What Affects the Cost of Metal Finishing? (Complete Pricing Breakdown)

Cost is mainly driven by quantity, part geometry, and material, along with any added requirements like masking or special handling.



Pricing in metal finishing isn’t arbitrary, but it can feel that way without context. Two parts that look similar can have very different costs depending on how they’re processed.

Understanding what goes into pricing makes it easier to plan ahead and avoid surprises—especially when moving from prototype to production.

Quantity & Batch Size Economics

Rayco enforces minimum charges for small batches, meaning the higher the quantity, the lower the unit cost.

• 10 parts: You might pay $15.00 a part due to a $150 minimum charge.
• 100 parts: The price might drop to $2.50 a part.
• 1,000 parts: The price goes down exponentially, potentially hitting 80 cents a part.
  

Part Geometry & Complexity

The geometry and complexity of a part greatly impact processing. Very small parts might require special mesh screens so they don't fall through during processing, adding to the setup effort.

Material Type & Weight

Different materials process differently, and factors like thickness and weight also come into play.



Heavier or denser parts can require more effort to handle, while certain materials may require more controlled processing conditions.

Masking & Special Requirements

Any manual step added to the process increases cost.



A common example is masking—where specific areas of a part must not be coated. That requires extra labor and setup, especially on more complex geometries.

Most pricing factors come back to how much time and handling a job requires. Larger quantities, simpler geometries, and fewer special requirements generally lead to more cost-efficient processing.

Frequently Asked Questions