrate, and overmolding uses plastic parts as substrate.
5. Acrylic injection molding or polycarbonate injection molding: PMMA injection molding and polycarbonate injection molding require special molding equipment. We have over 18 years of experience in making PMMA and polycarbonate injection molding, such as thicker wall clear injection molding parts made by acrylic or polycarbonate
6. Value-Added Services: In addition to injection molding, die casting, and machining, we offer a range of value-added services, including product silkscreen, painting, anodizing, powder coating, e-coating, assembly, testing, certificate, packaging, and logistics support, streamlining your supply chain and reducing costs.

Partner with Sincere Tech China Mold Maker for your custom injection molding, die casting, and machining needs; we will offer you the best quality and fast lead time. Contact us now to get a quotation on injection molding costs.

General Questions:

Q1. Is injection molding expensive?

The complexity and volume of production determine how much injection molding will cost. Despite its high cost, injection molding proves to be quite economical when large quantities of parts with precise dimensional accuracy are required.

Q2. How much does a plastic injection mold cost?

Injection mold costs range from $300 to $100,000, depending on the type of material, level of mold complexity, production volume, and part design.

Q3: How long to make an injection molding project?

This depends on the part size and design, but the first sample will take around 4-5 weeks. Once you approve the sample, we will start to produce the injection molding parts. The lead time will depend on your quantity of molding parts.

Q4: How can I calculate the cost of an injection mold and injection molding?

It is simple to get those costs for your project; you can send us your 3D drawing (stp or IGS format file), requirements for quality parts, and plastic materials, and then we could send you the price in 24 hours.