DESIGN & ENGINEERING GUIDE

A Guide to Material Cost

Balancing performance and budget is key to a successful product. This guide provides insight into the factors that drive material cost and helps you make smart, cost-effective decisions.

What Drives Material Cost?

The price of a part is influenced by more than just the raw material's price per kilogram. Key factors include:

Raw Material Cost: The base price of the polymer resin or metal alloy. Commodity plastics (PP, ABS) are inexpensive, while high-performance superalloys (Inconel) are very expensive.
Machinability: How easy is the material to cut? Materials that can be machined quickly with long tool life (like Aluminum 6061 or Delrin) will have a lower final part cost than materials that are difficult to machine (like Stainless Steel or Titanium).
Stock Size & Availability: Standard sheet thicknesses and rod diameters are readily available and more affordable than custom-ordered or less common sizes.

A rack of parts being anodized, illustrating manufacturing at a scale where cost is critical

Relative Material Cost Comparison

This table provides a general comparison of the relative cost of common materials, from least to most expensive. Actual costs will vary based on market conditions.

Cost Tier	Common Plastics	Common Metals
$ (Low Cost)	Polypropylene (PP), HDPE, ABS	Steel (1018, A36), Aluminum (6061)
$$ (Mid-Range)	Acrylic (PMMA), Delrin (POM), Nylon	Stainless Steel (303, 304), Brass (C360)
$$$ (High Performance)	Polycarbonate (PC), PC/ABS	Stainless Steel (316L)
$$$$ (Premium)	Ultem™ (PEI)	Titanium (Grade 5)
$$$$$ (Ultra Performance)	PEEK	Inconel (718)

Material Cost FAQ

What is the cheapest material for a quick prototype?

For 3D printing, PLA is the cheapest, but we often recommend PETG or SLS Nylon for better functionality. For CNC machining, ABS is a very low-cost plastic, and Aluminum 6061 is the most cost-effective metal.

Why is a machined Delrin (POM) part sometimes cheaper than an ABS part, even though ABS is a cheaper raw material?

This comes down to machinability. Delrin is exceptionally easy to machine, allowing for very high cutting speeds and long tool life. ABS, while cheap, can be "gummy" to machine and requires more careful process control. For a complex part with a lot of machine time, the savings in machining time for Delrin can sometimes outweigh its higher raw material cost.

How can I reduce the cost of my part without changing the material?

Apply good DFM principles. Loosen tolerances wherever possible, increase internal corner radii, reduce the depth of deep pockets, and simplify the overall geometry. Reducing the amount of machine time is the most effective way to lower the cost of a machined part.