Every injection molding buyer asks the same first question: how much will it cost? Here's the straight answer — a production-grade mold made in China ranges from about $1,500 for a simple single-cavity tool to $30,000+ for a complex multi-cavity mold, and the molded part itself can cost anywhere from a few cents to a few dollars per piece.
Those ranges look wide, but they narrow fast once you understand the five factors that drive them. Here they are, with realistic numbers — plus a way to get your own estimate in 30 seconds.
The five factors that drive mold cost
1. Part size. The mold's outer steel frame — and the machining time to cut each cavity — scale with the footprint of your part. A small 20 g connector is far cheaper to tool than a 500 g housing.
2. Number of cavities. More cavities raise the mold cost but lower the unit price per part. This is the classic trade-off, covered in detail below.
3. Part complexity. Undercuts, side actions, internal threads and deep ribs all add mold mechanisms and slow machining. Simple geometry is always cheaper.
4. Mold steel. Production molds running 500k to 1M+ shots need hardened steel like 8418 or S136. Prototype molds can use softer steel or aluminum. Better steel costs more up front but lasts far longer.
5. Surface finish and tolerances. A mirror-polish SPI-A1 finish or tight ±0.02 mm tolerances add cost through extra polishing and tighter machining.
Cavity count: the trade-off every buyer should know
This is the single most important decision in mold buying, because it moves two numbers in opposite directions: more cavities → higher mold cost but lower unit price; fewer cavities → cheaper mold but higher unit price.
Rule of thumb: at high annual volume — say 100,000 parts a year — a 4-cavity or 8-cavity mold pays for itself through lower unit costs. For prototyping or a few thousand parts, a 1-cavity or 2-cavity mold is the smart, low-risk choice.
Our free cost estimator lets you see this trade-off live: change the cavity count and watch the unit price and mold cost move in real time.
Realistic price ranges for a China-made mold
Typical ex-works ranges for production-grade molds made in Ningbo, China:
Simple small part, 1-2 cavities: roughly USD 1,500 - 4,000.
Medium part with ribs or a few undercuts, 2-4 cavities: roughly USD 4,000 - 10,000.
Complex part with side actions or threads, multi-cavity: roughly USD 10,000 - 30,000+.
These are indicative ex-works ranges — final pricing always depends on your exact drawing, tolerances and order quantity. For high-temperature plastics like PEEK, PEI or PSU, the mold itself is similar in cost, but material and running costs are higher.
Get an instant estimate in 30 seconds
Rather than wait days for a quote, use our free injection molding cost estimator. Enter your part's material, weight, annual volume, cavity count and maximum dimensions — and get an instant ex-works price range for both the mold and the unit part price.
It's non-binding and built for initial budgeting, but it gives you a reliable ballpark before you even share a drawing.
Try it here: Injection Molding Cost Estimator
What happens after you estimate
When you're ready for a firm quotation, send us your 3D file (STEP, IGS or X_T preferred) and 2D drawing with tolerances. We review it — usually the same day — and reply with a DFM report, mold design proposal and a formal quotation within 24 hours.