Manufacturers quote before cutting any material, usually in response to a drawing, sample, or request for quote (RFQ). Customers often send the same RFQ to several shops and compare unit price, lead time, tooling cost, and quality documentation side by side.
When to use estimates: Use estimates to provide project quotes and get client approval before starting work. Once approved, convert your estimate to an invoice with one click to collect payment.
Create an invoice for payment collection
Upload logo
PDF will be generated with filename:
Invoice_1001_Client_2026-10-14.pdf
Ties the price to a specific design so later revisions can be requoted rather than argued about.
Unit price depends on lot size, so listing prices at several quantities shows the customer where the savings are.
Alloy, grade, or resin type drives cost, and a substitution or customer-supplied material changes both price and liability.
Separates one-time costs from piece price and states who owns fixtures, molds, or dies after payment.
Tight tolerances, coatings, and required reports add cost, and the quote should say exactly what was priced.
Customers compare shipping dates, and the quote should state whether it is ex-works or delivered, and who pays freight.
Limits your exposure when raw material costs shift between the quote and the order.
| Service | Priced | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| CNC machining (mill or lathe) shop rate | per machine hour | $65-150 |
| Manual machining or fabrication labor | per hour | $50-95 |
| Welding and fabrication labor | per hour | $55-110 |
| Production setup / programming (NRE) | flat fee per job | $150-1,500 |
| Prototype part (simple, 1-10 pcs) | per piece | $40-400 |
| Light assembly and kitting | per hour | $30-60 |
| Inspection / first article report | per report | $75-500 |
| Custom fixture or tooling design | per hour | $75-150 |
Typical US ranges. Rates vary by region, experience, and job size.
Add material with scrap allowance, machine time at the correct shop rate, labor, outside services, setup divided by quantity, and overhead, then apply margin. Quoting from a guess is how shops lose money on repeat jobs.
Show prices at, for example, 100, 500, and 1,000 pieces. Customers see the benefit of larger runs, and you get a chance to win a bigger order.
Short runs absorb full setup and programming time. Say so on the quote so the customer understands why a 5-piece prototype costs far more per part than a later production run.
Plating, heat treat, and coating vendors can raise prices or add lead time. Quote them at current cost with a handling markup and note that they are subject to vendor pricing.
Simple quotes are usually free, but complex jobs that need engineering, design for manufacturability review, or sample parts often justify a quoting or engineering fee. It is common to credit that fee back if the customer places the order.
Typically 30 days, and shorter, such as 7 to 14 days, when the job depends on volatile metals or resin prices. State the expiration date on the quote.
Yes, if your quote references the drawing revision and says changes may affect price and lead time. Issue a revised quote for any new revision before work continues.
For custom parts, new customers, or orders with expensive material or tooling, requesting 30-50% upfront is common. Put the deposit requirement on the quote so it is agreed before the order starts.
Use the Manufacturing invoice template to bill the client, or convert this estimate once it's approved.
Manufacturing invoice template