How Much Does a Custom Plastic Bottle Cost?
At 10,000 pcs, a 500 ml PET bottle at 28 g with a lotion pump typically lands around USD 0.15–0.35 per unit FOB Shantou. The pump can be 40–60 % of that; resin is roughly half of the bottle's own cost.
Where the Money Goes
Resin
40–55 % of the bottle cost. A 500 ml PET at 28 g and at 36 g differ by roughly 25 % in material.
Closure
A standard lotion pump is a few cents; a foam or fine-mist pump can be several times that, and on a 30 ml serum it is the most expensive part.
Decoration and Packing
5–25 % depending on method; packing density also changes freight, which is often the largest line on the invoice.
The Four Things That Set the Price
Bottle weight in grams, colour, decoration and packing density. Resin is bought by the tonne, so a 28 g bottle and a 40 g bottle differ by about 40 % in material before anyone touches a machine.
Colour: stock (no charge), masterbatch (one changeover), or spray coat (3,000 pcs minimum and a separate process). Decoration: silkscreen from 1,000 pcs, labels lower in unit cost for multi-colour art, hot stamp and metallising from 3,000.
Why the Pump Matters More Than the Bottle
A standard lotion pump is a few cents; a foam pump or a fine mist sprayer can be several times that. On a 30 ml serum the closure is often the most expensive component in the pack, and on a 500 ml shampoo the pump is 40–60 % of the unit price.
This is why two quotes for 'the same' 500 ml bottle can differ by 30 %: one has a standard pump, the other a foam pump with a custom collar.
What Changes the Price at the MOQ Boundary
Under 1,000 pcs, the changeover dominates and the price per unit rises sharply. Between 1,000 and 10,000 the price falls mostly from packing density and freight, not from the moulding itself. Above 20,000, resin price and payment terms matter more than labour.
How to Get a Number You Can Compare
Send four things: capacity, neck finish, material and quantity, plus the closure you have in mind. We quote unit price, packing data (pcs per carton, carton size, gross weight) and lead time together, so the freight calculation is yours to check rather than a guess.
Prices above are indicative for 2026 resin levels and FOB Shantou; every quote is issued per order by the factory.
What Actually Moves the Price
Resin weight first, then decoration, then quantity. A 500 ml PET at 28 g and the same at 22 g differ by roughly 20 % on material alone; four-colour silkscreen can add more than the bottle.
Freight is the line buyers forget: a heavier bottle costs more per container as well as per piece.
Frequently Asked
How much is a 500 ml plastic bottle?
Indicatively USD 0.15–0.35 per unit FOB at 10,000 pcs including a standard lotion pump, depending on weight, colour and decoration.
Why is there no price list?
Resin prices move weekly and the closure can double the unit cost, so a fixed list would be wrong within a month. We quote per order within 24 hours.
What is the lowest unit cost way to lower the unit price?
Reduce bottle weight, use a stock colour, use a label instead of a spray coat, and order in the largest packing multiple you can store.
Why is my price different from last year?
Resin and freight move quarterly. A quote is usually held for 30 days.
Is a bigger order always cheaper per piece?
Cheaper per piece, not always cheaper in total — and the saving flattens after about 30,000.
Still Deciding?
Send the capacity, neck and quantity — we come back with a price, packing data and lead time within one business day.