Who this is for: For designers and shops pricing the material line of sheet metal parts — the half of the quote that cutting and bending sit on top of.
Not the right tool for: Machined-from-block comparisons — a different process with a different cost stack
Blank size, gauge and alloy in — get the material weight and cost per part, waste factor included.
Quick answer: Sheet cost = blank L × W × gauge thickness × density × alloy price, with a 10–15% nesting waste factor. An 8×10 in, 18 ga CRS blank = 1.09 lb × $1.40/lb × 1.10 = $1.68 per part. Aluminum 5052 same size: $0.97 — lighter AND cheaper here. The calculator compares for you.
in
in
Flat pattern size
%
+10–15 typical
Blank weight
1.2 lb
8×10×0.048"
Material per part
$1.67
+10% waste · 10/sheet
Layout total
$1.67
sheet share cost
Alloy / gauge
Blank weight
Per part
16 ga CRS (0.060")
1.49 lb
$2.09
18 ga CRS (0.048")
1.2 lb
$1.67
20 ga CRS (0.036")
0.9 lb
$1.21
5052 aluminum
0.54 lb
$1.40
304 stainless
1.51 lb
$4.83
Compare the table: aluminum 5052 is ~35% of steel's density — same-size blanks often cost less despite the higher $/lb. Add cutting (~$2–5) and bending ($2–8) for the full part.
Weight = L × W × gauge × density (CRS 0.283 · 5052 Al 0.097 · 304 SS 0.286 lb/in³) × (1 + waste%). Prices: CRS $1.35–1.40 · 5052 $2.60 · 304 $3.20 /lb (2026).
Core facts
Density
Steel 0.283 · 5052 Al 0.097 · 304 SS 0.286 lb/in³
Plate price
CRS $1.35–1.40 · 5052 $2.60 · 304 $3.20 /lb
Waste
+10–15% nesting · +20–30% complex
Example
8×10 18ga CRS +10% = $1.68/part
Pairs with
Bending + cutting calculators
Status
Quotes use standard shop math: machine-hour rate × cycle time + materials + setup amortization. SFM/chipload figures are conservative HSS starting points (carbide runs 3–4× SFM). Compiled September 2026 — estimates for budgeting; real quotes come from the shop that runs the job.
How is sheet metal material priced?
Weight × alloy price. Flat blank volume (L × W × gauge thickness) × material density gives pounds — steel is 0.283 lb/in³, 5052 aluminum 0.097, 304 stainless 0.286 — multiplied by 2026 plate prices (CRS ≈ $1.35–1.40/lb, 5052 ≈ $2.60, 304 ≈ $3.20). The waste factor is honest nesting: shear utilization rarely beats 85–90% on real parts, so +10–15% on the blank is standard quoting. Example: an 8×10 inch blank in 18 ga CRS weighs 1.09 lb; at $1.40/lb with 10% waste that's $1.68 of steel per part — before laser cutting (~$2–5) and bending ($2–8).
Common uses
Material lines in sheet metal quotes
Comparing 18 ga CRS vs 5052 aluminum at the same part
Checking supplier material pricing against spot math
Deciding the gauge that balances strength and cost
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does sheet metal cost?
2026 US plate: cold-rolled steel $1.35–1.40/lb, 5052 aluminum ~$2.60/lb, 304 stainless ~$3.20/lb — a 4×8 ft 18 ga CRS sheet (~34 lb) runs ~$48, aluminum ~$65, stainless ~$145 in raw sheet. Cut and formed parts add cutting, bending and setup on top.
+10–15% for typical rectangular nesting; +20–30% for complex nested shapes or grain/direction-sensitive parts. Buying whole sheets for one-off parts? The whole sheet is your waste — price remnant-vs-sheet per job.
Aluminum or steel — when does each win?
Aluminum (5052) wins on weight-sensitive and corrosion-exposed parts at ~1.9× the per-pound price but ~35% of the density — the 8×10 blank is 0.37 lb ($0.97) vs steel's 1.09 lb ($1.53). Steel wins on rigidity-per-dollar and weldability; the calculator makes the comparison honest.
Does gauge thickness change the price much?
Linearly in weight: 16 ga is 25% heavier than 18 ga, so ~25% more material cost — and often more forming cost (thicker = stiffer = slower bends). Down-gauging with a stiffening rib is the classic cost-engineering move.