How much does it cost · surface treatment
Short answer: surface treatment is priced per square metre (anodizing, powder coating) or per kilo (barrel zinc plating), with a minimum per lot. Standard anodizing costs €5 to €12 per m² with a lot minimum of €60 to €150 (source: QuoteBuddy). On a small batch, that minimum often sets the price.
By the RFQdecoder team · updated 27 September 2026
The treatment does not depend on machining time: it follows the area to cover or the weight dipped in the bath. A light but large part therefore costs more to anodize than a heavy, compact one.
| Treatment | Published rate | Lot minimum | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard anodizing (Type II) | €5 to €12/m² | €60 to €150 | 5 to 25 µm |
| Hard anodizing (Type III) | 1.5 to 2.5 times Type II | €100 to €250 | 25 to 75 µm |
| Barrel zinc plating | €0.60 to €1.20/kg | €50 to €120 | 5 µm (Fe/Zn 5) to 12 µm (Fe/Zn 12) |
| Powder coating, one coat | €20 to €65/m² | €40 to €120 for a single part | 60 to 100 µm |
Sources: anodizing QuoteBuddy; zinc plating QuoteBuddy; powder coating QuoteBuddy. Zinc-nickel costs €1.50 to €3.50/kg in barrel, the bake after plating €0.15 to €0.40/kg or €40 to €80 per lot (source: QuoteBuddy). In powder coating, setup and colour change add €60 to €150 per lot (source: QuoteBuddy).
For the other treatments, here are the published rates and order minimums the tool has used since 4 October 2026. The minimum often weighs more than the rate: when the order value stays below it, the tool raises the price to the bottom of the minimum’s range and shows it on a separate line, “subcontractor’s minimum order”.
| Treatment | Published rate | Published minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Hot-dip galvanizing | €0.45 to €0.90/kg; small parts, centrifuged: €0.90 to €1.50/kg | €150 to €300 per delivery |
| Heat treatment | — | €80 to €200 per lot |
| Hard chrome (100 to 250 µm) | €8 to €18/dm² | €80 to €250 per order |
| Electroless nickel (25 µm) | €0.30 to €0.80/dm²; small parts: €6 to €15/kg | €120 to €250 per order |
| Stainless steel passivation | — | €50 to €120 per lot |
| Manual blasting to Sa 2½ | €8 to €15/m²; blast cabinet: €40 to €70/h; automatic shot blasting: €2 to €6/m² | €50 to €150 per order |
| Vibratory finishing (deburring and cleaning) | €0.25 to €1.20/kg | €30 to €80 per lot |
| Laser marking (serial number or logo) | €0.15 to €0.60 per part (batches of 100 and more); setup: €20 to €80 per job | €30 to €80 per job |
Example: 200 parts of 0.1 kg in vibratory finishing, i.e. 20 kg at €0.25 to €1.20/kg, come to €5 to €24. That is below the €30 to €80 lot minimum, so the minimum sets the price.
Sources: QuoteBuddy, 2026 articles on hot-dip galvanizing, heat treatment, chrome plating, nickel plating, passivation, sandblasting, vibratory finishing and laser marking. A dash means the article gives no unit rate used here.
Example values: area of 0.10 m² per part, standard anodizing at €8/m², lot minimum of €90.
| Quantity | Area-based price | Lot price | Price per part |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | €8.00 | €90.00 | €9.00 |
| 100 | €80.00 | €90.00 | €0.90 |
| 1,000 | €800.00 | €800.00 | €0.80 |
Calculated with the example values above. At 10 and 100 parts the lot minimum sets the price; at 1,000 parts the area finally does.
QuoteBuddy publishes €5 to €12 per square metre for standard Type II anodizing, with a minimum of €60 to €150 per lot. Hard anodizing costs 1.5 to 2.5 times more per square metre.
For barrel zinc plating with clear passivation, QuoteBuddy gives €0.60 to €1.20 per kilo and a lot minimum of €50 to €120. Zinc-nickel costs €1.50 to €3.50 per kilo.
QuoteBuddy publishes €20 to €65 per square metre for one coat of powder in batch work, for a thickness of 60 to 100 micrometres, and €40 to €120 for a single part below the shop minimum.
Because the shop charges a minimum per lot. With a €90 minimum, a single part pays €90, while 100 parts share the same amount.
Multiply the area or weight of one part by the rate and by the quantity, keep the larger of that amount and the lot minimum, then divide by the quantity.
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