Die casting mold cost range from tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Molds play a vital role in the die casting process, so their cost must be carefully evaluated. Mold design and engineering considerations, such as the number of cavities, complexity, and surface treatment requirements, all affect the total cost. Estimating tooling costs includes material, machining, and surface preparation costs, as well as life expectancy and maintenance requirements.
How much does a casting mold cost? To discuss this topic, we will analyse from die casting mold cost formula, to factors affecting die casting mold cost, process cost comparison and additional cost.
Die casting mold cost formula
A die casting mould cost = Material fee+ Design fee + Processing fee + Profit + VAT + Trial fee + Packaging & Transportation fee
Among them:
Material costs account for 15-30% of the total cost;
Design fee accounts for 10-15%;
Processing fee and profit account for 30%-50%;
The trial mold fee is controlled within 3%-5%;
Packaging and transportation costs are calculated according to the actual or at 3%.
Factors affecting Die casting mold cost
Complexity of the mold
- The complexity of a mold is one of the main factors affecting price.
- For example, molds with complex shapes, multiple cavities, or special features such as cooling channels require more advanced engineering and manufacturing processes, which can significantly increase the cost.
- Simple molds can cost in the thousands of dollars, while complex molds can cost over $100,000.
Material cost
- Die-casting molds usually use high-strength steel (such as H13, SKD61, etc.), the price of these materials is high, especially when the mold needs to withstand high pressure and high temperature environment.
- The choice and quality of materials directly affect the service life of the mold and cost.
Design and Manufacturing Costs
- The design and manufacturing cost of a mold includes CAD/CAE analysis, mold design, machining and mold trial.
- The design cost accounts for 10-30% of the total cost of the mold, while the mold trial cost is usually controlled within 3-5%.
Service life and maintenance
- The service life of a mold also affects its price. High-quality molds have a higher initial investment, but their durability and long-term use reduces maintenance costs.
- Conversely, low quality molds may require frequent replacement, increasing overall costs.
Raw material price fluctuation
- Fluctuations in the price of raw materials (such as aluminum, zinc, magnesium, etc.) will also affect the cost of die-casting molds.
- For example, the price of aluminum will directly push up the material cost of the mold.
Process Cost Comparison
Vacuum Casting
Extremely low mold costs (requires only a master mold and silicone mold), suitable for small batches of less than 100 pieces, avoiding injection molds costing €5,000–€50,000+.
3D Printed Sand Molds
Approximately €5 per liter, significantly lower than metal printing (€300–€400 per kg).
Casting
Casting molds are more suitable for large/complex parts, but their mechanical properties are weaker than forging.
Additional Costs
Maintenance Costs
Molds require regular maintenance, increasing costs over time.
Material and Scrap Rates
Aluminum/zinc alloy prices and scrap rates (5–10%) impact total costs.
Automation Investment
Highly automated equipment increases initial costs.
Haichen die casting customized mold
Haichen’s die casting machine molds can be customized according to customer’s needs with flexible price. With product information, we can customize accurate die casting molds for you. Besides mold, we aslo supply cold chamber and hot chamber die casting machines.
Our die casting molds are capable of producing parts with complex geometries and fine details, including thin-walled structures, small features and internal structures.
The price of die-casting molds mainly depends on the complexity of the mold, material costs, design and manufacturing costs, production batch, process accuracy requirements and service life and other factors. In addition, regional differences, market supply and demand and raw material price fluctuations will also have an impact on the final price.
