We　propose　to　compare　the　hardware　cost　of　Optical　Transport　Network　(OTN)　switching　and　IP　switching　to　obtain　the　adaptation　range　for　the　two　switching　modes.　By　abstracting　the　switching　behavior　of　OTN　switching　equipment　and　IP　router,　we　present　a　detailed　study　on　the　hardware　cost　in　the　case　of　ensuring　connectivity.　A　unified　network-level　connection　model　is　established　based　on　CLOS　switching　network,　and　then　we　compare　hardware　costs　for　IP　switching　and　OTN　switching.　The　hardware　cost　of　the　two　switching　modes　in　different　L1　switching　granularity　and　different　port　rate　cases　is　simulated.　Simulation　results　show　that　OTN　switching　has　lower　hardware　cost　than　IP　switching　when　average　bandwidth　for　traffic　demand　excess　250Mbps　in　the　cases　of　ODU0　switching　granularity.