Metal cutting price — how it is calculated
Short answer
Metal cutting price is built from four variables: material type and thickness, total cutting length in linear meters, a one-time machine setup fee, and any extra operations such as engraving. Neither weight nor sheet area drives the price — cutting length does. At Craftarea an exact written quote follows within 24 hours of receiving your vector file.
Metal cutting prices are almost never published in Georgia; most shops offer only a ‘contact us’ form. Craftarea prices against four measurable factors: what you are cutting (material and thickness), how much you are cutting (total contour length in linear meters), a single machine setup per order, and any extra operation the part needs. What this page publishes is the formula itself — which variable moves the total, by how much, and why the same drawing prices differently in carbon steel than in copper. The final figure depends on your specific file, so we put it in writing within 24 hours of seeing your drawing. In Georgian, ლითონი and მეტალი both mean metal, and ინოქსი, ნერჟავეიკა and უჟანგავი ფოლადი all mean stainless steel.
Key facts
- Pricing formula
- 4 variables: material + thickness + cutting length + setup
- Unit of pricing
- linear meter — not weight, not surface area
- Setup fee
- one-time per order — independent of piece count
- Minimum order
- 1 piece
- Quote turnaround
- 24 hours after file received
- Production time
- 2-5 working days, volume-dependent
- Cutting tolerance
- ±0.1mm positional
- Max thickness
- carbon steel 10mm, stainless 6mm, aluminium 5mm, copper/brass 3mm
What makes up the metal cutting price?
The final price is the sum of four variables. First, material type and thickness — different metals cut at different speeds and demand different laser power. Second, total cutting length in linear meters, measured from the part's contour in your file. Third, a one-time setup fee covering file preparation, loading the sheet, and initial calibration; this applies once per order regardless of how many pieces you need. Fourth, any extra operation required — engraving or surface finishing. Price is set by neither weight nor surface area; cutting length is what actually drives machine time, so it is the dominant term in the formula.
- Material type and thickness — sets cutting speed and required laser power
- Total cutting length in linear meters — not weight, not surface area
- One-time setup fee — file prep and machine calibration
- Extra operations — engraving, surface finishing
How does material affect the price?
Material moves the total two ways: the cost of the raw stock and the speed of the cut. Carbon steel is the most economical on both counts — cheap stock, fastest cutting. Aluminium and stainless sit in the middle: stainless needs inert gas and slows noticeably as thickness rises, while aluminium is capped by its reflectivity. Copper and brass are the most expensive group — the stock costs more and the cut runs slowest, which is why engraving often beats cutting through on those two. The table below shows exactly that ordering alongside what Craftarea’s fiber laser CNC actually processes — real machine limits, not generic figures pulled from the internet. If a part exceeds the maximum thickness or falls outside a standard profile, we route it through vetted partner workshops and tell you upfront when that applies.
Why isn't there a fixed price list?
Two parts of the same thickness can cost differently. The reason is geometry: a simple rectangle cuts fast, while an ornamental pattern full of perforations and fine detail takes longer and needs more care. It also matters whether you supply your own sheet — in that case you pay for cutting only — or whether Craftarea sources the material. A fixed price list cannot represent those variables and would only mislead you, so this page explains the formula and the factors that move it, and the exact figure is confirmed in writing within 24 hours once we have seen your file.
What is not included in the cutting price?
The price described here covers cutting and engraving — the operations we perform on our own fiber laser CNC. Press-brake bending, CNC milling and lathe work are not part of our in-house capability; we do not own that equipment. If a part needs bending or machining after cutting, we arrange it through vetted partner workshops and show that cost as a separate line item in the quote rather than folded into the cutting rate. Material purchase is likewise itemised separately when we source the sheet.
How do you get an exact price within 24 hours?
Send a vector file (DXF, AI, or PDF) or precise dimensions plus the material, the thickness you want and the quantity; if a deadline matters, say so in the first message. We measure total contour length, apply the correct per-meter rate for that material and thickness, and add the setup fee. The full answer — price and production time — arrives in writing within 24 hours. The more complete your first message, the fewer follow-ups the quote needs: a scanned sketch or a phone photo almost always costs one extra round of questions. Order mechanics, accepted file formats and minimum quantities are covered on the ordering page.
How does order quantity affect the price?
Even a single-piece order (the minimum is 1 piece) gets an individual price, but because the setup fee is charged once per batch, per-piece cost drops as quantity grows. For larger runs we can also source material in bulk at a better rate. The exact discount depends on volume and schedule and is calculated separately.
Material comparison — maximum thickness, tolerance and relative cost
| Material | Max. thickness | Relative cost | Tolerance | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon steel (mild steel, iron) | 10mm | Low | ±0.1mm | Most economical; cut edge needs corrosion protection afterward |
| Stainless steel (inox) | 6mm | Medium | ±0.1mm | Clean edge with inert gas; cutting slows as thickness increases |
| Aluminium | 5mm | Medium | ±0.1mm | High reflectivity caps the maximum thickness |
| Copper and brass | 3mm | High | ±0.1mm | Slowest to cut; engraving is often the better alternative |
How it works — step by step
- 1
Send your file or dimensions
Send a vector file (DXF, AI, PDF) or precise dimensions, a sketch, and the material type you want.
- 2
We calculate cutting length and area
We measure the total contour length of the part in linear meters and the sheet area required.
- 3
We apply the rate for your material and thickness
We select the matching per-meter rate — stainless and aluminium, for example, price differently even at the same thickness.
- 4
We add the setup fee and any extra operations
We add the one-time setup fee plus engraving if the part needs it. Any work handled by a partner workshop is itemised separately rather than folded into the cutting rate.
- 5
You receive the final price within 24 hours
We send the exact cost and production timeline in writing within 24 hours of receiving your file.
Frequently asked questions
How much does cutting one linear meter of metal cost?
It depends on material and thickness. Carbon steel is the lowest, aluminium and stainless sit in the middle, and copper and brass are the highest — that stock costs more and cuts slowest. On top of the per-meter rate there is a one-time setup fee, charged once per order regardless of piece count. We put the exact figure for your specific file in writing within 24 hours — send a vector file, the material, the thickness and the quantity.
Is there a minimum order value?
Yes — the setup fee acts as a practical minimum since it applies to every order regardless of size. The minimum production quantity itself is 1 piece, so there is no need to pad an order to reach a threshold.
Why does the price differ between two parts of the same thickness?
Price is driven by cutting length and contour complexity, not thickness alone. Many small holes or sharp corners slow the cutting head and increase processing time, which raises the price.
Is material cost included in the price?
If you supply your own sheet, you pay for cutting only. If Craftarea sources the material, it appears as a separate line item alongside the cutting rate in the quote.
Do you bend metal after cutting?
Press-brake bending, CNC milling and lathe work are not done in-house — we do not own that equipment. We arrange such operations through vetted partner workshops and list their cost separately in the quote.
Is there a discount for larger quantities?
The setup fee is charged once per batch, so per-piece cost falls automatically as quantity increases. The exact percentage is calculated for your specific volume and schedule.
How is cutting length calculated from my file?
Cutting length is the total length of every contour in the part — outer outline plus internal holes — in linear meters. We measure it automatically from your vector file, so a DXF or AI gives a faster answer than a scanned sketch.
What do you need from me to quote a job?
A vector file (DXF, AI or PDF) or exact dimensions, the material, the thickness you want, and the quantity. If a deadline matters, say so in the first message. With that we measure contour length, apply the right rate, add setup and return a written price and production time within 24 hours. A scanned sketch or a photo works too, but it almost always costs one extra round of questions.