Engineering
What is the minimum order quantity for injection molding?
TL;DR
- Because of tooling, molding usually starts around 100–1,000 parts.
- Below that, 3D printing or CNC is cheaper.
- Bridge tooling can lower the entry point for prototyping.
Injection molding has a minimum order quantity usually around 100 to 1,000 parts, because the process requires an upfront mold. Below that range, the tooling cost dominates and on-demand methods like 3D printing or CNC are cheaper per part.
For early validation, bridge tooling or aluminum molds can lower the entry cost and quantity, then switch to steel production tooling as volume grows. As a rule, move to injection molding once your steady demand justifies amortizing the mold across many units.
Frequently asked questions
Can I mold just 10 parts?
Not economically — use 3D printing or CNC for tiny quantities.
What is bridge tooling?
A lower-cost, faster mold (often aluminum) for prototyping before production tooling.
When does molding beat 3D printing?
Once volume is high enough that amortized per-part cost drops below printing.