What goes into the unit price of a custom water bottle
Two quotes for 'the same bottle' can be far apart and both be fair. The difference is almost always in the lines underneath the number.
The six lines under every price
| Cost line | What decides it |
|---|---|
| Resin | Material type and grade, and the weight of plastic in each part |
| Moulding | Cycle time and the number of cavities in the mould |
| Accessories | Lids, straws, seals, carabiners, mixing balls — each is a separate part |
| Printing | Method, number of colours, number of positions |
| Packing | Bag, colour box or gift box, inserts and carton |
| Labour | Assembly, inspection and packing time per piece |
No factory can tell you the price without knowing all six. Change any one and the number changes.
How quantity changes the price
Quantity does not make plastic cheaper per kilogram in any dramatic way. What it does is spread the fixed costs — machine set-up, colour matching, print set-up, first-article checks — over more pieces.
That is why a very small run in a special colour costs more per piece, and why a mixed order that shares one colour or one print across several models can come out cheaper than the same pieces split into many small variations.
How design changes the price
The geometry decides the mould, and the mould decides the moulding cost for as long as the product runs.
- Thicker walls mean more resin and longer cooling, so a longer cycle.
- Undercuts, moulded handles and complex lids need side actions in the mould and often extra assembly.
- More parts mean more moulds, more assembly and more places to leak.
- Clear materials need polished tooling and stricter cosmetic inspection.
Small design choices at the drawing stage can move the unit price more than any negotiation later.
How customisation changes the price
- Print: each colour and each position is a set-up; a wrap-around design costs more than a single logo.
- Colour: a colour already in production is cheaper than a new one that needs its own masterbatch.
- Packing: moving from a bag to a printed colour box can be one of the largest changes on a low-cost item.
- Accessories: a better lid or a spare seal adds parts and assembly time.
An example quotation structure
This is how a clear quotation lays out the price. It is an illustration of the structure only — the lines are real, the figures are left out on purpose.
| Line | Shown as |
|---|---|
| Mould (if new) | One-off cost, stated separately |
| Unit price — bottle and lid | Per piece, at the quoted quantity |
| Printing | Per piece, per colour and position |
| Packing | Per piece, by packing type |
| Terms | FOB Ningbo, USD |
When you compare two suppliers, compare them line by line. A lower total that hides a cheaper resin, a thinner wall or a plain bag in place of a colour box is not the same product.