Raw material: priced per kg
Sheets, pipes, bars and coils are commodity materials — their price tracks the weight of steel and nickel content in the alloy, so per-kg pricing (see our pricing guide) makes sense and lets you compare offers on a consistent basis.
Fabricated work: often priced per piece or per project
A custom railing isn't just raw material — it's material plus design, cutting, welding, finishing and installation labour. Pricing this per piece or as a project total (see our quotation guide) reflects that the value being priced includes skilled labour, not just metal weight.
Why this sometimes confuses buyers
Someone who's checked per-kg raw material rates and then sees a much higher per-piece fabrication quote can mistakenly think they're being overcharged — the difference is almost always labour, design complexity and finishing, not inflated material cost. Ask for a breakdown if this is unclear on your quote.
What to ask for on a quotation
A transparent quote should distinguish material cost from fabrication/labour cost, even if the final number is presented as one total — this makes it possible to actually compare quotes from different suppliers on a like-for-like basis.