Guides / Cost
Why Inconel 718 Parts Cost So Much to Machine
September 20, 2026
A 718 quote can land three to five times higher than the same geometry in stainless steel. None of that is padding. It comes from a small number of real cost drivers stacking on top of each other.
Tool wear is the biggest line item
Inconel 718 work-hardens under the tool and holds heat at the cutting edge instead of carrying it away in the chip. Tools rated for steel dull fast on 718, and a dull tool makes the work-hardening worse on the next pass. Shops that run 718 regularly use ceramic or coated carbide tooling suited to nickel alloys and accept lower cutting speeds than they would use on steel. Both choices cost more per hour of machine time than a standard steel job.
The raw material itself
718 bar and plate stock costs several times more per kilo than mild steel, and lead time on the raw material can stretch when a size is not on the shelf at the mill. On a small order, the material line alone can be a larger share of the price than it would be on any steel part of the same size.
Age hardening adds a step
718 is age-hardenable: it is easier to machine in the solution-annealed condition and reaches full strength only after a heat treatment cycle. Many shops rough the part before aging, when the material cuts easier, then finish critical features after aging for dimensional stability at full hardness. That is a real extra step, with its own handling and a second setup, not just a note on the traveler.
Tolerance costs more here than on easier alloys
Every finishing pass on 718 is fighting work hardening from the pass before it. A tolerance tighter than the part needs does not just add inspection time the way it would on aluminum. It adds real machine time, because the shop is taking lighter cuts and running slower to hold it. Tolerance only the features that actually need it.
Low volume concentrates the fixed costs
Programming, fixturing and first-article proof-out are paid once per order regardless of alloy, but on 718 that fixed cost is layered on top of already-higher machine time and material cost. The result: a five-piece order in 718 can price at several times the per-part cost of a hundred-piece order of the same part.
An illustration
The numbers below are made up to show the structure, not a real quote.
| 5 pieces | 100 pieces | |
|---|---|---|
| Programming and fixture (one time) | $1,400 | $1,400 |
| Machine time per part | $260 | $210 |
| Material per part | $180 | $150 |
| Setup share per part | $280 | $14 |
| Price per part before finishing | $720 | $374 |
The setup share is what changes most. Machine time and material barely move.
What actually lowers the number
Loosen any tolerance that is not load-bearing or a fit surface. Confirm whether FAI and PMI are needed for every order or only the first. State a real annual volume if this part repeats, so a shop can size the fixture and tooling investment accordingly. None of this changes the alloy, but all of it changes what the shop has to charge to do the job properly.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Inconel 718 so much more expensive to machine than stainless steel?
Tool wear is the biggest factor. Inconel 718 work-hardens and holds heat at the cutting edge, which shortens tool life compared with stainless. Add a raw material price several times higher per kilo, and both the machine time and the material line of the quote go up.
Does age hardening affect the machining cost?
Yes. 718 machines easier in the solution-annealed condition, before it is aged to full strength. Some shops rough before aging and finish after, which adds a heat treatment step and a second setup to the process, and to the quote.
How can I lower the cost of a 718 quote without changing the alloy?
Loosen tolerances that do not affect fit or function, state a realistic annual volume so setup can spread over more parts, and confirm whether FAI or PMI is actually required for this order or only for the first article.
Need a quote for this part?
Send the drawing. We match you with up to 3 Inconel-capable shops and reply within 24 business hours.
Get matched with an Inconel shop