By Iris Xu, Sales Engineer at ZTRFM | Last Updated: September 15, 2026
Short answer: Decoiler pricing splits into two clear classes. A manual decoiler sits in the roughly $300–800 class and suits light coils and low-duty lines. A hydraulic decoiler runs about $1,500–4,000 for coils over roughly 3 t — the expansion is hydraulic, so loading is faster and the coil is gripped without manual effort. Above that, price is driven by coil weight, loading method (car or turn-over car), head count (single vs double) and site voltage, not by brand.
This article covers only the decoiler — what the money buys, and when the cheap option becomes the expensive one. For how a decoiler works and how it is specified, see our companion guide What Is a Decoiler and How Does It Work.
The two price classes, and what each buys
| Manual decoiler | Hydraulic decoiler | |
|---|---|---|
| Price class | ~$300–800 | ~$1,500–4,000 (over ~3 t coils) |
| Expansion | Mechanical, set by hand | Hydraulic expansion |
| Typical coil | Light coils, low duty | Coils over ~3 t and up |
| Loading | Manual positioning / light car | Often with a loading car or turn-over car |
| Best for | Startups, short runs, low-volume lines | Production lines, frequent coil changes, operator safety |
Both classes appear on real lines. Documented machine classes in the ZTRFM library include a 7 T hydraulic decoiler with loading car (coil ID 508–610 mm, width ≤1250 mm, thickness 0.4–1.0 mm, hydraulic 5.5 kW + drive 5.5 kW, pneumatic brake, wireless remote), a double-head hydraulic unit at 4 t per side, and a 10 t heavy class quoted with both a loading car and a tipper.
The four price drivers
1. Coil weight (capacity)
Capacity is the first multiplier and the one buyers most often under-specify. Documented guidance is explicit: a 7 t specification is not satisfied by a 5 t unit — a lighter car or mandrel fails trust even if the paint matches. Moving from a 3 t class to a 7 t or 10 t class changes the mandrel, bearings, frame, hydraulics and often the loading method.
2. Loading method: crane, car, or turn-over car
- Crane loading — cheapest, slowest, most safety-dependent
- Loading car — lifts and indexes the coil to the mandrel (documented: single guide, pillar Ø≥150 mm, 360° rotate; a 10 t car lifts 0.9 m at 5.5 kW)
- Turn-over car — eliminates turn-over damage to coils and cuts coil-change time; documented as a separate machine with its own drive and voltage
Each step up adds a machine to the quotation. On heavy lines, the car and tipper are separate line items, not accessories.
3. Single head vs double head
A double-head decoiler lets you load one head while the other pays off — the configuration that cuts coil-change downtime from roughly 15 minutes to about 3 minutes. It is the single most justifiable upgrade on a line that runs continuously, and it is priced accordingly.
4. Voltage, brake and control
Documented decoiler configurations appear at 220 V 3φ, 380 V/50 Hz/3φ, 440 V/60 Hz/3φ and even 240 V/60 Hz/1φ (tipper). Pneumatic brakes, wireless remotes, driven pay-off (up to 50 m/min on one documented double-head unit) and photo-eye loop control all move the price. State your site voltage in the RFQ — retrofitting electrics is more expensive than specifying them.
When the cheaper decoiler costs more
The purchase price is rarely where the money is decided. Three documented situations:
- Off-centre coils walk at 50 m/min. A decoiler whose car/guide cannot place the eye squarely produces misaligned strip, profile twist and scrap — a forming problem traced back to a loading problem.
- Loose tails whip. Documented operation guidance requires the press arm and pneumatic brake to be used together on start/stop. A decoiler without the press arm leaves the operator improvising.
- Coil changes consume the shift. Manual loading on a line that changes coils daily costs 15+ minutes per change. A loading car or double head pays back in saved minutes per shift, not in machine specification.
Payback logic: (minutes saved per coil change × changes per month × loaded labour rate) versus the price gap between classes. On a line changing coils weekly, the manual decoiler is right. On a line changing coils daily, the gap normally closes within the first year.
7 questions for a decoiler RFQ
- Coil weight to be carried — and the mandrel rating, not just the frame?
- Coil ID window and OD/width limits?
- Loading method — crane, car, or turn-over car? Who supplies it?
- Single head or double head — and is the double head priced as one machine or two heads?
- Pay-off control — brake type, press arm, loop control, driven feed speed?
- Site voltage and frequency — does the quotation match it?
- Is the decoiler quoted with the forming line or standalone — and does that change price and lead time?
Where to see real decoilers and their configurations
- Decoiler with Coil Car 7T — ZTRFM Process Library — 7 t, ID 508–610 mm, width ≤1250 mm, 5.5 kW + 5.5 kW
- Dual-Head Hydraulic Decoiler — ZTRFM Process Library — 4 t per side, driven pay-off ≤50 m/min
- 10T Heavy Coil Decoiling & Leveling — ZTRFM Process Library — decoiler, car and tipper as three machines
- ZTRFM Full Automatic 10 Ton Hydraulic Decoiler with Coil Turn-Over Loading Car
- ZTRFM Customized Hydraulic Decoiler with Loading Car (5/7/8/10/15/20 t)
- Coil Handling & Decoiling — ZTRFM Process Library
- Purlin Roll Forming Machine: Complete Buyer's Guide — ZTRFM — source of the manual/hydraulic decoiler price classes
ZTRFM (zt-rfm.com) is a roll forming sourcing center operated by Zhongtuo Roll Forming (Hebei) Co., Ltd. Prices move with steel, component and freight markets — treat the bands as configuration guides and request a dated, itemized quotation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much does a manual decoiler cost?
Roughly $300–800 in the current market class, suited to light coils and low-duty lines.
How much does a hydraulic decoiler cost?
About $1,500–4,000 for coils over roughly 3 t, including hydraulic expansion; cost rises with capacity, loading car, head count and voltage.
Is a hydraulic decoiler worth the extra money?
It depends on coil weight and change frequency: on a line changing coils daily, the time saved per change normally repays the price gap within the first year; on light, infrequent coils the manual unit is sufficient.
Does a heavier coil really need a bigger decoiler?
Yes. Documented process guidance states a 7 t specification cannot be satisfied by a 5 t unit — a lighter car or mandrel fails the specification regardless of appearance.
Can I add a loading car later?
Technically, but loading geometry, hydraulics and electrics are designed together. Specifying the car at the start is cheaper than retrofitting.
Why is a double-head decoiler more expensive?
Because it is effectively two heads with indexing control — and it removes coil-change downtime (roughly 15 minutes down to about 3 minutes), which is where the return comes from.
Does the decoiler come with the machine line?
Often quoted as part of a line package, but not always. Confirm whether the decoiler, car and any tipper are inside the quoted price.
