Quick answer: A single-cavity injection mould from a Chinese tooling shop typically costs $1,500–$6,000 for a small, simple part, $6,000–$18,000 for a medium part with moderate complexity, and $18,000–$60,000 for large, multi-cavity, or high-life production tools. That is usually 40–70% below equivalent US or European tooling, with a three-to-five-week build instead of eight to twelve.
Tooling is the largest one-time cost in most hardware launches and the one buyers understand least. A quote that says “mould: $8,000” hides half a dozen decisions — steel grade, cavity count, gate type, texture, shot life, and who owns the tool afterwards. Those decisions decide whether you paid a fair price or bought a tool that dies at 80,000 shots.
This guide covers what you are paying for, realistic 2026 price ranges, the drivers that move a quote by 300%, and the process from DFM review through T1 samples to mass production.
Table of Contents
- What an Injection Mould Quotation Actually Covers
- China Injection Mould Cost Ranges in 2026
- The Seven Drivers That Move Your Tooling Quote
- Mould Steel Grades and Shot Life
- China vs Western Tooling: Cost and Lead Time
- The 8-Step Tooling Process
- Who Owns the Mould? IP, Storage and Transfer
- Practical Examples
- Common Mistakes
- Expert Recommendations
- FAQ
What an Injection Mould Quotation Actually Covers
Definition: An injection mould is a hardened steel tool that forms molten plastic into a finished part. The tooling charge pays for design, steel, CNC machining, EDM, polishing, assembly, and trial shots — not the parts, which are priced separately per unit.
A typical Chinese tooling quote breaks down as: mould base and steel 20–30%, CNC and EDM machining 30–40%, design and DFM 8–12%, polishing and texturing 8–15%, hot runner or special components 0–20%, and trial shots plus modification allowance 5–10%. When a quote looks unusually low, one of these lines has been cut — usually steel grade or the modification allowance.
China Injection Mould Cost Ranges in 2026
The figures below are indicative ranges for export-quality tooling from established Dongguan, Shenzhen, Ningbo, and Taizhou mould shops. Quotes outside these bands are not automatically wrong, but they deserve a question.
| Part profile | Cavities | Typical mould cost | Build time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small simple part (<100mm, no undercuts) | 1 | $1,500–$4,000 | 18–25 days |
| Small part, sliders or lifters | 1–2 | $3,500–$8,000 | 25–35 days |
| Medium part (100–300mm), moderate complexity | 1 | $6,000–$18,000 | 30–40 days |
| Medium part, multi-cavity production tool | 4–8 | $15,000–$40,000 | 35–50 days |
| Large part (>300mm) or housing set | 1 | $18,000–$60,000 | 45–70 days |
| Two-shot / overmould tool | 1–2 | $12,000–$45,000 | 45–65 days |
| Soft/prototype tool (aluminium or P20) | 1 | $800–$3,000 | 10–18 days |
For low-volume validation, a soft tool is often the smartest money in the project: real production-material parts at a fraction of hard-tool cost, with design faults exposed before you commit to hardened steel.
The Seven Drivers That Move Your Tooling Quote
- Part size. Bigger parts need more steel and a larger press — cost rises faster than volume.
- Cavity count. A 4-cavity tool costs roughly 2.5–3x a single cavity but slashes per-unit cost at volume.
- Undercuts and side actions. Every slider, lifter, or unscrewing mechanism adds machining and failure points.
- Steel grade and hardening. P20 versus H13 or S136 can shift the steel line by 30–60%.
- Surface finish. High-gloss (SPI A1–A2) polishing and chemical texturing add labour and time.
- Runner system. A hot runner adds $2,000–$12,000 but removes sprue waste and shortens cycle time.
- Tolerances. Tight tolerances demand precision machining and more trial iterations.
Mould Steel Grades and Shot Life
Shot life is the number of parts a mould produces before refurbishment. Buyers often accept a low quote without asking which steel is inside, then find the tool degrading in its second production year.
| Steel | Typical shot life | Best for | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium (7075 / QC-10) | 5,000–30,000 | Prototypes, market tests | Lowest |
| P20 pre-hardened | 100,000–300,000 | General-purpose ABS/PP parts | Low |
| 718H / NAK80 | 300,000–600,000 | Cosmetic parts, better polish | Medium |
| H13 hardened | 500,000–1,000,000+ | High-volume, abrasive resins | High |
| S136 stainless | 500,000–1,000,000+ | Clear parts, PVC, medical, humid plants | Highest |
Rule of thumb: specify steel by required shot life plus 50%, not by the quote. If you plan 200,000 units over the tool’s life, buy for 300,000. Retooling mid-programme costs more than the original saving.
China vs Western Tooling: Cost and Lead Time
| Factor | China | US / Western Europe |
|---|---|---|
| Medium production mould | $6,000–$18,000 | $18,000–$45,000 |
| Build lead time | 3–6 weeks | 8–12 weeks |
| Design change turnaround | 3–10 days | 2–4 weeks |
| Typical payment terms | 50% deposit, 50% after T1 approval | Progress payments |
| Documentation standard | Varies by shop | Generally consistent |
| Oversight required | Higher — on-site checks recommended | Lower |
The Chinese cost advantage is real but not free. It assumes you specify the tool properly, review the mould flow analysis, and inspect T1 samples against a drawing rather than a photograph. Buyers who skip that work pay the difference back in modification rounds.
The 8-Step Tooling Process
- DFM review. The mould maker flags wall thickness, draft angles, and sink risk. Allow 3–5 days.
- Mould design approval. Review gate location, parting line, ejector layout, cooling. Sign off in writing.
- Steel ordering and machining. CNC roughing, EDM, and wire cutting — the longest phase.
- Assembly and polishing. Fitting, polishing, and texture application.
- T1 trial shots. Expect dimensional deviation and cosmetic issues; this is normal.
- Measurement and modification. Compare T1 parts to the drawing, issue a written change list.
- T2 / T3 approval. Most tools reach acceptance by T2 or T3. Sign a golden sample.
- Pilot run and mass production. Run 300–500 units, inspect, then release full volume.
Build modification rounds into the schedule. A tool quoted at 30 days realistically reaches approved status in 45–55 days once T1 corrections and sample shipping are included.
Who Owns the Mould? IP, Storage and Transfer
If you pay for the tool, you should own it — but ownership only holds if the contract says so. A proper tooling agreement states that the buyer owns the mould on final payment, records the mould number and steel specification, requires the tool to be physically labelled with your company name, and grants you the right to remove it with reasonable notice.
Three safeguards matter more than the clause itself: take dated photographs of the labelled tool inside the plant, keep the 3D data and 2D drawings in your own possession, and never release final tooling payment before T1 samples have been measured and accepted.
US importers should also note that tooling supplied free of charge to a foreign manufacturer generally counts as an “assist” and must be declared in the customs value of the imported goods. Review the customs valuation rules in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection informed compliance publications before your first shipment.
Practical Examples
Example 1 — Consumer gadget housing. A startup quoted a two-part ABS enclosure at $14,500 in the US and $5,200 in Dongguan with P20 steel rated for 300,000 shots. A $1,400 aluminium prototype tool first caught a snap-fit failure, corrected in CAD before hard tooling. Saved: roughly $9,000 and one failed production run.
Example 2 — Cavity count decision. A kitchenware brand compared a 1-cavity tool at $7,000 with a 4-cavity tool at $19,000. At 60,000 units per year the multi-cavity tool cut moulding cost from $0.42 to $0.16 per part, repaying the $12,000 difference in under eleven months.
Example 3 — The cheap-steel lesson. An importer took a $3,800 quote instead of $6,100 for a high-volume PP part. The shop used unhardened steel; the tool flashed at 140,000 shots and needed $2,400 of refurbishment plus three weeks of downtime.
Common Mistakes
- Comparing quotes without comparing steel grade and shot life. Those are different products at different prices.
- Skipping the DFM report. Design faults are cheap to fix in CAD, expensive in hardened steel.
- Approving T1 samples visually. Always request a dimensional report against the drawing.
- Paying tooling in full before approval. Hold the final 30–50% until a golden sample is signed.
- Leaving the mould unlabelled. Unmarked tools are hard to identify and recover in a dispute.
- Ignoring cavity economics. Single-cavity tooling on a high-volume product raises unit cost permanently.
- Forgetting the customs assist declaration. Buyer-supplied tooling affects declared customs value.
Expert Recommendations
Buy the mould for the volume you expect in year three, not the volume you expect in month one. Steel is the cheapest part of the tool to upgrade at quotation stage and the most expensive to fix after production starts.
Key takeaways
- Chinese tooling typically costs 40–70% less than Western equivalents with half the lead time.
- Always specify steel grade and required shot life in the purchase order.
- Use a soft prototype tool before hard tooling on any unvalidated design.
- Expect T1, T2, and sometimes T3 — build modification rounds into the schedule.
- Put mould ownership, labelling, and data rights in writing before the deposit.
Budgeting a new hardware launch? Our product development team reviews CAD for manufacturability, benchmarks tooling quotes across qualified mould shops, and manages the T1–T3 cycle. Pair it with a documented quality control programme so production matches the golden sample.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an injection mould cost in China?
A simple single-cavity mould for a small part typically costs $1,500–$4,000. Medium-complexity tools run $6,000–$18,000, and large or multi-cavity production tools range from $18,000 to $60,000. Prototype aluminium tools start around $800.
How long does it take to make a mould in China?
Build time is typically 18–25 days for simple tools, 30–40 days for medium complexity, and 45–70 days for large or two-shot tools. Add two to three weeks for T1 sample review and modification before mass production starts.
Do I own the mould if I pay for it?
Only if your contract states it. A tooling agreement should confirm buyer ownership on final payment, record the mould number and steel grade, require physical labelling with your company name, and grant removal rights. Photograph the labelled tool and keep the CAD data yourself.
What is the difference between P20 and H13 mould steel?
P20 is pre-hardened steel suited to general-purpose parts with a life of roughly 100,000–300,000 shots. H13 is a hardened tool steel that handles abrasive or glass-filled resins and lasts 500,000 shots or more. H13 costs more but is essential for high-volume programmes.
Is a multi-cavity mould worth the extra cost?
It depends on annual volume. Multi-cavity tooling costs roughly 2.5–3x a single cavity but can cut per-part moulding cost by 50–70%. Above roughly 30,000–50,000 units per year the payback period is usually under twelve months.
What are T1, T2 and T3 samples?
They are successive trial shots from the mould. T1 is the first trial, usually showing dimensional or cosmetic deviations. After written corrections, T2 and occasionally T3 follow. Approval is granted when samples meet the drawing and a golden sample is signed.
Can I move my mould to another factory later?
Yes, if you own the tool and have paid in full. Practical requirements include a written ownership clause, the mould number and specification on file, and settlement of any outstanding balances. Expect to pay for removal, transport, and re-trialling at the new plant.
Conclusion
Injection mould tooling in China remains one of the strongest cost advantages available to hardware brands, but only buyers who specify the tool properly realise it. Define steel grade and shot life, insist on a DFM report, validate unproven designs with a soft tool, measure T1 samples against a drawing, and secure ownership in writing before the deposit leaves your account. Do those five things and a Chinese mould delivers Western performance at roughly half the cost and half the lead time.
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