How much does aluminum tube cost: how to calculate its price

As the most commonly used building materials and pipes in our life, how to buy reasonably priced aluminum tubes has always been what building contractors and consultants want. Therefore, today’s article will discuss the factors that affect the price of aluminum tubing and how to calculate its final price. Please read on and I am sure you will get something out of it:

 

 

Factors affecting the price of aluminum tubes:

First of all, the price of aluminum tubes is affected by a number of factors, including the cost of raw materials, manufacturing process, specifications, surface finish, order quantity, and market demand and supply conditions. So we need to understand these factors clearly first:

 

 

1.Aluminum raw material costs:

The cost of raw materials has always been the highest in the price composition of aluminum tubes, to get a batch of aluminum tubes we need a certain amount of aluminum ingots. Its price is usually in tons, we can refer to the (London Metal Exchange) price: 2024 April LME 2400-2500USD/per ton. Its price can change with politics or wars, for example, in 2023, the Russian-Ukrainian war increased the price of aluminum by 23%.

In addition, the price will vary from alloy to alloy, and the price of the commonly used 6061 and 6063 aluminum alloys may vary. 6061 grade aluminum will be about 30% more expensive than 6063 aluminum tubes because it costs more to make the material. When we have a lower budget, it would be better to choose a lower priced aluminum alloy as the raw material.

 

2. Production and labor costs:

In addition to the cost of raw materials, the price of aluminum tubes also includes manufacturing and labor costs. And there are a total of two processes for producing aluminum tubes: extruded aluminum and seamless drawn process. Both processes have their own advantages and produce aluminum tubes for different purposes. To give you a better understanding of them, here is a comparison table:

 

The price range for processing extruded aluminum tubes is typically in the range of $600 – $2,400 per ton. While the processing price range for seamless drawn aluminum tubes would be $1000-4000 per ton. The actual price will depend on the size and quantity of the tubes, to know the price of extruded aluminum tubes—— You can contact Hugh Aluminum, the experts in aluminum extrusion!

In addition, we have already described the processing costs of aluminum tubes. But the manufacturer’s offer also includes labor costs, about which you can refer to the local labor market. For example, the salary of manufacturing workers in the United States should be 5000-12000 dollars / month. However, at the moment global manufacturers are gathered in Asia because of its low labor costs compared to the high wages in Europe and America Asia will be more competitive.

3.Aluminum tube specifications and dimensions:

 

The cost of purchasing a smaller sized aluminum tube is far less than a larger sized tube. Since larger sizes mean more material consumption, its price goes up. The wall thickness is also an important factor that affects the price of aluminum tubes, as a tube with a wall thickness of 2.0mm will be about 30% heavier than a tube with a wall thickness of 1.0mm. This extra weight adds a certain amount of cost.

In addition to this, the precision requirements of the aluminum tubes will also affect the price, as aluminum tubes with large dimensional tolerances only need to be obtained through aluminum extrusion processes. But aluminum tubes with small dimensional tolerances need to be manufactured by a seamless drawing process, which means that the price of these tubes will be expensive.

 

 

4. Order quantity for aluminum tubes:

Large orders of aluminum tubes usually enjoy preferential pricing. This is because large quantities allow the manufacturer to produce at full capacity and thus reduce its costs, so that both parties get the desired price.

Small lot production:

Single piece or small lot orders are more costly because the manufacturing and handling costs are relatively fixed. For example, the cost of extrusion dies for extruded aluminum tubes is fixed, and if you purchase small quantities this will not reduce the impact of fixed costs.

 

 

 

 

5. Finishing and further processing：

Aluminum tubes need to be further processed when we want to use them in more complex environments or to handle more problems. The following processes are usually used to process aluminum tubes:

• Drilling: processing costs between $500-900 per tonne
• Welding: $1,500-$2,200 per ton of processing cost
• Bending: between $800-$1500 per ton of processing costs
• CNC Machining: $700-$3000 per ton of processing
• Cutting: $300-$800 per ton of handling

 

 

aluminum finishing：

In addition, the surface of the aluminum tube is also a very important part of the process, because after powder coating or anodic oxidation can enhance the corrosion resistance of aluminum tubes, surface smoothness and meet the color requirements. So, what will be the price of aluminum tube Finish? Our common powder coating processing cost will be 800-1400 USD per ton, while the anodizing finish will be 900-1600 USD per ton.

 

 

 

 

6. logistics cost of aluminum tube：

In some regions or countries, transportation costs can take up a large portion of the price of aluminum tubing. Because they don’t have local aluminum manufacturers, it will be very important for them to calculate the transportation cost. Let’s take for example the price of a shipping container from Asia to North America in 2023 (40HQ container price: $6,700-$8,400), because most of the aluminum tubes are produced in Asia.

Point to note: when you calculate the transportation costs don’t forget to check the import duties. This is because local import duties may encroach on your profits, such as trade tariffs in the United States—— 25% Tax of aluminum tube from Asian countries.
The shipping cost should also include trucking, and this should be based on the price of the local trucking company.

 

Calculate the price of aluminum tubes

 

Aluminum Tube Weight Calculation:

Weight (kg) = Volume (cubic centimeters) x Density (g/cm³)
where the density of aluminum is approximately 2.7 g/cm³.

Total cost calculation:

Material cost: by weight multiplied by the unit price of the aluminum ingot.
Manufacturing cost: Calculate the total manufacturing cost by process and treatment.
Logistics cost: Consider transportation, packaging and other related costs; local trucking companies should be consulted.

EXAMPLE: We now need to know the price of an extruded aluminum tube 6063-T5 with an external diameter of 50mm, wall thickness of 3mm and a length of 1 meter.

 

1.Volume calculation: Volume in cubic centimeters = Length × (OD area – ID area)

V≈100cm×[1963.495cm2−1520.531cm2]≈100cm×442.964cm2=44296.4cm3

2. Weight Calculation:

weight=volumetric×density=44296.4cm3×2.7g/cm3≈119599.8g≈119.6kg

3. Total Cost Calculation:

Assume that the price of aluminum ingot is $2500/ton, or $3/kg.

Material cost = weight × unit price = 119.6kg × US$2.5/kg = US$299

Processing and heat treatment costs are assumed to be $1,000 per ton, or $1/kg.

production cost=119.6kg×1$/kg=119.6$

Assuming a final logistics cost of $60

Total cost = material cost + manufacturing cost + logistics cost = $299 + $119.6 + $60 = $478.6

The price of a one-meter-long aluminum round tube with an outer diameter of 50mm would be $478.6. This price is just an assumption and the actual price should be based on what your manufacturer quotes!

 

Select the right aluminum tube!

If you want to buy aluminum tubes in bulk but don’t know the price? Are you still looking for quality aluminum tubes suppliers?
Hugh Aluminum-a professional aluminum tube manufacturer can help you! We have 14 years of experience in designing and manufacturing aluminum tubes, and the aluminum products we manufacture are recognized and trusted by most customers!