Dean has been part of Qimtek since 1999 and has worked across the business in a variety of roles, becoming Membership Manager in 2012. Over the years, he has supported hundreds of manufacturers and engineering businesses in generating new opportunities through the platform, while also providing hands-on sales and marketing guidance where needed. His primary focus is helping Qimtek supplier members maximise their value, strengthen relationships, and grow sustainable manufacturing networks
Why Getting Multiple Quotes for Custom Parts Really Matters
On a recent job for a single mild steel CNC machined part, where 20 units were required, four quotes were received. Prices ranged from £380 per item to £1,280 per item for the same drawing. That is a difference of more than £900 per part, or £18,000 in total. This is not unusual.
When you are buying custom manufactured parts, pricing is rarely straightforward. There is no catalogue or fixed rate card, and the first quote you receive is rarely a reliable reference point.
As Membership Manager at Qimtek, I see the majority of quotes submitted to the platform. That gives me a clear view of how parts are priced across machining, fabrication, laser cutting, and both low and high-volume production work. I also review quote data with suppliers when buyers move on without providing feedback, so I see where pricing is competitive, cautious, or simply out of line with the market.
In 2025 alone, more than 19.2 million components were quoted through Qimtek. When three or more quotes are received for the same job, clear patterns emerge. One thing is always consistent. Pricing variation is far bigger than most buyers expect.
Why Do Custom Manufacturing Prices Vary So Much?
There is no single way to price a custom part, and no two suppliers look at a job in exactly the same way.
Each supplier calculates cost based on how they would manufacture the part, using their own equipment, processes, and current workload. Differences commonly come from:
- The machines being used and their age or capability
- Hourly rates and overheads
- How drawings, tolerances, and inspection requirements are interpreted
- The chosen manufacturing method
- The level of risk a supplier builds into the price
- Current capacity and workload
- The experience of the engineer estimating the work
Capacity is often overlooked, but it has a direct impact on pricing. A supplier with spare capacity may quote more competitively to keep machines running, particularly if they see potential for longer-term work. Conversely, a supplier with a full order book may price higher because the job would need to sit in a queue or displace other work.
None of this is wrong. The issue arises when a buyer sees one quote and assumes it represents the market, without visibility of the wider context behind it.
Why Do One-Off CNC Machined Parts Cost So Much More Than Expected?
Low volumes introduce uncertainty, and uncertainty is often priced in very differently from one supplier to the next.
One-off and very low-volume machining is where price differences are most pronounced. As the example at the start of this article shows, it is not uncommon to see the same CNC machined part quoted at dramatically different levels.
A second example shows that this does not just apply to one-off parts. For a stainless steel machining job involving two components, with quantities of 200 and 300 respectively on an ongoing basis, five quotes were received, ranging from £1.5k to £6.4k.
In this case, there was no clear average, with quotes coming in at approximately £1.5k, £2k, £2.4k, £3.5k, and £6.4k. This was a relatively simple job using standard 316 stainless steel.
In situations like this, suppliers take very different approaches. Some price cautiously because of uncertainty. Others price aggressively to win the work. And some simply do not want the job at all. I have had suppliers tell me directly, “It wasn’t a job we wanted, so we priced it high. If we won it, it would be a bonus.” Without multiple quotes, there is no way to know which approach sits behind the number.
This is a challenge faced by many buyers working in high-mix environments. Benson Clinical Viscometers, a UK medical device manufacturer, deal with hundreds of bespoke components across their products. Their internal procedures require multiple quotes, but gathering them manually used to slow everything down. By receiving several quotes quickly, they gained pricing clarity while maintaining quality, compliance, and continuity of supply.
You can read the Benson Viscometers case study here.
Why Do Price Swings Persist Even at Small Batch Sizes?
Increasing quantity helps, but it does not eliminate variation or remove the need for comparison.
Another recent example shows that price swings persist even at modest batch sizes. Across six quotes for three CNC machined components at quantities of 50 each, pricing still varied significantly.
Based on the lowest quoted unit prices, the total job came in at £3,084.50. Using the highest quoted prices, the same work totalled £5,807.00. That is a difference of £2,722.50 for the same drawings and quantities.
While the spread is narrower than in true one-off work, the principle remains the same. The highest prices were still close to double the lowest. What matters is not chasing the cheapest figure, but understanding where the realistic price sits and why.
Why Is Fabrication and Welding Pricing So Inconsistent?
Workshop setup, workflow, and scheduling have a bigger impact on fabrication costs than most buyers realise.
Fabrication work often shows the widest price spread due to differences in workshop setup and workflow.
For example, a recent project saw six quotes returned for 13 simple mild steel assemblies. The lowest total was £5,184. The highest was £19,198, a swing of over £14,000 on the same job.
Another example involved a sheet metal fabricated assembly, with a quantity of 10 required. Three quotes were returned at £2,800, £7,500, and £14,500, all with four-week lead times. With no other context, each price could appear justifiable. Without comparison, there is no clear way to determine which figure truly reflects the market.
Fabrication pricing depends heavily on jigging, welding efficiency, and how work fits into a supplier’s schedule. Without comparison, buyers are exposed to unnecessary costs.
Armorgard experienced this first-hand when reshoring work from overseas. By going to market and receiving multiple UK quotes, they reduced prototype lead times from 15 weeks to just 3 to 4 weeks and built strong, local supplier relationships that they now work with directly.
You can read the Armorgard case study here.
Why Should You Re-Quote High-Volume or Production Work?
Long-running production often hides market movement unless pricing is periodically tested.
High-volume production is where multiple quotes are often most valuable, yet it is also where buyers are least likely to go back to market.
On a programme covering 18 components with an annual requirement of 52,000 parts, seven quotes were received. Prices ranged from £33.5k to £152k. However, three suppliers independently quoted between £41k and £43k.
That clustering is important. When several capable suppliers arrive at the same figure, it strongly indicates the true market price. Outliers become clear, both above and below.
In reality, high-volume and ongoing production work is often placed with the same supplier for long periods of time. Once a component is in production and performing well, it is understandable that it stays put. The challenge is that without periodically going back out to quote, there is no visibility of how the market has moved.
Why Does Laser Cutting Still Show Large Price Differences?
Even processes that appear commoditised are influenced by capacity, approach, and timing.
Laser cutting is often seen as straightforward, but pricing still varies widely. For example, a recent project for three mild steel components totalling 3,800 units received six quotes. Prices ranged from £16.5k to £39k, a difference of £22.5k, or 136%, for the same parts and quantities.
We see the same pattern across a wide range of laser cutting jobs:
- 2 parts / 40 units
£2,422 → £4,691 (94% difference)
- 2 parts / 150 units
£31 per unit → £105 per unit (239% difference)
- 1 part / 100 units
£157 → £448 (185% difference)
- 3 parts / 700 units
£471 → £2,701 (474% difference)
These examples highlight why comparison matters, even for processes often assumed to be commoditised. In many cases, laser cutting is the starting point of a wider project and is often needed quickly to keep work moving. The key question for buyers is not just what the price is, but how much they are willing to pay for speed, and whether that premium is clearly understood and justified.
Why Does Dealing Direct With Suppliers Improve Outcomes?
Direct engineering conversations reduce assumptions and resolve issues faster when things do not go to plan.
Multiple quotes show you the market. Dealing directly with suppliers improves the result.
Dealing direct matters because it allows:
- Early design-for-manufacture input
- Faster clarification of drawings and assumptions
- Alternative manufacturing approaches to be discussed
- Better alignment on lead times and capacity
- More realistic pricing with less contingency
- Quicker problem resolution if something goes wrong
Manufacturing is not always perfect. When issues arise, being able to speak directly to the supplier who made the part means problems are understood and resolved quickly.
What Do Buyers Actually Look For When Choosing a Supplier?
Price matters, but for most buyers it sits alongside delivery, communication, and reliability.
There is a percentage of buyers who are focused purely on achieving the lowest possible price. That reality exists, particularly for non-critical parts where cost outweighs everything else.
However, the larger group are looking for a realistic market price, combined with confidence that the job will be delivered as expected. Quality is generally assumed as a baseline. What differentiates suppliers is how reliable and easy they are to work with.
For most buyers, that means prioritising:
✓ Clear and responsive communication
✓ Confidence in quoted lead times
✓ Reliability and consistency of delivery
✓ The ability to resolve issues quickly if something goes wrong
✓ A price that reflects the market, not just the lowest number
Multiple quotes help buyers balance these factors. They provide context, reduce risk, and allow decisions to be made with a clearer understanding of what sits behind the price.
Final Thoughts
There is no single correct price for a custom manufactured part. There is only a market range.
Multiple quotes reveal that range. They highlight risk, expose opportunity, and lead to better decisions.
At Qimtek, we believe engineers should be paid what they believe their work is worth, and buyers should have confidence that they are paying a fair, realistic price. Transparency benefits both sides.
We also believe in dealing direct. Strong manufacturing relationships are built through clear communication, mutual understanding, and trust. Many of the introductions made through Qimtek go on to become long-term partnerships, supporting successful projects not just once, but over many years.
When buyers and suppliers understand the market and work together openly, everyone is better placed to succeed.
Dean Munkley
Membership Manager, Qimtek