Larger, more complex, high-production, multi-cavity molds can cost upwards of $25,000 to $50,000 or more. The typical injection mold cost will be between $4,500 and $16,000. Injection mold cost estimates will also depend on the proprietary technology used by each mold manufacturer.
There are cost considerations for injection molding, which include mold making, cost of materials and setup. Mold or tooling costs account for a large part of the price of injection molding. The mold will be manufactured by CNC machining, electrical discharge machining, or 3D printing.
This upfront cost can range from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on the part’s complexity. Steel molds are expensive but last longer, making them ideal for high-volume production. On the other hand, aluminum molds are cheaper but wear out faster, so they’re better for smaller production runs.
A high-quality steel mold can last over 1 million cycles, spreading the cost over a longer period than cheaper molds. One key driver of injection molding costs is the size of your production run. The more units you produce, the lower your cost per part becomes.
What strategies can be employed to save money in injection molding? Implement design optimizations, select economical materials, and streamline the manufacturing process. Small-sized injection molding parts cost $1.35 – 11.05 per part, whereas the die might cost $5000 to $20000— more Insights on injection molding cost factors.
The type of mold will also help determine price. Prototype injection molds will cost less than molds used for production runs. Molds built specifically for long production runs will be more expensive. Molds made for extended production will need to be made of high-strength steel that can stand up to repeated use.