Sheet Metal Quote Builder Worksheet with Quantity Breaks
A quote that looks right at quantity 100 can lose money at quantity 10 because setup does not scale down. This worksheet prices each quantity break on its own row so setup, margin and total profit show up for every option you send.
| Part / quantity break | Qty | Material per part | Laser min per part (min) | Brake min per part (min) | Blended shop rate ($/hr) | Finish per part | Hardware per part | Total setup hours (hr) | Margin % | Unit cost | Unit price | Extended price | Profit | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$11 | $16 | $407 | $130 | |||||||||||
$7 | $11 | $1,066 | $341 | |||||||||||
$6 | $8 | $4,202 | $1,261 | |||||||||||
$76 | $116 | $1,163 | $407 | |||||||||||
$50 | $75 | $3,749 | $1,237 |
Unit cost = material + (laser + brake minutes) / 60 x shop rate + finish + hardware + setup hours x rate / quantity. Use a blended hourly rate that already includes labor and overhead. Add outside processing, packaging and freight as separate lines or inside finish.
Move this worksheet into your ERP
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How to use the worksheet
Add a row for each part at each quantity you plan to quote. Enter net material cost from your nest or cut list, laser and brake minutes per part, a blended hourly shop rate, finish and hardware cost per part, and the total setup hours for the job. Set a margin percentage. The sheet computes unit cost, unit price, extended price and profit, and the footer shows blended margin and average price per piece. Download the result to Excel to share or paste into your quote.
- Use one row per quantity break rather than editing the same row.
- Pull minutes from the laser and press brake calculators in this set.
- Keep setup hours as a job total, not per part.
Formulas used
Unit cost equals material, plus machine and labor time at the shop rate, plus finish and hardware, plus setup hours times rate divided by quantity. Unit price equals unit cost divided by one minus margin, which gives a true margin on price rather than a markup on cost; 30 percent margin is a price 1.43 times cost, not 1.30 times. Extended price is unit price times quantity and profit is price minus cost times quantity. Blended margin is total profit divided by total price.
Reading the result
The example shows the same bracket at 25, 100 and 500 pieces. Unit price falls as setup spreads over more parts and material and run times improve slightly with larger nests. Compare blended margin across customers and review any row where margin falls under your floor. A drop in unit price greater than the setup savings alone means you are giving away margin on volume.
Common mistakes
Applying markup instead of margin understates the price needed. Another common error is using the same material cost at all quantities when a larger nest or mill quantity price changes it. Estimators also forget to include inspection, packaging and freight, or quote a quantity break without checking that the customer can order the higher quantity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What margin should a sheet metal shop target?
It varies with customer, volume and competition. Many job shops aim for gross margins of 25 to 40 percent on price. Use the worksheet to see what each line really earns and set a floor below which you require approval.
What is the difference between markup and margin?
Markup is a percentage added to cost; margin is the share of price that is profit. A 30 percent margin needs a price of cost divided by 0.70, which is a 42.9 percent markup. This sheet uses margin on price.
How do I set the blended shop rate?
Divide total monthly fabrication costs including labor, equipment, facility and overhead by productive machine hours. Many shops use one blended rate for quoting and refine it by work center in ERP. Review it each quarter.
Can I add rows for outside processing?
Yes. Add a row or put the outside processing cost per part inside the finish column. For plating, anodize or heat treat, include any minimum lot charge and freight in the per part value.
If quotes are rebuilt by hand in spreadsheets, Netray can help connect estimating to ERP items, routings and rates. Ask for an expert review of your quoting workflow.
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- AI for Sheet Metal Fabrication Shops: What Works TodayWhere AI helps a fabrication shop today: reading RFQs and prints, checking quotes against past jobs, answering ERP questions, and flagging late jobs.
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