The cost stack
Every quote is built from the same layers: raw metal, extrusion conversion (press time, labor, scrap), die and tooling for custom shapes, surface finishing, fabrication, packaging and freight. Volume and schedule predictability influence every layer.
- Metal — alloy choice and prevailing market conditions
- Conversion — profile weight, complexity and run length
- Tooling — die cost and amortization for custom shapes
- Finishing — anodizing, powder coating or specialty treatments
- Fabrication and packaging — process steps and protection
- Freight — distance, mode and Incoterms
Why two quotes for 'the same part' differ
Most divergent quotes differ in assumptions: a different alloy or finish standard, tooling handled separately vs. amortized, different volume bands, different Incoterms or an interpretation of tolerances. Normalize the assumptions before judging the numbers.
Making quotes comparable
Send identical packages to each supplier and require structured responses: piece price with volume tiers, tooling line, lead times for samples and production, quote validity, and a clear statement of what is included. Comparability is a process, not a coincidence.
What this site does (and does not do) about pricing
We do not publish or set prices. This platform captures your specification and connects it with suppliers who quote it directly. That is the only honest way to communicate aluminum extrusion pricing — everything else is a placeholder pretending to be information.