Ultimate Guide to Plastic Injection Molding Quotations
Ultimate Guide to Plastic Injection Molding Quotations
⭐ Ultimate Guide to Plastic Injection Molding Quotations: How to Get Faster & More Accurate Pricing for Your Product Development
When you are preparing to develop a plastic product, the very first step is obtaining a fast and accurate injection molding quotation.
However, many clients unintentionally provide incomplete information, resulting in inaccurate quotes, longer development time, and higher costs.
This article will show you the essential checklist for plastic injection quotation requests.
By preparing the following information, you can greatly reduce development time and avoid unnecessary expenses.
Why is this important?
Injection mold design relies heavily on detailed drawings. The more complete the information, the more accurate the quotation.
Recommended files:
- 2D engineering drawings (PDF, DWG): dimensions, tolerances, wall thickness, draft angles
- 3D models (STEP, IGS, X_T): evaluate mold opening direction and structural feasibility
➡ If no drawings are available, providing a physical sample for evaluation is acceptable.
Different materials affect strength, heat resistance, flexibility, appearance, and molding conditions.
Common plastic materials:
- ABS (good appearance, easy processing)
- PP (high toughness, chemical resistant)
- PC (high transparency, impact resistant)
- PA6 / PA66 (wear-resistant, high-temperature resistant)
- TPE / TPU (soft-touch materials)
- PMMA (high transparency)
➡ If you require a specific brand or resin grade, please provide the information.
Surface requirements directly influence mold machining difficulty.
Common surface finishes:
- High-gloss polished surface (mirror finish)
- Textured surface (MT, VDI)
- Matte, glossy, or transparent finishes
➡ Providing samples or photos greatly improves accuracy.
If additional post-processing is needed, please inform us early:
- Painting
- Electroplating
- UV coating
- Pad printing / screen printing
- Ultrasonic welding
These will affect mold design and the final quotation.
If your product requires brand-specific colors, please provide:
- Pantone color number
- Physical color samples
- Color cards
➡ Color matching depends on light source, thickness, and material compatibility—clear instructions help avoid color variations.
A complete injection molding quotation includes:
✔ Mold Cost
✔ Unit Price of the Injection-Molded Product (depends on quantity)
Mold cost varies based on the following factors:
| Mold Steel Grade / Type | Hardness (HRC) | Key Characteristics | Suitable Applications / Mold Types |
|---|---|---|---|
| P20 (2311, P20F) |
28 ~ 31 | - Good machinability - Good EDM, texture, polishing performance |
- General plastic molds - Medium/large molds - Expected lifespan 30,000–50,000 shots |
| BPM-HHH | 38 ~ 40 | - Higher surface hardness - Excellent texture & polishing performance |
- Glass-fiber materials - High-wear molds - Expected lifespan 50,000–150,000 shots |
| SKD-61 / H13 | 50 ~ 52 (heat-treated) |
- High wear resistance - Excellent thermal fatigue resistance |
- Glass-fiber materials - High-temperature plastics - Long-life/high-volume molds - Expected lifespan >500,000 shots |
| Stainless Steel (2083 / 2316 / S136) |
34 ~ 38 (unhardened) |
- Highly corrosion-resistant - Excellent polishing |
- PVC, chlorine-based plastics - Transparent parts, medical molds - Expected lifespan >500,000 shots |
| NAK80 | 37 ~ 43 | - No heat treatment needed - Excellent precision and polishing |
- High-gloss or high-transparency products - Medium-volume molds - Expected lifespan 300,000–400,000 shots |
These are commonly used mold steels.
Actual selection depends on the country of origin, product material, glass fiber percentage, mold design, molding conditions, and whether special treatments are required.
In general:
Higher steel quality → Longer mold life → More products can be produced.
How to choose mold steel:
- Estimated production quantity
- High-volume → choose high-grade, wear-resistant steels
- Low-volume → economical steels (e.g., P20)
- Material characteristics
- Glass fiber (GF) → high hardness steels (BPM-HHH and up)
- Transparent or mirror-finish → NAK80
- Acidic / chlorine-based / flame-retardant → corrosion-resistant steels (2316 / S136)
- Lifetime vs cost
- Lower-grade steels may save initial cost
- BUT mold repairs and downtime can cost far more later
- Single cavity: lower mold cost, lower output
- Multi-cavity (2, 4, 8…): higher mold cost, higher output, lower unit price
- Cold runner: cheaper but produces material waste (sprue)
- Hot runner: saves material, improves efficiency and appearance, but mold cost is higher
Ideal for mass production or high-quality appearance products.
Packaging also affects quotation and logistics—don’t overlook this!
✔ Customized Color Box
Suitable for retail and branded products
• Logo / product images / specifications
• Require dieline, artwork, and color reference
• MOQ applies
✔ Standard Carton (Corrugated Box)
Ideal for bulk shipments or industrial parts
• Custom size
- Box type
- Quantity per carton
- Printing options (single/dual color)
✔ Other Packaging Options
- PE bag
- Bubble bag
- Blister packaging
- Custom labels
➡ Packaging affects product protection, cost, and final presentation.
To provide an accurate unit price, please include:
- Estimated monthly / annual volume
- Initial order quantity
- Required delivery time (rush or standard)
- Shipping method (domestic shipping, ocean freight, air freight, courier)
🚀 Complete Information = Faster Development, Lower Cost, Less Hassle
By preparing the information listed in this article, you can significantly improve quotation accuracy and avoid delays during development.
We can help you with:
✔ New product mold creation
✔ 3D modeling
✔ Material selection guidance
✔ Mass production planning
✔ Customized packaging design
Contact us today and let us help turn your concept into a successful mass-produced product!