3D Printing Cost Calculator
Estimates the total cost of a completed 3D print, covering filament, electricity, and a built-in machine depreciation allowance. Ideal for pricing prints or tracking production costs.
About this calculator
The true cost of a 3D print has three components: material, energy, and machine wear. The formula is: Total Cost = (filamentWeight / 1000) × filamentCostPerKg + (powerConsumption / 1000) × printTime × electricityRate + (printTime × 0.05). The first term converts filament weight from grams to kilograms and multiplies by the per-kg price. The second term converts printer wattage to kilowatts, then multiplies by print duration and the electricity rate to get energy cost. The third term adds $0.05 per print hour as a depreciation allowance — a simplified proxy for printer wear, maintenance, and hardware amortization. This three-part breakdown is commonly used by makers and small businesses to set fair prices for printed parts and understand where costs are concentrated.
How to use
Imagine printing a part that uses 120 g of PLA costing $22/kg, taking 4 hours on a 250 W printer, with electricity at $0.13/kWh. Step 1 — Filament: (120 / 1000) × 22 = $2.64. Step 2 — Electricity: (250 / 1000) × 4 × 0.13 = $0.13. Step 3 — Depreciation: 4 × 0.05 = $0.20. Step 4 — Total: $2.64 + $0.13 + $0.20 = $2.97. For a print shop charging a markup, this $2.97 base cost would be the floor for pricing.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is the machine depreciation estimate in the 3D printing cost calculator?
The $0.05 per hour figure is a reasonable approximation for a consumer FDM printer costing $300–$600 with an expected lifespan of 6,000–10,000 print hours. However, it does not account for replacement parts like nozzles, belts, or build surfaces that vary by usage intensity. For a more precise figure, divide your printer's purchase price by its expected total print hours and add average annual maintenance costs. Professional or commercial machines will have significantly higher depreciation rates.
What filament cost per kilogram should I use for common materials like PLA, PETG, and ABS?
Budget PLA typically costs $15–$20/kg, while quality brands range $22–$30/kg. PETG usually falls between $20–$28/kg. ABS is similarly priced at $18–$25/kg, while specialty filaments like nylon or TPU can reach $40–$80/kg. Carbon-fiber or metal-filled composites can exceed $100/kg. Using your actual receipt cost per spool divided by spool weight gives the most accurate value for this calculator.
How do I calculate 3D printing cost for a print service or small business?
Start with this calculator's base cost, then apply a markup to cover overhead (studio rent, internet, design software subscriptions) and profit margin. A common approach is a 2–3× multiplier on material and electricity costs, plus a flat hourly rate for machine time ranging from $1–$5/hour depending on printer quality. You should also factor in post-processing time for sanding, painting, or support removal. Many print services add a minimum order fee to keep short-run jobs profitable.