Free tool · rough planning estimate, not a quote
Tooling cost estimator.
Pick the part size, material, cavities, complexity, annual volume and finish. Get a rough range for the one-time tooling cost and the price per part, from published industry ballparks, with every source linked.
Where the numbers come from
Published ballparks, not a price list.
Each figure below was read from its source on October 13, 2026. The estimator picks the matching row, applies the published cavity and mechanism adders, and widens per-part benchmarks to 0.8x–1.5x because a benchmark is one specific part. Where no published figure was found, it prints none.
| What | Published ballpark | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic injection mold, 1 cavity | Boxumold, 2026 | |
| Extra cavities | 2 cavities +60–80% · 4 cavities +150–200% · 8 cavities +300–400% | Boxumold, 2026 |
| Mechanisms | Injection Molding Index | |
| Molded part price | Small ABS part £0.29 at 500, £0.12 at 5,000; larger ABS part £2.02 at 500, £1.35 at 50,000 | Get It Made, 2026 |
| Aluminum die-casting die | HLH Rapid; RapidDirect | |
| Stainless investment casting | DFMA, 2026 | |
| Cut and sew | Makers Row; Closo | |
| Blister mold | JCH published range |
For steel class, shot life and build time by class of mold, use the injection mold cost estimator.
Questions
What buyers ask about tooling cost.
How much does tooling cost for a plastic part?
Each extra cavity, slide or lifter adds to that.
Is this estimate a quote?
No. It is a rough planning range built from published industry ballparks, not from your drawing. Real prices depend on geometry, tolerances, resin grade, the factory and the date. Jack quotes against your drawing, and quoting costs nothing.
Why does the unit cost fall so much with volume?
Setup, changeovers and inspection are spread over more pieces, and at volume a multi-cavity tool makes several parts per cycle. On one published small ABS part the price per piece drops by more than half between 500 and 5,000 pieces (Get It Made).
Which material is cheapest to mold?
On a larger part the resin choice can double the piece price.
Do soft goods need tooling?
Not hard tooling.
Can Jack quote my part?
Yes. Send a drawing, a STEP file, a sample or a photograph with your volumes. Jack quotes tooling and production at vetted partner factories, and tells you plainly whether the part suits them.
Related
Send one drawing. Get a real number.
A drawing, a STEP file, a sample or a photograph is enough to start. Quoting a part against a drawing costs nothing, and Jack will tell you plainly whether it suits the factories he uses through vetted partner factories.
Book a 15-min call with Jack