What CNC machining actually costs in Ireland
There is no single price for a machined part. A CNC quote is built from machine time, material, setup, finishing, inspection and quantity, and changing any one of them moves the number. Use this guide to understand why two Irish shops may quote the same drawing differently.
Treat any online price range as orientation only. The useful question is not "what should CNC cost?" but "what information does a shop need to price this part without guessing?" A strong brief includes a STEP file or drawing, material, quantity, critical tolerances, finish, inspection needs, deadline, and whether repeat batches are likely.
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. The shape is what matters: setup dominates at quantity 1 and fades across larger batches. Before choosing a shop, ask whether it is set up for one-off prototypes, repeat low-volume work, or production.
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.
What to include when asking for a quote
A shop can price faster when your request is specific. Include the part use, material or acceptable alternatives, quantity now and later, drawing revision, critical dimensions, finish, inspection report needs, target lead time, delivery location, and whether an NDA or IP sensitivity applies. If you are not sure which shop type fits, compare the supplier directory and the shop-selection checklist first.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a CNC machined part cost in Ireland?
It depends on setup, material, machine time, inspection, finish and quantity. A one-off prototype and a repeat production batch are priced very differently, so current supplier quotes are more reliable than generic ranges.
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
Prepare the brief before you send it: material, quantity, tolerances, finish, deadline and drawings. The quote path gives you a structure for that request, without promising that any specific supplier will accept or price the job. Prepare a quote request →