How is 3D print cost calculated?

Material cost is the model weight multiplied by your filament price per gram. Electricity cost is the printer power draw multiplied by print time and your electricity rate. Add both for the true cost of a print.

How much does a typical 3D print cost?

A small 50 gram PLA print on a 20 dollar spool costs about 1 dollar in filament plus a few cents of electricity. Most desktop prints land between 0.50 and 5 dollars in materials.

How much power does a 3D printer use?

Most desktop FDM printers average 100 to 200 watts while printing. Enclosed and high-temperature printers draw more during warmup, then settle down.

3D print cost calculator

The real cost of a print: filament plus electricity, calculated as you type

Model weight (grams)

Filament price per kg

Print time (hours)

Printer power draw (watts)

Electricity price per kWh

Failure buffer (%)

1.15

Filament1.00

Electricity0.07

Failure buffer0.11

Amounts are in your own currency: enter prices in whatever you pay with and the result matches. Wear parts, printer depreciation, and your time are not included.

How the math works

Filament cost is weight in grams times the per-gram price of your spool. Electricity is the average power draw times print hours times your kWh rate. The failure buffer adds a percentage for the occasional spaghetti print, which every printer produces eventually. For pricing prints you sell, most makers multiply the material total by 3 to 10 to cover time, wear, and profit.

Frequently asked questions

How is 3D print cost calculated?: Material cost is the model weight multiplied by your filament price per gram. Electricity cost is the printer power draw multiplied by print time and your electricity rate. Add both for the true cost of a print.
How much does a typical 3D print cost?: A small 50 gram PLA print on a 20 dollar spool costs about 1 dollar in filament plus a few cents of electricity. Most desktop prints land between 0.50 and 5 dollars in materials.
How much power does a 3D printer use?: Most desktop FDM printers average 100 to 200 watts while printing. Enclosed and high-temperature printers draw more during warmup, then settle down.

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