Free tool · No sign-up · Augmino

Should-cost calculator for manufacturing

Augmino's free should-cost calculator for procurement and industrial sourcing. No registration or login. Build material, process, overhead and margin on your device, compare supplier quote gaps, and print a negotiation brief.

Workspace

Build your should-cost

No signup. Draft stays on this device. Print when the checklist is ready.

ProcessOptional

Pick a category to load operations or leave blank and add your own. Press the selected category again to clear.

Precision manufacturing

Also common

Part

Name the part and set the quantity you are costing.

Rate basis

Defaults to United States rate bands in USD. Switch region for India, EU/UK, or Southeast Asia, or edit any rate. Guidance is indicative for negotiation prep, not certified cost engineering.

Region rate guidance
Currency
Material

Use input into the process, not only finished weight. Guidance fills an indicative rate you can change.

Material guidance
How you know quantity

Indicative. Verify before use.

Unit
Scrap profile
Process routing

Blank model. Add operations here or pick a process template above. Setup amortizes across quantity; cycle is per piece.

Start with your first operation. Add a blank row or pick a common step, then fill setup, cycle and rate.

Operation
Setup min
Cycle min
Rate / hr

Flat cost per part. Pick a finish to prefill, then edit the amount.

Overhead, margin & tooling

Pick shop and work type to fill indicative percentages, then change any value. United States overall bands: OH 25-50%, margin 8-18%.

Shop type
Work type
Quotes, notes & talking pointsOptional: expand anytime
Compare supplier quotes

Paste unit prices as received. Gaps update against your model.

Optional before RFQ. Enter supplier unit prices when you have quotes to compare.

Assumptions

Notes for anyone reviewing this model later.

Talking points

Starters from your model. Add bullets, bold or numbered lists; your text saves on this device.

$0.00
Untitled part · qty 0 · United States

Augmino · Should-cost brief

Internal
Date29 Jul 2026

Untitled part

RFQ / drawing
Not set
Quantity
0
Process
CNC / machining
Region
United States
Currency
USD

Internal negotiation prep. Not a supplier quotation.

Should-cost / unit

$0.00

Total at qty 0: $0.00

Cost build-up

Material · 0%$0.00
Process (1 ops) · 0%$0.00
Overhead (35%) · 0%$0.00
Margin (12%) · 0%$0.00
Should-cost / unit$0.00

Assumptions

MaterialGrade not specified · $0.00/kg
Qty basisFinished 0 kg · scrap 20% · input ~0.000 kg
CommercialOverhead 35% · Margin 12% · United States rate guidance

Process routing

OperationSetupCycleRate/hrCost/unit
-0 min0 min$0.00$0.00

Volume scenarios

QtyUnit costIncl. tooling
1$0.00$0.00
10$0.00$0.00
50$0.00$0.00
200$0.00$0.00
1000$0.00$0.00
5000$0.00$0.00

Internal use only · Do not forward to suppliers

Talking points

Starters from this model. Edit in the workspace to customize.

  • Our should-cost is about 0.00 USD/unit. Where does your quote differ?

  • We assumed ~35% overhead and ~12% margin. How do those compare to your cost structure?

Prepared with Augmino's free should-cost model tool for negotiation prep. Indicative only; not certified cost engineering. Verify material and machine rates before commercial decisions. Competitive quotes and talking points are for the buyer team; uncheck them in View before sharing a sanitized build-up externally.

Should-cost calculator FAQ

For procurement and sourcing teams running should-cost analysis or building a manufacturing should-cost model with the Augmino free should-cost calculator. Read the method in our should-cost guide or go to Augmino for buyers.

  1. 1. Choose a process (optional). Select CNC / machining, injection molding, sheet metal or another template to load suggested operations and rates, or skip and build from blank.
  2. 2. Set part and rate basis. Add part name and quantity, then choose region rate guidance and currency.
  3. 3. Enter material and process routing. Set input or finished weight with scrap, then setup and cycle times with rates for each operation. Add tooling/NRE if needed.
  4. 4. Apply overhead and margin. Use the guided ranges for the region or enter your own percentages.
  5. 5. Compare quotes (optional), notes and talking points. Under Compare supplier quotes, paste supplier unit prices to generate quote gap analysis, add assumption notes, edit talking points, then print or save as PDF.
What is should-cost modeling (or should-cost analysis)?
Should-cost modeling (also called should-cost analysis or clean-sheet costing) estimates what a part ought to cost from material, process time, overhead and margin. Buyers use it to set targets before or after RFQ and to challenge quote spreads.
Is there a free should-cost calculator without login?
Yes. Augmino's free should-cost calculator requires zero registration, email, or sign-up. Use it for negotiation prep, not as enterprise should-cost software with CAD simulation or live rate libraries. Build the model, compare quotes, and print a brief on your device. Assumptions stay editable.
How do I calculate should-cost for CNC parts?
Select CNC / machining under process templates to load standard cycle times and rates for the region you choose. Edit every assumption, then add material weight, overhead and margin to finish the build-up.
How do I compare a supplier quote against should-cost?
Paste supplier unit prices under Compare supplier quotes (Section 06) to generate quote gap analysis and negotiation talking points against your model.
How is should-cost different from total cost of ownership (TCO)?
Should-cost is the piece-price build-up. TCO adds landed cost, quality risk, inventory and switching cost. Use this tool for the should-cost layer; keep TCO as a separate decision frame.
Do I need an Excel should-cost template?
No. This should-cost calculator covers the same structure as a should-cost model template: material, routing, overhead, margin, volumes and quote gaps. You can still export a PDF brief for internal review.
Can buyers use this before RFQ?
Yes. Many teams build a should-cost before sending RFQs to set a target. Add supplier quotes later when you want gap % and negotiation talking points.
Do I have to pick CNC, molding or another process?
No. Start blank if you want. Optional process templates (CNC / machining, injection molding, sheet metal, casting, forging and more) and situation guidance fill indicative values you can edit or clear.
Where is my data stored?
On your device only, in browser storage. Nothing is uploaded to Augmino when you use this free tool.
How does this relate to Augmino?
Augmino connects buyers with verified manufacturers. Use this calculator when you negotiate. Apply as a buyer when you want supplier introductions for parts you source.