Guide · batch size
Short answer: each order pays its fixed costs once (programming, setup, tooling), spread over the quantity, then a variable cost per part. Hence the formula published by QuoteBuddy: unit cost = fixed cost ÷ quantity + variable cost. In its example, the same part sells for $196.92 as a one-off and $14.15 at 100.
By the RFQdecoder team · updated 27 September 2026
Fixed costs do not change with quantity: programming, machine setup, first-article inspection. Their share per part is what shrinks as the batch grows.
QuoteBuddy takes 2 hours of programming and setup at $60 an hour, so $120 of fixed cost, and $8 of variable cost per part.
| Quantity | Setup per part | Variable | Unit cost | Unit price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $120.00 | $8.00 | $128.00 | $196.92 |
| 10 | $12.00 | $8.00 | $20.00 | $30.77 |
| 25 | $4.80 | $8.00 | $12.80 | $19.69 |
| 50 | $2.40 | $8.00 | $10.40 | $16.00 |
| 100 | $1.20 | $8.00 | $9.20 | $14.15 |
| 250 | $0.48 | $8.00 | $8.48 | $13.05 |
Published figures, checked. The price tends to $12.31, variable cost plus margin, whatever the quantity.
On the steel enclosure published by QuoteBuddy, laser and brake setups weigh €127.50 for the batch. Spread over 25 parts, the enclosure costs €70.70; ordered alone, it costs €193.10, by our calculation from the published figures.
Source: QuoteBuddy.
Because fixed costs, programming, setup, tooling, are paid once per order and spread over more parts. Only the variable cost stays the same per part.
QuoteBuddy publishes: unit cost = fixed cost ÷ quantity + variable cost per part, then unit price = unit cost ÷ (1 − margin).
In QuoteBuddy’s example, with $120 of setup and $8 per part, the part sells for $196.92 as a one-off, $30.77 at 10 and $14.15 at 100.
QuoteBuddy lists three methods: refuse if fixed cost exceeds about 40% of the order value, set a minimum order value, or make deliberate exceptions for a new customer.
QuoteBuddy recommends 3 to 5 breaks, for example 1, 10, 25, 50, 100 and 250 parts, with a constant margin from one break to the next.
Upload your PDF, DXF or STEP drawing: fixed and variable costs shown apart, price recalculated for every quantity.