What is the typical cost to 3D print something?

Most hobbyist FDM prints fall between $1 and $10 in true cost when you include filament, electricity, and depreciation. Larger prints, specialty filaments like PETG or TPU, multi-material setups, or high failure rates push costs higher. Resin prints tend to cost more per gram than PLA.

Why include a failure rate?

FDM printing fails regularly due to adhesion problems, warping, filament tangles, or power interruptions. A 10% failure rate means roughly 1 in 10 jobs requires a full reprint, consuming another set of materials and machine time. Including this in your base cost means failed prints do not come out of your margin.

Does this work for resin printers?

The calculator handles any print where you can enter resin volume (in grams), printer wattage, and cost per kg. The formula is the same. Resin typically costs $30-$80/kg vs. $20-$25/kg for PLA, so filament cost dominates more in resin jobs.

What markup should I charge for a print service?

30-50% is a common starting range for covering labor (setup, removal, post-processing), packaging, and a basic profit margin. Complex prints, customer-specific supports, post-processing like sanding or painting, and rush orders justify higher markups. The sale price output here covers materials and machine cost, labor is separate.

How accurate is the electricity cost calculation?

The calculation uses your rated printer wattage and actual print time. In practice, printers do not draw full rated wattage for the entire print (heating, idle, movement vary). Use 80% of rated wattage for a closer estimate of actual draw, or check your Kill-A-Watt meter if you have one.

Does quantity affect per-unit cost?

The per-unit cost stays constant with the default inputs, depreciation and electricity scale with hours and quantity proportionally. The total cost field multiplies by quantity. Batch printing multiple parts per build plate would lower per-part cost, but that optimization requires entering adjusted times and weights per part.

3D Print Cost Calculator

Price a print with filament, power, machine wear, failed jobs, and your service markup.

Filament

Filament used (grams)Filament typeCost per kg ($)

Print time and power

Print time (hours)Electricity rate ($/kWh)Printer power (watts)

Machine and pricing

Printer purchase cost ($)Printer lifespan (hours)Failure rate (%)Markup (%)Quantity

Cost per unit

$3.19

Total (1)

$3.19

Sale price

$4.15

Sale per unit

$4.15

Cost breakdown

Filament: $2.20
Electricity: $0.07
Depreciation: $0.60
Failure buffer: $0.32
Base before failure: $2.87

Sensitivity: at $30/kg filament (same grams and settings), cost per unit is $4.08.

Break-even prints to recover printer purchase via depreciation on this job: about 500 prints at 4 h each.

Figures are estimates for planning. Labor, shipping, and post-processing are not included unless you add them to markup.

How this tool works

Enter the weight of filament used (from your slicer), the print duration, your electricity rate, and your printer's purchase cost and expected lifespan. The calculator computes four cost components, adjusts for your failure rate, and returns the per-unit cost plus a sale price at your target markup.

Worked example

Inputs: 100g PLA at $22/kg, 4-hour print, 150W printer at $0.12/kWh, $300 printer with 2,000-hour lifespan, 10% failure rate, 30% markup, quantity 1. That $4.15 is the minimum honest price for one unit. Scale it to 50 units and the total sale value is $207.50.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the typical cost to 3D print something?
Most hobbyist FDM prints fall between $1 and $10 in true cost when you include filament, electricity, and depreciation. Larger prints, specialty filaments like PETG or TPU, multi-material setups, or high failure rates push costs higher. Resin prints tend to cost more per gram than PLA.
Why include a failure rate?
FDM printing fails regularly due to adhesion problems, warping, filament tangles, or power interruptions. A 10% failure rate means roughly 1 in 10 jobs requires a full reprint, consuming another set of materials and machine time. Including this in your base cost means failed prints do not come out of your margin.
Does this work for resin printers?
The calculator handles any print where you can enter resin volume (in grams), printer wattage, and cost per kg. The formula is the same. Resin typically costs $30-$80/kg vs. $20-$25/kg for PLA, so filament cost dominates more in resin jobs.
What markup should I charge for a print service?
30-50% is a common starting range for covering labor (setup, removal, post-processing), packaging, and a basic profit margin. Complex prints, customer-specific supports, post-processing like sanding or painting, and rush orders justify higher markups. The sale price output here covers materials and machine cost, labor is separate.
How accurate is the electricity cost calculation?
The calculation uses your rated printer wattage and actual print time. In practice, printers do not draw full rated wattage for the entire print (heating, idle, movement vary). Use 80% of rated wattage for a closer estimate of actual draw, or check your Kill-A-Watt meter if you have one.
Does quantity affect per-unit cost?
The per-unit cost stays constant with the default inputs, depreciation and electricity scale with hours and quantity proportionally. The total cost field multiplies by quantity. Batch printing multiple parts per build plate would lower per-part cost, but that optimization requires entering adjusted times and weights per part.