Plating, Anodizing & Surface Treatment worked example

Masking Labor Cost at 72% share of features actually masked: a worked example in plating, anodizing & surface treatment

This worked example runs the masking labor cost numbers for a tougher week than the baseline: 72% share of features actually masked instead of the typical 100%. Estimate masking labor cost from masked features per part, labor per feature, the maskable share, and flat material or demasking adders.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Masked features per part: 6 features (held at the documented default)
  • Labor cost to mask one feature: 0.85 $/feature (held at the documented default)
  • Share of features actually masked: 72 % (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 100)
  • Mask material and demask cost adder: 1.2 $ (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Masking cost = features x labor per feature x maskable share% + material and demask adder.
  • Total masking labor cost works out to 4.87 $ at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Masking labor cost per unit works out to 0.81 $ / piece at these inputs.
  • Variable masking labor cost works out to 3.67 $ at these inputs.
  • Fixed masking labor cost adder works out to 1.2 $ at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where share of features actually masked sits at 100% and the headline result is 6.3 $, this scenario comes in 22.67% below the baseline at 4.87 $.
  • Use it when quoting a masked part, deciding whether custom plugs beat hand-taping, or building a should-cost model for a masking-heavy job. A result at this level usually justifies acting on the stressed input before touching anything else, because every other figure in the table is downstream of it.

Results at a glance

  • Total masking labor cost: 4.87 $ (headline result)
  • Masking labor cost per unit: 0.81 $ / piece
  • Variable masking labor cost: 3.67 $
  • Fixed masking labor cost adder: 1.2 $

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Masking Labor Cost calculator, set share of features actually masked to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.