3D Printing Cost Calculator
Find the real cost of a 3D print and what to charge for it. Enter the filament weight from your slicer, spool price, print time and printer power, then add machine wear, failure rate, labor and markup to get the cost per print, a selling price and a full breakdown.
From your slicer's print estimate.
Typical FDM printers average 70–150 W; heated enclosures more.
Nozzles, belts, build plates, lubricant.
How to use the 3D Printing Cost Calculator
- Enter the filament weight from your slicer and your spool price and weight.
- Add the print time and your printer's average power draw and electricity price.
- Fill in machine costs: printer price, expected lifetime and maintenance per hour.
- Set failure rate, labor and extras for a realistic cost.
- Choose a markup and quantity to get the selling price, profit and margin.
3D printing cost formula
- Filament = grams used ÷ spool weight × spool price
- Electricity = power (W) ÷ 1000 × print hours × price per kWh
- Machine wear = (printer price ÷ lifetime hours + maintenance per hour) × print hours
- Failure allowance = (filament + electricity + wear) × F ÷ (100 − F)
- Labor = minutes ÷ 60 × hourly rate
- Price = total cost × (1 + markup ÷ 100)
Example with the default values: 120 g of a $20/kg filament is $2.40; 120 W for 6.5 h is 0.78 kWh, or $0.13 at $0.17/kWh; a $400 printer over 5,000 hours wears $0.08/h, plus $0.05/h maintenance, for $0.85. A 5% failure allowance adds $0.18 and 15 minutes of labor at $20/h adds $5.00, so the print costs about $8.56 and sells for $12.83 at 50% markup.
Typical filament prices and densities
| Filament | Density (g/cm³) | Typical 1 kg spool | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLA | 1.24 | $15–25 | Easiest to print, low warping |
| PETG | 1.27 | $18–28 | Tougher, more heat resistant |
| ABS | 1.04 | $18–28 | Needs an enclosure, more power |
| ASA | 1.07 | $25–35 | UV resistant, for outdoor parts |
| TPU (flexible) | 1.21 | $25–40 | Slow printing, longer print times |
| Nylon / CF blends | 1.1–1.3 | $35–70 | Hardened nozzle, faster wear |
Prices vary by brand, color and region; enter what you actually paid. Your slicer reports the filament weight for each print, which is more accurate than estimating from length.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate the cost of a 3D print?
Add the filament cost (grams used ÷ spool weight × spool price), electricity (watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh) and machine wear (printer price ÷ lifetime hours × print hours). For selling, also add an allowance for failed prints, your labor and any extras, then apply a markup.
How much electricity does a 3D printer use?
A typical desktop FDM printer averages about 70 to 150 W while printing; the heated bed draws the most when heating up. At 120 W, a 10 hour print uses 1.2 kWh, which costs about $0.20 at $0.17 per kWh.
How much does filament cost per gram?
Divide the spool price by its weight. A $20 spool of 1 kg costs 2 cents per gram, so a 120 g print uses $2.40 of filament. Specialty filaments such as carbon-fiber blends or TPU often cost two to three times more.
How do I account for failed prints?
If a share of prints fails, the good ones must carry that cost. With a failure rate F, the allowance is cost × F ÷ (100 − F). At 5% that adds about 5.3% to material, power and wear.
How much should I charge for 3D printing?
Start from the full cost including labor, then add a markup that covers your time, risk and profit. Many small sellers use 50% to 200% markup depending on design work, finishing quality and demand; check what similar items sell for in your market.
What is the difference between markup and margin?
Markup is profit as a percentage of cost, while margin is profit as a percentage of the selling price. A 50% markup on a $10 cost gives a $15 price and a 33.3% margin.