Sheet Metal Cost Estimator: Part Costing Sheet
To cost a sheet metal part, work out the blank weight and sheet cost, then add cutting, bending, finishing and setup, and apply your margin. This estimator does that in one page, shows the price per kg and per square foot, and charts how the unit price falls as batch size grows.
Your numbers
Your purchase price for the sheet, delivered.
Share of the sheet that ends up in parts. Scrap and skeleton are paid for.
Total perimeter including holes.
Powder coat, plating or paint, per sq ft of surface (both sides).
Your results
An estimate for quoting. Real quotes should add outbound freight, packaging, inspection, deburring, hardware insertion and any overhead you do not already include in the machine rates. Check weights against your material supplier.
Cost and price per part vs batch quantity
Sweeps Batch quantity from 1 to 500, holding your other inputs fixed.
Automate quoting from your ERP
Optional: we can review how to feed rates, routings and material prices into an estimating assistant.
Optional. The tool and every export work without this. No spam.
How to use the sheet metal cost estimator
Enter the blank size and thickness from the flat pattern, pick the material, and type your sheet price per kg. Add the cut length and pierces from your CAM or nesting software, the bend count, and your machine rates. Set the batch quantity and the margin you want. The result shows cost per part, quote price, and a chart of price against quantity, so you can see where a larger batch makes sense.
The formulas behind the calculation
Weight in kg equals length times width times thickness in millimetres, times density in g/cm3, divided by one million. Material cost divides that weight by nesting utilization, because scrap is paid for, then multiplies by price per kg. Price per square foot equals price per kg times thickness times density, divided by 10.7639. Cutting time is cut length divided by speed, plus pierce time. Bending is bends times seconds per bend. Price equals cost divided by one minus margin.
Worked example
A 400 by 250 by 2 mm mild steel blank weighs 1.57 kg. At 75 percent utilization it consumes 2.09 kg, about 2.30 in material at 1.10 per kg. Cutting 1.7 m at 3 m per minute plus pierces takes about 0.6 minutes, roughly 0.9 in laser time. Four bends add around 0.17. With finishing and setup spread over 100 parts, cost lands near 5 and the price at 25 percent margin near 6.6. Quantities of 1 to 10 cost far more because setup dominates.
Common mistakes
Estimators often forget nesting loss, charge the laser at one flat rate for all thicknesses, ignore setup on small batches, and apply margin as a markup instead of on price. Remember that stainless and aluminium cost more per kg but differ in cutting speed, and that thicker plate cuts much slower. If your quotes live in an ERP, keep rates and material prices there so the estimate and the final job cost can be compared.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does sheet metal cost per kg and per square foot?
It depends on material, grade, thickness and market. Enter your own supplier price per kg: the calculator converts it to a price per square foot for the chosen thickness. Stainless and aluminium usually cost several times more per kg than mild steel.
How do I calculate sheet metal weight?
Multiply length, width and thickness in millimetres, multiply by density in g/cm3, and divide by one million to get kilograms. For example, 400 by 250 by 2 mm mild steel at 7.85 gives 1.57 kg.
What nesting utilization should I assume?
Use your actual numbers from nesting software. Many shops see 65 to 85 percent depending on part shapes and whether remnants are reused. Low utilization on large simple parts is a quoting red flag worth checking.
Can I use this as a sheet metal costing sheet in Excel?
Yes, you can export the inputs and results to Excel or PDF and keep them with the quote. For repeated work, store your machine rates and material prices in a master spreadsheet or ERP and copy them in each time.
If you want quotes costed from your own routings and material prices automatically, we can build a private estimating assistant on your ERP data, on-premises if you prefer.
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Keep exploring
Free tools
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Guides
- How to Estimate Laser Cutting Cost Per PartA working formula for laser cutting cost per part: cut time, pierce time, assist gas, material by nest, machine rate, setup and handling for fab shops.
- Sheet Metal Quoting Software for FabricatorsHow to choose sheet metal quoting software: DXF import, nest-aware material cost, bend and weld time, outside finishing, and a clean handoff to your ERP.
- Sheet Metal Job Costing: Comparing Actual and Estimated MarginCompare estimated and actual cost on fabrication jobs: laser, brake, weld and finishing hours, scrap, nest variance, and the reports that show real margin.
AI on your ERP
- AI for E2 Shop System in Metal Fabrication: Quote History, Material Yield and Delivery RiskPrivate AI for E2 Shop System fabricators: sheet and plate quoting history, nesting yield, welding job costs and delivery risk, answered from your own data.
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