What CNC machining actually costs in Ireland
There is no single price for a machined part. A CNC quote is built from a handful of inputs — machine time, material, setup, finishing, inspection and quantity — and changing any one of them moves the number. This guide gives you real Irish ranges and shows you the levers that decide whether your part comes back at €40 or €400.
As a rough orientation for 2026: a simple aluminium prototype part from an Irish shop typically lands somewhere between €60 and €250 for a one-off, before VAT. A more complex part in stainless with tight tolerances and a finish can run €250 to €1,000+ as a single unit. Volume changes everything — the same part at quantity 50 often falls to a fraction of the prototype price per unit.
The six things on every quote
1. Machine time
The biggest line item on most parts. Irish shop rates broadly sit around €45–€90 per hour for 3-axis work and €80–€150+ for 4 and 5-axis, depending on the machine and the shop. Time is driven by how much metal has to be removed, how many tool changes are needed, and how slow the cut has to be for the material and tolerance.
2. Material
Aluminium 6061 is cheap and fast to cut. Stainless 316 costs more per kilo and machines slowly, so you pay twice — once for the bar and again in machine time. Tool steels, titanium and PEEK are dearer still. See the materials guide for how each one moves your quote.
3. Setup and programming
Before a single chip is cut, someone has to write the toolpaths, set workholding and prove the program. This is a fixed cost per design — typically €50–€200 — spread across however many parts you order. It is why your first unit is expensive and your tenth is cheap.
4. Finishing
As-machined is the cheapest. Bead blasting, anodising, powder coating, plating and passivation all add cost and a few days of lead time, often via a third party. A clear anodise on a small aluminium part might add €10–€30 per unit; a hard anodise or colour-matched coat more. See the tolerances and finishes guide.
5. Tolerances and inspection
Standard machining tolerances (±0.1mm) are free — they come with the process. Calling out ±0.01mm on a feature forces slower cuts, better tooling and sometimes a CMM inspection report, all of which cost money. Only tighten the tolerances that actually matter to the part's function.
6. Quantity
The single biggest lever you control. Setup and programming are one-time costs, so ordering 10 instead of 1 can cut your per-unit price by half or more. Ordering 100 cuts it again. If you know you will need a batch, say so in the quote — the price structure is completely different.
Worked example: an aluminium bracket
| Quantity | Setup (one-time) | Per-unit | Effective per-unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | €120 | €45 | ~€165 |
| 10 | €120 | €38 | ~€50 |
| 50 | €120 | €30 | ~€32 |
| 200 | €120 | €24 | ~€25 |
These are illustrative numbers, not a quote — but the shape is real. Notice how the setup cost dominates at quantity 1 and almost vanishes at quantity 200. This is the core economics of CNC.
How to get a cheaper quote without cutting corners
Loosen tolerances you do not need. Pick a free-machining material where the application allows it. Avoid deep narrow pockets and tiny internal radii — they force small slow tools. Order in the batch size you will actually use rather than re-ordering ones. Send a clean STEP file so the shop is not guessing (the CAD prep guide covers this). And get more than one quote — that is exactly what this hub is for.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a CNC machined part cost in Ireland?
A simple one-off aluminium part from an Irish shop typically costs €60–€250 before VAT; complex stainless parts with tight tolerances and finishing can run €250–€1,000+ as a single unit. Per-unit cost falls sharply with quantity because setup and programming are one-time costs.
Why is my second part so much cheaper than my first?
Programming, toolpath proving and workholding setup are fixed costs paid once per design. The first part carries all of it; subsequent parts only carry machine time and material, so the effective per-unit price drops steeply with quantity.
What is the hourly rate for CNC machining in Ireland?
Roughly €45–€90 per hour for 3-axis work and €80–€150+ for 4 and 5-axis, depending on the machine and shop. Machine time is usually the largest single line on a quote.
How can I reduce my CNC quote?
Loosen non-critical tolerances, choose a free-machining material, avoid deep pockets and tiny internal radii, order in realistic batch sizes, and supply a clean STEP file. Comparing multiple Irish quotes also helps anchor a fair price.
Get competing quotes from Irish shops
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