Cost per Part (Machine + Labor) Calculator

Calculate the true manufacturing cost per part by combining machine hourly rate and labor cost. Perfect for CNC machining, injection molding, stamping, and assembly lines.

Free Tool · Manufacturing Costing · Cycle Time · CNC · Molding

Production Parameters

Cycle Time per Part

⏱️ minutes

Total time to produce one part (machining / molding / handling). Typical CNC: 1–10 min | Injection: 0.2–1 min. To convert seconds, divide by 60.

Labor Cost per Hour

$ / hour

Use fully burdened rate (base wage + benefits + payroll taxes). US averages: CNC operators ~$23–$28/hr, general machine operators ~$20–$26/hr.

Machine Rate per Hour

$ / hour

Includes depreciation, power, maintenance, and overhead. CNC ~$50–$100/hr | Large injection molding ~$80–$150/hr.

Cost Analysis Results

Cost per Part

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machine + labor

Machine Cost

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per part

Labor Cost

—

per part

Parts per Hour

—

at this cycle

Cost Breakdown

How to Calculate Cost per Part

The most accurate way to determine manufacturing cost per piece is to combine machine time cost and direct labor cost. Machine rate covers depreciation, energy, and maintenance while labor covers the operator.

Cost per Part ($) = (Machine Rate × Cycle Time / 60) + (Labor Rate × Cycle Time / 60)

Parts per Hour = 60 / Cycle Time (minutes)

1 Cycle Time

Total time to complete one part (including load/unload and cooling). Small reductions in cycle time can save thousands annually in high-volume production. Always measure actual floor time, not theoretical.

2 Machine Rate

Hourly cost of running the machine, including depreciation, power, maintenance, and allocated overhead. Higher for larger or more precise equipment. Many shops calculate it as (purchase price / expected life hours) + running costs.

Pro Tip — Measure Actual, Not Theoretical

Reducing cycle time by 10% can drop cost per part significantly in high-volume production. Always measure actual cycle time on the shop floor rather than engineering estimates — actual cycle time typically runs 5–15% longer than theoretical due to tool changes, inspection pauses, and operator variability.

Typical Values — Manufacturing

Process	Typical Cycle Time	Machine Rate ($/hr)	Labor Rate ($/hr)
CNC Machining (simple)	1–5 min	$50–90	$25–35
Injection Molding	0.2–1 min (per cycle)	$60–130	$22–32
Press Brake / Stamping	0.5–3 min	$70–120	$20–30

Frequently Asked Questions

Cycle time directly affects how many parts you can produce per hour. Even a few seconds difference can change cost per part dramatically in medium to high volume production. A 30-second reduction on a part running 10,000 units per month saves roughly $4,200/year at a combined rate of $100/hr.

No — this calculator focuses on conversion cost (machine + labor). Add material cost separately for total landed cost per part. For a complete picture, also factor in scrap rate, tooling amortization, and packaging.

Use your actual shop rate: (machine purchase price / expected life hours) + running costs (power, maintenance, coolant, tooling). Many shops also add a burden allocation for building overhead and insurance. A standard CNC machining center typically runs $50–$100/hr all-in; larger 5-axis machines can exceed $150/hr.

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