---
title: "Die Casting Industry Statistics 2026: US Market, Employment, and Outlook"
description: "Current US die casting industry statistics. How big is the industry, how many die casters, aluminum vs zinc vs magnesium mix, top end markets, and 2026 outlook."
slug: die-casting-statistics
type: statistics
publishedAt: 2026-05-29
updatedAt: 2026-06-02
readingTime: "~9 min read"
keywords: "die casting statistics, US die casting industry, aluminum die casting, zinc die casting"
breadcrumb:
  - { name: "Home", href: "/" }
  - { name: "Die Casting Industry Statistics", href: "/die-casting-statistics" }
linkPhrases:
  - "die casting"
  - "die casting industry"
  - "die casting statistics"
related:
  - manufacturing-statistics
  - automotive-manufacturing-statistics
sources:
  - title: "North American Die Casting Association Industry Statistics"
    publisher: "NADCA"
    year: "2024"
    url: "https://www.diecasting.org/research/"
  - title: "Foundries (NAICS 3315)"
    publisher: "US Bureau of Labor Statistics"
    year: "2024"
    url: "https://www.bls.gov/iag/tgs/iag331.htm"
---

<UpdatedDate date="2026-06-02" readingTime="~9 min read" />

Die casting is the high-volume metal forming process behind most aluminum engine blocks, transmission housings, structural automotive components, appliance housings, and hardware parts.

<KeyTakeaways>

- The US die casting industry generates approximately $8 to $10 billion in annual revenue.
- About 340 active die casters operate in the US, the majority running fewer than 100 employees.
- Aluminum die casting dominates with roughly 85% of total US die casting volume.
- Automotive consumes about 60% of US die casting output, with appliance, hardware, and electronics making up most of the rest.
- Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Illinois host the largest concentrations of US die casters.

</KeyTakeaways>

## How big is the US die casting industry?

<StatSnippet value="$9B" source="North American Die Casting Association, 2024" sourceUrl="https://www.diecasting.org/research/">
US die casting industry annual revenue.
</StatSnippet>

<StatSnippet value="~340" source="NADCA, 2024" sourceUrl="https://www.diecasting.org/research/">
Active US die casting facilities.
</StatSnippet>

Most US die casters operate fewer than 100 employees, with a handful of large publicly traded or PE-backed shops at the upper end serving major automotive programs.

## What's the metal mix in US die casting?

<StatSnippet value="85%" source="NADCA, 2024" sourceUrl="https://www.diecasting.org/research/">
Aluminum's share of US die casting volume.
</StatSnippet>

Zinc die casting holds about 10% of volume but serves higher-value applications including hardware, decorative fittings, and electronics enclosures. Magnesium die casting fills specialized lightweighting applications.

<StatGrid>
  <StatCard value="$9B" label="US die casting industry revenue" source="NADCA, 2024" />
  <StatCard value="~340" label="Active US die casters" source="NADCA, 2024" />
  <StatCard value="85%" label="Aluminum share of US die casting volume" source="NADCA, 2024" />
  <StatCard value="10%" label="Zinc share of US die casting volume" source="NADCA, 2024" />
  <StatCard value="~30K" label="Direct die casting employment (US)" source="BLS / NADCA estimates, 2024" />
</StatGrid>

## What end markets drive die casting demand?

<BarChart title="Estimated share of US die casting volume by end market, 2024" unit="%" series="Automotive:60|Industrial/MRO:12|Hardware and tools:8|Appliance:7|Electronics:6|Construction/architectural:4|Other:3" />

US die casting end-market mix concentrates heavily in automotive, with appliance, hardware, and electronics making up most of the remaining demand.

<Callout type="insight" title="The Tesla giga-casting effect">

Tesla's introduction of giga-casting (single-piece front and rear structural castings replacing dozens of stamped and welded parts) has reshaped how automakers think about die casting. Major OEMs including Toyota, Volvo, Hyundai, Ford, and GM have invested in or evaluated giga-press technology, driving a new wave of capital investment in massive die casting machines.

</Callout>

## Which states have the most die casters?

<DataTable caption="Top states by US die casting employment, 2024">

| State         | Die casting employment | Demand drivers                                       |
| ------------- | ---------------------: | ---------------------------------------------------- |
| Michigan      |                  5,500 | Automotive (Detroit Three + suppliers)               |
| Ohio          |                  4,800 | Automotive, appliance, machinery                     |
| Indiana       |                  3,400 | Automotive (transplants), RV, machinery              |
| Wisconsin     |                  2,900 | Heavy equipment, machinery, automotive               |
| Illinois      |                  2,500 | Machinery, automotive, hardware                      |
| Pennsylvania  |                  1,900 | Industrial machinery, hardware                       |
| Tennessee     |                  1,500 | Automotive transplant supply base                    |
| Alabama       |                  1,400 | Automotive transplants, defense                      |
| North Carolina|                  1,200 | Furniture, machinery, automotive                     |
| Texas         |                  1,100 | Industrial, automotive                               |

</DataTable>

<InlineCTA title="See how AI search places your die casting shop" body="OEM buyers and tier-1 sourcing teams use ChatGPT and Perplexity to compile shortlists of certified die casters. Run a free check on your domain." source="die-casting-statistics-mid" />

## What are typical die casting machine sizes?

<StatGrid>
  <StatCard value="100-400t" label="Typical zinc die casting machine range" source="NADCA, 2024" />
  <StatCard value="400-2,500t" label="Typical aluminum die casting workhorse range" source="NADCA, 2024" />
  <StatCard value="6,000-9,000t" label="Giga-press range (front/rear structural castings)" source="Industry, 2024" />
  <StatCard value="~30" label="Estimated giga-press installations globally, mid-2024" source="Industry estimates, 2024" />
</StatGrid>

<PullQuote source="North American Die Casting Association, 2024 State of the Industry">
North American die casting capacity has increased meaningfully since 2020 as automakers move toward larger structural castings, with single-press investments above $50 million now common.
</PullQuote>

## What does this mean for die casters in 2026?

Three forces define the picture. First, the EV transition is reshaping the parts mix, with new opportunities in battery enclosures, motor housings, and structural castings. Second, the giga-casting trend concentrates major-program work among the few shops with massive press capacity. Third, AI-driven supplier research is becoming common at the procurement engineer level.

<Callout type="tip" title="Where to go from here">

For broader context, read the [manufacturing statistics report](/manufacturing-statistics) and the closely related [automotive manufacturing statistics](/automotive-manufacturing-statistics). To see how AI search describes your die casting shop, run a [free AI-visibility check](/checker).

</Callout>

<CiteBox title="Die Casting Industry Statistics 2026" url="https://manufacturingseo.ai/die-casting-statistics" citation={`Manufacturing SEO AI. "Die Casting Industry Statistics 2026: US Market, Employment, and Outlook." Manufacturing SEO AI, June 2026. https://manufacturingseo.ai/die-casting-statistics`} />