Shenzhen Alu Rapid Prototype Precision Co., Ltd.
Industry News
CNC Machining Cost Per Hour
Rates vary widely depending on machine type, location, and shop overhead:
By Machine Type
Machine Type | Typical Range (USD/hr) |
3-axis milling | $40 – $100 |
4-axis milling | $75 – $150 |
5-axis milling | $100 – $300+ |
CNC turning (lathe) | $35 – $80 |
Swiss screw machine | $100 – $250 |
Wire EDM | $50 – $150 |
Large/heavy machining | $150 – $500+ |
By Region
USA/Canada — $50–$200/hr (higher labor & overhead)
Western Europe — $50–$180/hr
Eastern Europe — $20–$60/hr
China — $10–$40/hr
India/Southeast Asia — $8–$30/hr (Thailand included)
What Drives the Cost Up
Tight tolerances — More setups, slower feeds, more inspection time
Hard materials — Titanium, Inconel, hardened steel wear tools faster
Complex geometry — More axes, more programming time
Low volume — Setup costs spread over fewer parts
Surface finish requirements — Additional finishing passes
What Drives the Cost Down
Simple geometry — Less programming and fewer operations
Soft materials — Aluminum, brass, plastics machine quickly
High volume — Setup amortized over many parts
Standard tolerances — Less inspection needed
Hidden Costs to Factor In
Programming/CAM time — $50–$150/hr separately
Fixturing & tooling — One-time setup fees
Material cost — Often billed separately
Inspection/QC — Especially for tight-tolerance parts
Post-processing — Deburring, anodizing, heat treatment
Rough Rule of Thumb
For a simple aluminum part in moderate volume from a US shop, expect $50–$100/hr machine time. For complex 5-axis work in titanium, costs can easily exceed $200–$300/hr.
Getting multiple quotes is always recommended, as pricing varies significantly between shops even in the same city.