Prototype budgeting
Prototype Cost Calculator: Free Estimate in Under a Minute
A Benchtop Proof of Concept (stage 3) typically runs $1,000 to $35,000, and Alpha and Beta prototypes (stages 6 and 7) $3,000 to $60,000, by product complexity, labor only. Materials and parts are billed at cost. Stage 1 is a fixed $800; concept design starts at $2,000 for a basic product. Free, instant, no email required.
Free tool
Prototype cost calculator: typical labor by stage and product complexity
A Benchtop Proof of Concept (stage 3) typically runs $1,000 to $35,000, and Alpha and Beta prototypes (stages 6 and 7) $3,000 to $60,000, by product complexity, labor only. Materials and parts are billed at cost. Stage 1 is a fixed $800; concept design starts at $2,000 for a basic product. Pick your product complexity to see the typical labor for each prototype stage, from the same price table our team quotes from.
- Benchtop Proof of Concept (stage 3) by product complexity
- Alpha and Beta prototypes (stages 6 and 7) by product complexity
- What is not included, so the number is honest
Typical labor by stage, B Simple
| 3 Benchtop Proof of Concept | $2,500 to $10,000 |
| 6 Alpha Prototyping & Testing | $6,000 to $12,000 |
| 7 Beta Prototype | $4,000 to $12,000 |
| Stages 3, 6 and 7 | $12,500 to $34,000 |
Benchtop Proof (stage 3) $2,500 to $10,000. Alpha and Beta prototypes (stages 6 and 7) $10,000 to $24,000. Whole program (stages 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 9) $28,300 to $66,800.
Materials, tooling and certification are billed separately. Ranges are typical, not a quote. App or cloud software is outside the stage price table and is quoted separately.
Typical timeline for a full program: 5 to 9 months. Timelines exclude tooling, certification, pilot runs and client review time between stages. Custom circuit boards can add 3 to 7 weeks.
Not included: materials and parts (billed at cost), production tooling, certification and lab fees, patent and attorney fees (stages 4 and 8), marketing materials (stage 10), licensing or venturing (stage 11), app or cloud software. Ranges are typical, not a quote; your price may come in below or above.
Prototype stages by product complexity (labor only)
| Product complexity | Stage 3 Benchtop Proof | Stages 6 and 7 Alpha + Beta |
|---|---|---|
| A Basic | $1,000 to $5,000 | $3,000 to $12,000 |
| B Simple | $2,500 to $10,000 | $10,000 to $24,000 |
| C Moderate | $5,000 to $15,000 | $14,000 to $44,000 |
| D Complex | $20,000 to $35,000 | $25,000 to $60,000 |
A Basic
- Stage 3 Benchtop Proof
- $1,000 to $5,000
- Stages 6 and 7 Alpha + Beta
- $3,000 to $12,000
B Simple
- Stage 3 Benchtop Proof
- $2,500 to $10,000
- Stages 6 and 7 Alpha + Beta
- $10,000 to $24,000
C Moderate
- Stage 3 Benchtop Proof
- $5,000 to $15,000
- Stages 6 and 7 Alpha + Beta
- $14,000 to $44,000
D Complex
- Stage 3 Benchtop Proof
- $20,000 to $35,000
- Stages 6 and 7 Alpha + Beta
- $25,000 to $60,000
Labor only, including equipment and machine time. Materials, tooling, certification, patent fees and app or cloud software are extra. Ranges are typical, not a quote; your price may come in below or above. Large automated systems and regulated medical devices often run above Class D.
How it works
How to get a number you can plan around
Step 1
Pick your product complexity
A Basic: One part, no moving parts, no electronics. B Simple: One mechanism or simple electronics. C Moderate: Several mechanisms, medium electronics and firmware. D Complex: Multi-subsystem, firmware, hydraulics, app or custom tech.
Step 2
Read the stage ranges
Benchtop Proof of Concept (stage 3) proves the 1 to 2 riskiest functions. Alpha and Beta prototypes (stages 6 and 7) are the first working version and the refined, production-like units.
Step 3
Check what is not included
Not included: materials and parts (billed at cost), production tooling, certification and lab fees, patent and attorney fees (stages 4 and 8), marketing materials (stage 10), licensing or venturing (stage 11), app or cloud software.
Step 4
Get a fixed quote
Book a free 20-minute call. Stage 1 is a fixed $800, and every later stage gets its own fixed quote before it starts.
FAQ
Prototype cost questions we get asked
How much does it cost to make a prototype?
A Benchtop Proof of Concept (stage 3) typically runs $1,000 to $35,000, and Alpha and Beta prototypes (stages 6 and 7) $3,000 to $60,000, by product complexity, labor only. Materials and parts are billed at cost. Stage 1 is a fixed $800; concept design starts at $2,000 for a basic product.
How much does product development cost overall?
LA NPDT develops physical products in fixed-price stages. Stage 1, Review/Analysis + Plan, is a fixed $800. A whole program typically costs $11,300 to $36,800 for a basic one-part product, $28,300 to $66,800 for a simple product, $49,300 to $111,800 for a moderate product, and $86,800 to $175,800 for a complex product. Ranges cover labor only.
How long does product development take?
A typical program takes 3 to 6 months for a basic product, 5 to 9 months for a simple product, 7 to 12 months for a moderate product, and 9 to 15+ months for a complex product. That excludes tooling, certification, pilot runs and your review time between stages. Custom circuit boards can add 3 to 7 weeks.
How does pricing work?
Stage 1 is a fixed $800, paid up front, with results within 10 business days of receiving your files and intake form. It is optional: simple products with clear CAD, sketches or a spec can start at stage 2, and our team sends a fixed quote within 48 hours of your call. Every later stage gets its own fixed quote before it starts, billed 50% to start and 50% on delivery. Ranges are typical, not a quote; your price may come in below or above.
Is the $800 Stage 1 fee credited toward later stages?
No. Stage 1 is a standalone, fixed-price deliverable: a technical feasibility analysis, the key risks, and a staged plan with the recommended next step. It is not credited toward later stages, and the plan is yours to use with any team.
What is not included?
Not included: materials and parts (billed at cost), production tooling, certification and lab fees, patent and attorney fees (stages 4 and 8), marketing materials (stage 10), licensing or venturing (stage 11), app or cloud software.
Does the calculator price app or cloud software?
No. App or cloud software is outside the stage price table and is quoted separately. Materials, tooling and certification are billed separately. Ranges are typical, not a quote.
Do I need a prototype before filing a patent?
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.
Labor only, including equipment and machine time. Materials, tooling, certification, patent fees and app or cloud software are extra. Ranges are typical, not a quote; your price may come in below or above. Large automated systems and regulated medical devices often run above Class D.
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Next step
You have a ballpark. Here is what turns it into a build
We are a cross-functional product development team in Ruston, Louisiana: concept design, engineering, prototyping and short-run manufacturing under one roof. Pick the one that matches where you are.
- Start with concept design
No CAD yet? This is the step that has to happen before anything can be quoted or built.
- Rapid prototyping
Fast iteration loops when the design exists and you need parts in hand.
- Prototyping services
Every process in the table above, and how we choose between them.
- Low-volume manufacturing
What happens after the prototype works and you need a pilot batch.
- How to estimate prototype cost
The estimating method behind the number: the five lines of a quote, honest contingency, and how to compare vendor bids.
- How much does a prototype cost to make?
Typical price ranges by prototype type, from printed appearance models to connected electronics.
Where to go next
- Rapid prototypingWorking prototypes in days, from 3D printing to vacuum casting.
- Sketches vs CAD vs prototypeWhich deliverable you actually need at your stage, and what each one costs.
- Order a prototypeSend a part or an idea and get a build quote back.
- Low-volume manufacturingFirst production runs without full injection-mould tooling.