Why Overall Dimensions Are Not Enough for Electrical Enclosure Quotation

Many customers ask for a quotation by sending only one simple message:

“Width 800 mm, height 1800 mm, depth 400 mm. How much per unit?”

At first glance, this seems like enough information. However, for a custom electrical enclosure or sheet metal cabinet, overall dimensions alone are not enough to provide an accurate price.

As an electrical enclosure manufacturer with years of sheet metal cabinet experience, Vililong often meets this situation. The customer thinks the manufacturer is not professional because we cannot quote immediately. But in fact, the manufacturer may be even more frustrated, because many key details are still missing.

For electrical enclosures and control cabinets, the price is affected by much more than height, width, and depth.

For example, when a customer says:

800 × 1800 × 400 mm

we still need to know:

• What type of cabinet is required?
• Is it a wall mounted enclosure, freestanding cabinet, or modular enclosure?
• What material should be used?
• What sheet metal thickness is required?
• Does the door need a glass window?
• Is an inner door required?
• What surface color or RAL color is needed?
• Does it include a mounting plate?
• Is a plinth or base required?
• Does it need a rainhood?
• Are fans, filters, cable glands, or other accessories included?
• Is the cabinet used indoors or outdoors?
• What protection rating is required, such as IP54, IP55, IP65, or IP66?

Without these details, the quotation can easily become inaccurate.

A common problem is that the first quote looks low, but the final requirement becomes different later.

For example, we may quote a basic cabinet at one price. But later the customer adds:

• Inner door
• Mounting plate
• Glass viewing window
• Fan and filter
• Rainhood
• Thicker steel sheet
• Special cutouts
• Custom RAL color
• Extra locks and hinges

The cost will naturally increase.

If the manufacturer quotes too low at the beginning, the factory may lose money.
If the manufacturer quotes too high to cover all possible options, the customer may think the price is unreasonable and leave.

This is why vague requirements are not good for either side.

Customers do not need to confirm every detail before contacting us. That is not the point.

But the application and working environment should be explained clearly.

For example, if you tell us:

“This cabinet will be installed outdoors and exposed to rain. A touchscreen will be installed on the door.”

Then we may recommend:

• Stainless steel material
• Rainhood
• Double-door structure
• Glass viewing window
• Proper sealing design
• Suitable IP protection level

If you tell us:

“This cabinet will be used indoors as a VFD control cabinet, and heat dissipation is important.”

Then we may suggest:

• Fan and filter ventilation
• Air conditioner if heat load is high
• Proper cable entry design
• Enough internal installation space
• Mounting plate layout for components

When the application is clear, the solution becomes clearer.
When the solution is clear, the price becomes more reliable.

To get a faster and more accurate quotation for a custom electrical enclosure, we recommend providing the following information:

1. Cabinet Size

Provide height, width, and depth:

H × W × D = 1800 × 800 × 400 mm

Also mention whether the size is the external dimension or internal usable space requirement.

2. Application

Tell us what the enclosure will be used for:

• Power distribution
• Control panel
• VFD cabinet
• PLC cabinet
• Outdoor equipment protection
• Machine control system
• Solar or energy storage system

3. Installation Environment

Explain the working environment:

• Indoor or outdoor
• Rain exposure
• Dusty environment
• High humidity
• Corrosive environment
• High temperature
• Coastal area
• Industrial workshop

4. Material and Thickness

Common options include:

• Cold-rolled steel
• Galvanized steel
• Stainless steel SUS304
• Stainless steel SUS316

If you are not sure, we can recommend based on the environment.

5. Door and Structure

Please confirm:

• Single door or double door
• Glass window or solid door
• Inner door required or not
• Removable panels required or not
• Wall mounted, freestanding, or modular type

6. Surface Finish

Common options include:

• RAL7035 powder coating
• RAL7032 powder coating
• Custom RAL color
• Brushed stainless steel
• Polished stainless steel

7. Accessories

Tell us whether you need:

• Mounting plate
• DIN rail
• Cable gland plate
• Fan and filter
• Air conditioner
• Rainhood
• Plinth/base
• Locks and hinges
• Viewing window
• UV printing or labels

8. Quantity and Delivery Requirement

Quantity affects cost, packing method, and production arrangement.
A sample order and a batch order may have different pricing.

Some customers think that asking too many questions means the manufacturer is slow or unprofessional.

Actually, it is the opposite.

A professional custom enclosure manufacturer asks questions because we want to avoid:

• Wrong quotation
• Wrong material selection
• Wrong cabinet structure
• Wrong protection level
• Heat dissipation problems
• Installation space problems
• Extra cost after production
• Delays during project installation

A clear quotation is based on clear requirements.

Two cabinets may have the same external size, but the cost can be very different.

Basic Indoor Cabinet

• Cold-rolled steel
• RAL7035 powder coating
• Solid door
• Standard lock
• Mounting plate
• No fan
• No rainhood

Outdoor Touchscreen Cabinet

• Stainless steel
• Rainhood
• Double-door structure
• Glass viewing window
• Higher IP protection
• Custom cutouts
• Sealing gasket
• Extra hardware

Even if both are 800 × 1800 × 400 mm, the price will not be the same.

When requesting a quotation for an electrical enclosure, do not provide only vague dimensions.

A simple size such as 800 × 1800 × 400 mm is only the beginning. To get a reliable price, it is better to explain where the cabinet will be used, what environment it will face, what components will be installed, and what accessories are required.

The clearer the requirement, the more accurate the quotation.

A good manufacturer should not just throw out a random price. A responsible manufacturer should help you confirm the real requirement, recommend a suitable enclosure solution, and reduce problems during production and installation.

Vililong manufactures custom electrical enclosures, control cabinets, distribution boxes, stainless steel enclosures, IP-rated enclosures, and modular cabinet systems.

Send us your cabinet size, application, environment, drawings, component layout, and quantity. We will help review your requirements and provide a practical quotation for your project.