Key takeaways
- Cost = one-time setup + per-batch setup + per-unit process time and materials
- Volume is the biggest lever: setup spread thin makes small runs feel expensive
- The only real number comes from a real RFQ with real specifications
- Compare total landed cost and time-to-market, not unit price in isolation
The five cost drivers in every quote
Almost every manufacturing price decomposes into: one-time costs (tooling, patterns, programming, artwork setup), batch setup (changeovers, material lots), materials, process labour and machine time, and finishing/packing.
Overheads and margin sit on top. None of this is UK-specific — what differs by country is mostly labour rates, energy, and logistics.
One-time
Tooling, moulds, dies, programming, sampling.
Per-batch
Setup, changeover, minimum material buys.
Per-unit
Material, machine/labour time, finishing, packing.
Why two quotes for the same product differ by 3x
Different assumed materials, different included operations, different quality standards, and different capacity positions. A shop hungry for work prices differently from one at capacity.
Wide variation usually signals an ambiguous brief, not a scam or a bargain. Tighten the specification and the spread narrows.
If a quote looks too good, something is missing from it — find out what before you celebrate.
How to get a real number for your product
Write an RFQ with quantities, materials, drawings or a tech pack, finish, packaging, and delivery. Ask for pricing at two or three quantity breaks so you can see the curve.
Post it on Combinate to collect multiple UK bids against the same pack. Combinate does not set or verify pricing — the comparison work is yours, but at least the inputs are consistent.
Cheapest is not the same as best value
Include iteration speed, communication cost, freight, duty, quality risk, and time-to-market in the comparison. For many products, a slightly higher UK unit price beats a slow, opaque alternative on total business outcome — and for some products it will not. Run the numbers for your case.
Ready to request quotes?
Post a clear brief on Combinate and receive bids from UK manufacturers. Free to join — you evaluate fit yourself.
Disclaimer: This guide is general information for businesses. It is not legal, regulatory, or financial advice. Combinate does not verify or certify manufacturers.