3D Printing Cost Calculator

In its basic form the cost of a 3D print is the sum of the used filament cost and the energy cost. The filament cost comes from the material mass and the price per kilogram, and the power cost from the printer power, print time and electricity price. The calculator adds both items to give the material-and-energy cost.

Filament cost is the mass in kilograms multiplied by the price per kilogram. Since the slicer reports mass in grams, the calculator divides it by 1000. For example, 200 g at 90/kg costs 18. The mass is best read from the slicing software.

Power cost is the printer power in kilowatts times print time in hours times the price per kilowatt-hour. The calculator divides watts by 1000. A 150 W printer for 6 h at 0.90/kWh uses about 0.81 of energy. In practice power draw is often below the rated value.

Most home FDM printers draw from about 50 to 250 watts, with bed and nozzle heating using the most. The 150 W default is a reasonable approximation of average draw. Printers with a heated chamber use more. Measure exact draw with a power meter.

The calculator computes only filament and energy cost. It excludes printer depreciation, nozzle wear, the cost of failed prints, post-processing, operator labor and margin. In a professional quote these often exceed the material cost.

To the material and energy cost you add equipment depreciation, operator time and margin. A common approach is a printer-hour rate plus the filament cost. The calculator supplies two key cost components on which to base further pricing.

Yes, the price per kilogram differs between materials: PLA and PETG are cheaper, while nylon, TPU or carbon-fiber filaments are pricier. Different materials also need different temperatures, affecting energy use. In the calculator you enter the price of the specific filament.

Mass grows with infill, wall thickness and supports. A model at 100% infill uses much more material than the same model at 15%. The mass is therefore best read from the slicer after setting the target print parameters.

For single prints the energy cost is usually small versus filament, but for long prints and intensive production it adds up significantly. For a workshop with several printers, energy is a real cost. The calculator separates power and filament cost.

No. The calculator is informational and gives the material-and-energy cost. A full quote should account for depreciation, labor, post-processing, the risk of failed prints, taxes and margin. Treat the results as a starting point for pricing.