If you’re sourcing stamped metal parts, you already know that cost control is critical – but cost shouldn’t come at the expense of quality or functionality. Whether you’re building aluminum enclosures, deep drawn steel housings, or complex bracket assemblies, the right approach to metal stamping can significantly reduce your overall spend.
In this article, we’ll show you practical, technical, and often-overlooked ways to reduce your metal stamping part costs – not just by cutting corners, but by smarter design, material choice, and supplier strategy.
Let’s dive in.
1. Choose the Right Material –Not Just the Cheapest
Material selection directly impacts both unit cost and long-term performance. While aluminum metal stamping is lightweight and corrosion-resistant, it may not always be the most economical choice depending on your design and required strength.
Likewise, metal stamps for steel – especially stainless or high-strength low alloy (HSLA) – may offer better mechanical properties but require stronger dies and press tonnage, adding tooling cost.
✅ Tip: Consult your stamping supplier to explore substitute materials that offer the same performance but lower raw cost or better machinability.
👉 Related: What Is Metal Stamping/Pressing?↗
2. Simplify Your Part Geometry & Reduce Tolerance Tightness
The tighter the tolerance, the higher the cost – because it usually means more precise (and expensive) metal stamping dies, more QC time, and slower press cycles.
Ask yourself:
• Do all hole positions need ±0.05mm tolerance?
• Can radii be increased to reduce sharp bends?
• Can slots be replaced by standard-sized holes?
Simplifying your geometry doesn’t just reduce tooling complexity – it also opens the door to more competitive quotes from multiple metal stamping companies.
3. Upgrade Your Die Design: Think Progressive or Compound Dies
Most sourcing teams underestimate how much scrap and handling costs affect stamping prices.
If you’re still using simple blanking dies, consider switching to progressive die metal stamping – where multiple operations (piercing, forming, trimming) are done in a single stroke.
For complex 3D parts, deep draw metal stamping combined with compound dies can reduce the number of tooling stages, save material, and minimize post-processing.
Smart die design = less waste + faster production = lower cost.
👉 Learn more about our Metal Stamping Services↗
4. Maximize Your Order Volume & Annual Usage Commitment
Stamping is volume-sensitive. For quantities below 50,000 pcs/year, tooling amortization can make part cost unattractive.
If your demand is fragmented across SKUs, consider:
• Consolidating similar parts into one stamping tool
• Committing to an annual blanket order with scheduled releases
• Asking your supplier for MOQ breaks based on full coil usage
Some high-run customers also benefit from shared-tooling strategies for non-cosmetic parts.
5. Optimize Lead Times to Avoid Expediting Fees
Rushed orders kill margins.
Many buyers don’t realize that urgent tool setups, air freight, and overtime shifts can quietly eat into unit profitability.
Plan ahead. Work with a supplier that offers firm lead-time commitments (including tooling + sampling) and who can stock safety inventory for you.
Also, track your past year’s urgent orders – were they driven by poor forecasts, customer changes, or just supplier delays? Fixing the root cause is where the real savings lie.
Final Thoughts
Reducing metal stamping part cost isn’t just about chasing cheaper quotes – it’s about smarter engineering and better supplier collaboration.
From choosing the right metal (aluminum vs steel), to using progressive dies or switching to deep draw metal stamping, each choice you make adds up over thousands or millions of parts.
At Xiamen Eternal, we’ve helped clients save up to 30% on stamped parts by redesigning geometry, eliminating unnecessary features, and optimizing tool strategy – all without sacrificing quality.
📩 Ready to talk numbers? Contact us now↗ for a tailored quote.