The minimum cross-sectional area and minimum draft angle for various materials are listed in the table below. The thickest section should be less than 13 mm.
| Metal: | Minimum cross-sectional area: | Minimum draft angle: |
| Aluminum alloy: | 0. 89 mm (0. 035 in): | 1:100 (0. 6°): |
| Brass and bronze: | 1. 27 mm (0. 050 in): | 1:80 (0. 7°): |
| Magnesium alloy: | 1. 27 mm (0. 050 in): | 1:100 (0. 6°): |
| Zinc alloy: | 0. 63 mm (0. 025 in): | 1:200 (0. 3°): |
The metals used for die casting mainly include zinc, copper, aluminum, magnesium, lead, tin and lead-tin alloys. Although die casting iron is rare, it is also feasible. More special die casting metals include ZAMAK, aluminum-zinc alloys and the standards of the Aluminum Association of the United States: AA380, AA384, AA386, AA390 and AZ91D magnesium. The characteristics of die casting of various metals are as follows:
Zinc: The easiest metal to die cast, it is very economical when manufacturing small parts, easy to coat, high compressive strength, high plasticity, and long casting life.
Aluminum: Light weight, high dimensional stability when manufacturing complex and thin-walled castings, strong corrosion resistance, good mechanical properties, high thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity, and high strength at high temperatures.
Magnesium: Easy to machine, high strength-to-weight ratio, and the lightest of commonly used die casting metals.
Copper: High hardness, strong corrosion resistance, the best mechanical properties among commonly used die-cast metals, wear resistance, and strength close to steel.
Lead and tin: High density, extremely high dimensional accuracy, can be used as special corrosion-resistant parts. For public health reasons, this alloy cannot be used in food processing and storage equipment. Lead, tin and antimony alloys (sometimes containing a little copper) can be used to make hand-made lead type in letterpress printing and hot stamping.
The upper limit of the mass for die-casting using aluminum, copper, magnesium and zinc is 70 pounds (32 kg), 10 pounds (4.5 kg), 44 pounds (20 kg) and 75 pounds (34 kg) respectively.
