Jul 10, 2026
What a Complete Mold Quote Includes (Chinese Industry Standard)
Decoding a Chinese Mold Quote
A professional Chinese mold quote should include transparent cost breakdowns. Here is what to expect — and what to watch for.
What Should Be Included
- Material Cost (30-40%): Steel for cavity, core, and mold base. Should specify steel grade, supplier, and estimated weight.
- Machining Cost (35-45%): CNC roughing, finishing, EDM, wire cutting, grinding. More complex dies have higher machining ratios.
- Design Cost (5-10%): 3D modeling, DFM analysis, cooling analysis. Good factories include 2-3 design iterations.
- Assembly & Testing (5-8%): Fit-up, hot runner wiring, mold tryout.
- Profit Margin (10-20%): Standard industry range.
- Tax (VAT 13%): Domestic Chinese VAT. Export orders may be VAT-exempt with proper documentation.
What Is Typically Extra
- Hot Runner System: Usually priced separately ($500-5,000 depending on brand and number of drops)
- Mold Trial Shots: First round often included, additional rounds charged at press time + material cost
- Design Changes After DFM Approval: Revisions after sign-off are typically billed at hourly rates
- Shipping and Logistics: Usually quoted separately unless DDP terms agreed
- Special Surface Treatment: Nitriding, PVD coating, chrome plating
How to Compare Quotes Effectively
When comparing quotes from different factories:
- Normalize for scope: Ensure all quotes include the same items
- Check steel grade consistency: One factory quoting P20 vs another quoting 718H is not apples-to-apples
- Look at the total, not the breakdown: Individual line items can vary wildly, but total cost for similar specifications should be within 15-20%
- Beware the "lowball" quote: If one factory is 40% cheaper, they are cutting corners somewhere
Use our online quoting tool to get a reference price before requesting formal quotes from factories.