Technology
3D Printing Cost Calculator
Calculate the true cost per print including material, electricity, machine depreciation, and failed print waste.
Enter print details and click Calculate
How is this calculated?
Material Cost = Weight (g) ÷ 1000 × Price per kg
Electricity Cost = Print Time (hrs) × Printer Wattage (kW) × Rate ($/kWh)
Depreciation = Print Time × (Printer Cost ÷ Estimated Lifetime Hours)
Failure Waste = Material Cost × (Failure Rate ÷ 100)
Total Cost = Material + Electricity + Depreciation + Failure Waste
Typical Printer Power: 120W (FDM with heated bed)
Typical Printer Lifespan: 3000-5000 print hours
Assumed Printer Cost: $300 (entry-level)FAQ
Frequently asked questions about 3D printing costs
How much does a 3D print actually cost?
A typical FDM print costs $0.50-$5.00 for material alone. When factoring in electricity, machine depreciation, and failure rate, actual cost is typically 2-3× the material cost.
Which filament is cheapest to print with?
PLA is the cheapest at $15-25/kg. ABS is similar at $18-28/kg. PETG costs $20-35/kg. Specialty filaments (carbon fiber, wood fill) range from $35-80/kg. Resin costs $30-60/liter.
How do I factor in failed prints?
Track your failure rate over time. Beginners often have 15-25% failure rates, while experienced users achieve 5-10%. Multiply material cost by (1 + failure_rate) to get true cost.
How much electricity does 3D printing use?
An FDM printer uses 50-150W average (mainly from the heated bed). A 10-hour print at 120W with $0.12/kWh electricity costs about $0.14. Resin printers with UV curing use less power.
Should I include printer depreciation?
Yes, for accurate costing. If your printer cost $300 and has an estimated 3,000-hour lifespan, that's $0.10/hour of printing. Higher-end printers last longer and may cost less per hour.
How do I estimate print weight before printing?
Use your slicer software to estimate filament usage in grams. Alternatively, multiply the object volume (cm³) by material density (PLA: 1.24 g/cm³, ABS: 1.04, PETG: 1.27) and infill percentage.