How do you calculate jig and fixture cost?

Multiply build hours by your shop rate and by the direct-build share, then add hardware and plate stock. With 60 hours at $95/hr, a 92% direct-build share, and $1,400 in stock, that is 60 x 95 x 0.92 + 1400 = $6,644 total.

Why apply a direct-build share instead of using 100%?

Not every logged hour is billable, value-adding build time. The 92% share here trims out setup, waiting, and non-productive minutes so the labor cost reflects genuine fabrication, giving $5,244 of variable labor cost.

What is a reasonable fabrication shop rate for fixture work?

For a well-equipped North American tool room, $85-$120/hr is typical fully burdened. The $95/hr default sits mid-range; tighter tolerance tooling and 5-axis fixture work push toward the top end.

How do I turn total fixture cost into a per-piece adder?

Divide total cost by the run quantity. This calculator reports a per-unit figure of about $110.73 based on the example's basis; over a 1,000-piece run, $6,644 would instead amortize to roughly $6.64 per part.

Should hardware and plate stock be treated as fixed cost?

Yes. The $1,400 in dowels, clamps, and ground plate is a one-time fixed adder that does not scale with labor efficiency, so it is reported separately from the $5,244 variable labor.

Jig vs fixture cost - are they estimated differently?

The math is identical, but jigs guide the tool (like drill bushings) and often need more precision-ground hardware, so their stock cost line tends to run higher than a comparable locating fixture.

Tooling, Fixtures, Dies & Mold Economics calculator

Jig And Fixture Cost Calculator

Jig and fixture cost captures what it truly costs to design and build a workholding device before it ever locates a single part. Tooling engineers and estimators use it to justify a dedicated fixture against manual clamping, to amortize the build across a production run, and to quote fixturing on new-part launches. Because build labor and purchased stock scale differently, separating them keeps your amortized per-piece adder honest. Get this wrong and either you underbid the tooling line item or you scare off the job.

What this calculator does

Estimate the cost to design and build a jig or fixture, combining fabrication labor with locating hardware and plate stock.
A manufacturing engineer uses it to budget a workholding or weld fixture before releasing it to the toolroom.
It computes the total build cost of a jig or fixture by loading build hours against your shop rate at a direct-build share, then adding hardware and plate stock.

Formula used

Fixture cost = build hours x shop rate x direct-build share% + hardware/stock cost
Cost per build hour = total fixture cost / build hours

Inputs explained

Fixture Build Hours:
Fabrication Shop Rate:
Direct-Build Share:
Hardware & Plate Stock Cost:

How to use the result

Use it when quoting a new fixture, deciding build-vs-buy, or setting the tooling amortization adder for a production quote.
It assumes a single build pass and does not include design engineering time, first-article debug, or ongoing maintenance unless you fold those into build hours.

Current U.S. benchmarks

The producer price index for plastic resins and materials stands at 319.371 (BLS, May 2026), up 19.5% from a year earlier. Quotes priced off last quarter's material cost miss this move.
The U.S. has 14,378 furniture and related products establishments employing about 355,594 workers (Census County Business Patterns, 2023).

Common questions

How do you calculate jig and fixture cost? Multiply build hours by your shop rate and by the direct-build share, then add hardware and plate stock. With 60 hours at $95/hr, a 92% direct-build share, and $1,400 in stock, that is 60 x 95 x 0.92 + 1400 = $6,644 total.
Why apply a direct-build share instead of using 100%? Not every logged hour is billable, value-adding build time. The 92% share here trims out setup, waiting, and non-productive minutes so the labor cost reflects genuine fabrication, giving $5,244 of variable labor cost.
What is a reasonable fabrication shop rate for fixture work? For a well-equipped North American tool room, $85-$120/hr is typical fully burdened. The $95/hr default sits mid-range; tighter tolerance tooling and 5-axis fixture work push toward the top end.
How do I turn total fixture cost into a per-piece adder? Divide total cost by the run quantity. This calculator reports a per-unit figure of about $110.73 based on the example's basis; over a 1,000-piece run, $6,644 would instead amortize to roughly $6.64 per part.
Should hardware and plate stock be treated as fixed cost? Yes. The $1,400 in dowels, clamps, and ground plate is a one-time fixed adder that does not scale with labor efficiency, so it is reported separately from the $5,244 variable labor.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.