Cost benchmark
Manufacturing cost: tooling, production and assembly
Manufacturing is where budgets break, because tooling is a one-time cash spike that lands before you have revenue. These are the benchmarks founders should plan against.
| Line item | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Injection mold tooling (per cavity) | $3,000 | $12,000 | $40,000 |
| Sheet metal / fixture tooling | $1,500 | $6,000 | $20,000 |
| First production run (1k units) | $10,000 | $45,000 | $150,000 |
| Assembly & test setup | $2,000 | $9,000 | $30,000 |
| QC, inspection & logistics | $1,500 | $6,000 | $25,000 |
What drives the range
- Part count and number of unique molds
- Order volume and negotiated MOQs
- Domestic versus overseas contract manufacturing
- Certification requirements for your target markets
Common questions
How much does injection mold tooling cost?
A single-cavity aluminum tool for a small part starts around $3,000. Multi-cavity hardened steel tooling for a full consumer product commonly totals $30,000 to $120,000.
What should my first production run cost?
Most startups spend $25,000 to $100,000 on a first run of 1,000 to 5,000 units, excluding tooling.
Get manufacturing numbers for your product
The free estimator applies these benchmarks to your product type, industry, stage, complexity and volume, then gives you a full commercialization budget range you can share with investors.