Prototype (single-cavity) molds typically cost $1,000–$3,000; production molds range from $5,000 to $30,000+. Labor accounts for 40–50% of total mold cost; raw steel material is 15–25%. Upgrading from P20 to H13 steel adds 25–40% to mold cost but extends tool life. Injection molding (often spelled “injection moulding” in search) is a manufacturing process that injects molten plastic into a precision metal mold to form parts. It is highly automated and repeatable. The mold/tooling cost is by far the largest upfront expense – simple prototypes may use a. The short answer: plastic injection molds cost anywhere between $100 for a 3D printed low-volume injection mold to $100,000+ for a complex multi-cavity steel mold for high-volume production, which generally represents the most significant fixed start-up cost in injection molding. You pay once, then the mold is yours to use for thousands or millions of parts.