Machinists run manual mills, lathes, CNC machining centers, and grinders to make or repair metal and plastic parts. Independent machinists and small job shops invoice manufacturers, contractors, repair customers, and hobbyists for prototype runs, production batches, one-off repairs, and reverse-engineered replacement parts. A typical invoice covers setup, machine time, material, outside processing, and shipping.
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Most shops price by machine time at a shop rate that depends on the equipment: manual machines cost less per hour than 3-axis, 5-axis, or multi-axis turning centers. Setup and programming are usually billed separately as a one-time charge, then run time is billed per hour or folded into a per-piece price. Production work is quoted per piece with quantity breaks, since setup cost spreads across the run. Material is billed at cost plus a markup, commonly 15 to 30 percent, and outside services such as heat treating, plating, anodizing, or grinding are passed through with a handling markup. One-off repairs and prototypes are often a flat fee or hourly with a minimum charge. Many shops add fees for rush work, first article inspection reports, and material certifications.
| Service | Priced | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Manual mill or lathe work | per hour | $50-90 |
| CNC 3-axis milling or 2-axis turning | per hour | $75-125 |
| CNC 4/5-axis or multi-axis turning | per hour | $110-180 |
| CNC programming and CAM setup | per hour | $65-120 |
| Fixturing and job setup | per setup | $75-400 |
| Wire or sinker EDM | per hour | $75-150 |
| First article inspection or CMM report | per report | $75-300 |
| Reverse engineering and CAD drawing from a sample part | per hour | $60-110 |
Typical US ranges. Rates vary by region, experience, and job size.
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNC programming and CAM for aluminum bracket, P/N BRK-2041 Rev B | 2 hours | $85.00 | $170.00 |
| Machine setup and fixturing, 3-axis VMC (two operations) | 2 setups | $150.00 | $300.00 |
| CNC milling run time, 6061-T6 bracket | 25 pieces | $38.00 | $950.00 |
| 6061-T6 plate 0.75 in x 6 in x 12 in with mill cert (material cost plus 20%) | 1 lot | $214.00 | $214.00 |
| Type II clear anodize, outside vendor (cost plus 10%) | 25 pieces | $6.60 | $165.00 |
| First article inspection report with dimensional data | 1 report | $125.00 | $125.00 |
| Total | $1,924.00 | ||
Notes: PO #44718. Net 30. Parts shipped UPS Ground, tracking sent by email. Material certification and inspection report attached. Please report any discrepancies within 10 days of receipt. A 1.5% monthly late fee applies to balances past due.
Purchasing departments match invoices to POs and print revisions. A missing PO number is the most common reason a manufacturing customer delays payment.
Customers often question setup charges on small runs. Showing them separately explains why a batch of 5 costs more per piece than a batch of 100.
Metal prices swing, and customers want to see what alloy and stock you used. Include heat or lot numbers if you supplied mill certs.
Heat treat, plating, anodize, and grinding are real costs you front. Listing them avoids disputes and documents your pass-through markup.
Partial shipments, overruns, and underruns are common. Clear counts keep billing and customer receiving records in agreement.
First article reports, material certs, and certificates of conformance take real time. Listing them keeps them from being treated as free.
In many states, parts for resale or manufacturing may be exempt with a certificate on file. Note the certificate or the tax charged so your records hold up in an audit.
Commercial customers usually pay net 30, and larger manufacturers sometimes stretch to net 45 or 60, so confirm terms before quoting. New customers, one-off jobs, and individuals are commonly asked for 50 percent upfront, with the balance due before parts ship. Jobs with expensive material or custom tooling often require a deposit that covers material cost. Late fees of 1 to 1.5 percent per month are common if stated on the quote and invoice. Most shops accept checks, ACH, and credit cards, and some add a surcharge for cards on large invoices where the law in their state allows it.
Setup, programming, and first-piece proving take the same time whether you make 1 part or 500. Billing it as its own line makes repeat orders easier to price and stops customers from expecting a low piece price on a tiny run.
Small repair jobs eat time in quoting, material pickup, setup, and deburring. A minimum of one hour of shop rate or a flat $75 to $150 keeps tiny jobs from losing money.
If you scrap a part from your own error, absorb it. If scrap comes from bad customer-supplied material or a drawing change, document it and bill it. Keep notes and emails so the charge is not a surprise.
Steel, aluminum, titanium, and tool steel prices can change between quote and purchase. A line stating that quotes are valid for 30 days and material is subject to price changes protects you on longer jobs.
When customers send material, fixtures, or finished parts for rework, record what you received and its condition. Storage fees for unclaimed work can be stated on the invoice and in your terms.
Bill by the hour for repairs, prototypes, and jobs with unknown scope. Bill per piece for repeat or production work where you know the cycle time. Either way, show setup as its own charge so the customer sees what drives the price.
Many shops add 15 to 30 percent to material cost to cover purchasing time, cutting, waste, freight, and the risk of price changes. Exotic alloys or very small orders may justify the higher end. State the markup policy in your terms.
Yes, for deposits or when you are doing progress billing on a long job. For standard jobs, most shops invoice on shipment so the invoice matches the packing slip. Get agreement on this in the quote.
Compare the parts to the print and PO. If they are out of tolerance, rework or remake them at your cost. If they meet the print, send your inspection data and keep the invoice active. Clear drawings and a signed quote make these disputes easier to settle.
It depends on the state and on how the customer uses the parts. Many states exempt parts that become part of a product for resale when you have a resale or exemption certificate on file. Repair work and sales to end users are often taxable. Check with your state revenue department or a tax professional.
Send a Machinist estimate for approval, then turn it into an invoice when the work is done.
Machinist estimate template