Prototype Cost Calculator — Free Estimate in Under a Minute

For a physical product, a looks-like appearance model from a finished design runs roughly $800 to $6,000, and a functional mechanical prototype runs $6,000 to $60,000 — most land between $12,000 and $30,000. A product with custom electronics and firmware starts around $35,000 and most fall between $50,000 and $120,000. A software or app MVP runs $5,000 to $60,000, most often $15,000 to $35,000.

Because "prototype" describes a purpose, not a thing. The same product can be prototyped as a foam block, a 3D-printed shell, a working mechanism or a near-production unit, and those differ by more than an order of magnitude. Geometry, materials, tolerances and quantity then move it again.

Yes, when you tell the calculator the design is not finished. That is deliberate: design and engineering are typically 40–60% of what a first prototype costs, and leaving them out is the single most common budgeting mistake we see.

The printing itself is often the cheapest line item — tens to a few hundred dollars for a small part. What costs money is the CAD that had to exist first, the finishing and painting that make it presentable, and the iterations after the first one does not fit.

A custom PCB brings schematic design, layout, board fabrication, assembly, embedded firmware and bench validation — each a separate discipline. Add wireless connectivity and you inherit antenna work, power management, over-the-air updates and an FCC certification path.

A simple appearance model from finished CAD is usually one to three weeks. A functional mechanical prototype is typically four to twelve weeks including a round of iteration. Custom electronics generally run three to six months, because board fabrication, firmware and testing are sequential.

Partly. Expediting machine queues, printing and shipping is real and costs roughly 1.5x to 3x on the affected steps. Cure times, coatings, board fabrication and any test that takes two weeks cannot be shortened at any price, so a rushed schedule mostly buys risk.

It is an order-of-magnitude tool built on our completed project history, not a quote. It has no idea what your part looks like. If your design is production-ready it will usually land close; if you are starting from an idea, treat the wide band as the honest answer and get the design scoped first.

Yes. No sign-up, no email required to see your range. We ask for contact details only if you want the breakdown emailed to you or want our engineers to quote the real thing.

Whatever you have: a sketch, photos of a mock-up, a requirements list, or CAD. With production-ready CAD and drawings we can usually quote parts within a business day. Without them, the first step is a short scoping conversation.

Prototype cost is driven by geometry, tolerance, material and how many iterations the design needs. Two products with the same one-line description can differ tenfold if one needs a sealed enclosure and certified components. That is why we scope a build before quoting it.

Prototype only what you are testing. Split one expensive all-in-one unit into a looks-like model and a works-like rig, use off-the-shelf components where nobody will look, and accept printed finishes anywhere the test does not depend on appearance. Getting the design and requirements clear first is the other big saving — vague scope is expensive.

No. A patent application requires a sufficient description, not a physical unit. A prototype is still useful before filing, because building one usually reveals the details worth claiming. This is general information, not legal advice.