Sourcing · metre price, mass, die share

Aluminium Extrusion Price per Meter: How the Number Is Built

In 2026 China-factory FOB metres for silver-anodised T-slot typically sit around USD 1.40–2.20/m for 20×20 and USD 4.20–6.50/m for 40×40 at mid volume, because price per metre is kilograms times dollars per kilogram plus a share of die and setup. Heavier sections scale almost linearly with mass.

Basis: FOB Shanghai / Ningbo, 2026 USD/m
MOQ: 150 m existing die; 500 m new die
Steps: 500 / 2 000 / 5 000 / 10 000 m
Read: 8 minutes

Silver aluminium profiles on a cooling run-out table beside an extrusion press in a factory

Short answer

Price per metre is built from weight per metre × process price per kilogram, plus finish, packing and amortised die/setup. Factory 6063-T5 anodised extrusion in 2026 commonly lands near USD 2.80–3.60/kg FOB China before those adders; multiply by the section’s kg/m to get the metre band. Quantity steps at 500 m, 2 000 m, 5 000 m and 10 000 m dilute fixed costs. Payment is T/T 30% deposit and 70% before shipment, or L/C at sight. The grids below give reference USD/m, kg/m, 2 m cost and weigh-per-metre figures for the eleven sections buyers ask about most.

Price per metre is billet + conversion + finish + scrap share — kg/m and surface treatment move the number most.

How much does cost per meter (by size)

Reference 2026 FOB China metre bands for silver-anodised 6063-T5 T-slot off an existing die at roughly 500–2 000 m run from about USD 1.40/m on 20×20 up into the high twenties and above on 100×100-class sections.

These are planning ranges, not firm quotes. Mill finish tracks the low end; black anodising and rush slots track the high end. Die amortisation per metre is why a new tool looks expensive on 500 m and quiet on 10 000 m — see how die cost amortises per meter in the related sense of tooling share, and minimum order with a new die for the 500 m gate.

Section	Circumscribed circle	Type	Reference price (USD)	Notes
100×100 (100100)	141 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	USD 30.87–40.82/m	Heavy / large CCD; FOB China 2026 ref.
160×80 (16080)	179 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	USD 28.81–38.10/m	Heavy / large CCD; FOB China 2026 ref.
20×20 (2020)	28 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	USD 1.40–2.20/m	Light frame; existing die common; FOB China 2026 ref.
30×30 (3030)	42 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	USD 2.80–3.60/m	Light frame; existing die common; FOB China 2026 ref.
40×40 (4040)	57 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	USD 4.34–5.58/m	Machine-frame staple; FOB China 2026 ref.
40×80 (4080)	89 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	USD 8.40–10.80/m	Machine-frame staple; FOB China 2026 ref.
45×45 (4545)	64 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	USD 5.60–7.20/m	10 mm slot series; FOB China 2026 ref.
45×90 (4590)	101 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	USD 11.48–14.76/m	10 mm slot series; FOB China 2026 ref.
50×50 (5050)	71 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	USD 7.28–9.36/m	Machine-frame staple; FOB China 2026 ref.
80×80 (8080)	113 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	USD 16.80–21.60/m	Heavy / large CCD; FOB China 2026 ref.
90×90 (9090)	127 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	USD 22.40–28.80/m	10 mm slot series; FOB China 2026 ref.

What is the weight per meter of a (by size)

Weight per metre is the conversion hinge: the factory bills billet by the tonne, and your frame budget lives in metres, so kg/m is what links the two.

Figures below are nominal mid-wall 6063-T5 T-slot masses. Light and heavy variants of the same envelope can differ by 20–40%. For freight, weigh a sample bar or use the mill certificate mass rather than the catalogue nominal. The fourth column carries mass (not USD) for this grid so every section stays comparable.

Section	Circumscribed circle	Type	Reference price (USD)	Notes
100×100 (100100)	141 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	mass ~10.50 kg/m (use × USD/kg)	Nominal; × ~USD 2.80–3.60/kg ≈ metre band
160×80 (16080)	179 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	mass ~9.80 kg/m (use × USD/kg)	Nominal; × ~USD 2.80–3.60/kg ≈ metre band
20×20 (2020)	28 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	mass ~0.50 kg/m (use × USD/kg)	Nominal; × ~USD 2.80–3.60/kg ≈ metre band
30×30 (3030)	42 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	mass ~1.00 kg/m (use × USD/kg)	Nominal; × ~USD 2.80–3.60/kg ≈ metre band
40×40 (4040)	57 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	mass ~1.55 kg/m (use × USD/kg)	Nominal; × ~USD 2.80–3.60/kg ≈ metre band
40×80 (4080)	89 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	mass ~3.00 kg/m (use × USD/kg)	Nominal; × ~USD 2.80–3.60/kg ≈ metre band
45×45 (4545)	64 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	mass ~2.00 kg/m (use × USD/kg)	Nominal; × ~USD 2.80–3.60/kg ≈ metre band
45×90 (4590)	101 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	mass ~4.10 kg/m (use × USD/kg)	Nominal; × ~USD 2.80–3.60/kg ≈ metre band
50×50 (5050)	71 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	mass ~2.60 kg/m (use × USD/kg)	Nominal; × ~USD 2.80–3.60/kg ≈ metre band
80×80 (8080)	113 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	mass ~6.00 kg/m (use × USD/kg)	Nominal; × ~USD 2.80–3.60/kg ≈ metre band
90×90 (9090)	127 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	mass ~8.00 kg/m (use × USD/kg)	Nominal; × ~USD 2.80–3.60/kg ≈ metre band

How much does 2 m of profile cost (by size)

Two metres cost twice the metre band plus any short-cut fee; under 3 m export lengths often move from timber cradles into plywood cases.

Distributors quote cut-to-size at a premium per metre; a factory FOB sheet usually assumes stock 6.02 m bars, with 2 m pieces treated as a cut list. If you only need a few 2 m sticks for a prototype, expect sample economics rather than the 500 m band.

Section	Circumscribed circle	Type	Reference price (USD)	Notes
100×100 (100100)	141 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	USD 61.74–81.64 / 2 m	2 × metre band; cut fee may apply under 3 m
160×80 (16080)	179 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	USD 57.62–76.20 / 2 m	2 × metre band; cut fee may apply under 3 m
20×20 (2020)	28 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	USD 2.80–4.40 / 2 m	2 × metre band; cut fee may apply under 3 m
30×30 (3030)	42 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	USD 5.60–7.20 / 2 m	2 × metre band; cut fee may apply under 3 m
40×40 (4040)	57 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	USD 8.68–11.16 / 2 m	2 × metre band; cut fee may apply under 3 m
40×80 (4080)	89 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	USD 16.80–21.60 / 2 m	2 × metre band; cut fee may apply under 3 m
45×45 (4545)	64 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	USD 11.20–14.40 / 2 m	2 × metre band; cut fee may apply under 3 m
45×90 (4590)	101 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	USD 22.96–29.52 / 2 m	2 × metre band; cut fee may apply under 3 m
50×50 (5050)	71 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	USD 14.56–18.72 / 2 m	2 × metre band; cut fee may apply under 3 m
80×80 (8080)	113 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	USD 33.60–43.20 / 2 m	2 × metre band; cut fee may apply under 3 m
90×90 (9090)	127 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	USD 44.80–57.60 / 2 m	2 × metre band; cut fee may apply under 3 m

How much does a profile weigh per metre (by size)

The weigh-per-metre check is the same mass grid restated for buyers who search “weigh” rather than “weight” — use it to sanity-check supplier quotes and container fills.

Example: 4040 at ~1.55 kg/m and USD 3.20/kg process is about USD 4.96/m before finish nuance; if a quote shows USD 9/m FOB for silver 4040 at 5 000 m, ask what else is in the line. Die making adds 7–12 days on a new tool (die making adds 7–12 days) but should appear as tooling, not as silent inflation of the metre rate. Ownership of that tool is separate (who owns the die).

Section	Circumscribed circle	Type	Reference price (USD)	Notes
100×100 (100100)	141 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	~10.50 kg/m (≈23.14 lb/m)	Density 2.70 g/cm³ basis; tolerance moves weight
160×80 (16080)	179 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	~9.80 kg/m (≈21.60 lb/m)	Density 2.70 g/cm³ basis; tolerance moves weight
20×20 (2020)	28 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	~0.50 kg/m (≈1.10 lb/m)	Density 2.70 g/cm³ basis; tolerance moves weight
30×30 (3030)	42 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	~1.00 kg/m (≈2.20 lb/m)	Density 2.70 g/cm³ basis; tolerance moves weight
40×40 (4040)	57 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	~1.55 kg/m (≈3.42 lb/m)	Density 2.70 g/cm³ basis; tolerance moves weight
40×80 (4080)	89 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	~3.00 kg/m (≈6.61 lb/m)	Density 2.70 g/cm³ basis; tolerance moves weight
45×45 (4545)	64 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	~2.00 kg/m (≈4.41 lb/m)	Density 2.70 g/cm³ basis; tolerance moves weight
45×90 (4590)	101 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	~4.10 kg/m (≈9.04 lb/m)	Density 2.70 g/cm³ basis; tolerance moves weight
50×50 (5050)	71 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	~2.60 kg/m (≈5.73 lb/m)	Density 2.70 g/cm³ basis; tolerance moves weight
80×80 (8080)	113 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	~6.00 kg/m (≈13.22 lb/m)	Density 2.70 g/cm³ basis; tolerance moves weight
90×90 (9090)	127 mm	6063-T5 T-slot	~8.00 kg/m (≈17.63 lb/m)	Density 2.70 g/cm³ basis; tolerance moves weight

RFQ checklist — price per metre

Section and kg/m — code or DXF; state light/heavy if known.
Finish — mill vs silver vs black anodised.
Quantity step — 500 / 2 000 / 5 000 / 10 000 m.
Die — existing or new; tooling as a separate line.
Incoterm — FOB Shanghai / Ningbo, CIF, DAP or DDP.

Ask for USD/m and USD/kg on the same sheet. If only one appears, convert with the kg/m above before you compare suppliers.

Four ways a per-metre price misleads

Retail vs FOBEU cut-to-size lists at €15/m for 40×40 are not China FOB bands. Align channel before you rank.

Wrong massA light 4040 and a heavy 4040 share an envelope and not a kg/m. Confirm the drawing.

Tooling buried in the metreNew-die cost should be a line. Buried tooling makes 500 m look permanently expensive.

Ignoring the stepA 150 m unit price is not the 5 000 m number. Match the step to your call-off.

Related on this site

how die cost amortises per meter — tooling share in the metre
minimum order with a new die — 150 m vs 500 m
die making adds 7–12 days — calendar beside the price
who owns the die — who pays tooling once

Terms used in this article

Price per metre: Unit commercial price for one metre of profile at a stated finish and Incoterm.
Weight per metre: Mass of one metre of the section; converts USD/kg into USD/m.
Die amortisation: Tooling cost divided by metres in the order or contract.
FOB Shanghai / Ningbo: Factory export basis used for the 2026 reference bands on this page.

Questions buyers ask

What is included in the quoted price?

The per-metre FOB figure covers billet, extrusion, cut to the stated length, the listed finish, export packing and loading at Shanghai or Ningbo. New-die tooling is a separate line. CIF, DAP and DDP add freight and, where applicable, destination charges.

Do you charge for samples?

Yes at the small-lot metre rate plus express freight for existing-die cuts. New-die samples include tooling and trial metres, usually credited when the production PO confirms the same die.

How long is the quotation valid?

Normally 14 days against the billet index printed on the quote. After expiry the metal line is refreshed; process and freight are reviewed if markets moved.

Can the price be fixed for a contract?

Yes with a metal formula or fixed adder, defined call-off volumes and the published steps at 500 m, 2 000 m, 5 000 m and 10 000 m. Payment remains T/T 30/70 or L/C at sight.

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