3D Printing Cost Calculator
3D print cost = grams × spool price ÷ spool weight + kWh × electricity price, divided by (1 − failure rate). A 100 g PLA print (20 per kg spool, 120 W for 5 h at 0.15 per kWh) costs 2.00 in filament and 0.09 in electricity; with 10% failures the cost is 2.32, and a 30% margin gives a selling price of 3.32. 1.75 mm PLA weighs 2.98 g per metre (density 1.24 g/cm³).
How to use
- Enter the filament the slicer says the print uses, in grams or in metres. For metres, also pick the diameter (1.75 or 2.85 mm) and the material so the length can be turned into grams.
- Enter what the spool cost and what it weighs, the printer power in watts, the print time in hours and your price per kWh. A plug-in power meter gives the real average watts; many hobby printers average roughly 80 to 150 W.
- Set the failure rate (the share of prints you throw away), then add labor or post-processing cost and the printer price and lifetime if you want wear included. Both are optional.
- Set the profit margin you want. The selling price is the cost divided by (1 − margin), and the bar shows where the cost goes.
How it works
Filament length to weight: grams = π × (diameter ÷ 2)² × length × density, with diameter in mm, length in m and density in g/cm³. For 1.75 mm PLA (1.24 g/cm³) one metre is 2.98 g, so a 1 kg spool holds about 335 m.
Material = grams × spool price ÷ spool weight. Electricity = watts × hours ÷ 1000 × price per kWh. Depreciation = printer price ÷ lifetime hours × print hours.
Failures: if a share f of prints fail, you need on average 1 ÷ (1 − f) attempts for one good part. The calculator adds (material + electricity + depreciation) × (1 ÷ (1 − f) − 1) as the failure allowance. Labor is added once, because it is spent on the finished part.
Selling price = cost ÷ (1 − margin). The margin is a share of the selling price, not of the cost. The equivalent markup on cost is margin ÷ (1 − margin), so a 30% margin is a 42.9% markup.
Densities (g/cm³) are typical manufacturer datasheet values: PLA 1.24 (NatureWorks Ingeo 3D850, Prusament PLA), PETG 1.27 (Prusament PETG), ABS 1.04 (Prusament and Ultimaker ABS), ASA 1.07 (Prusament ASA), TPU 1.21 (95A TPU datasheets list 1.20 to 1.22). Brand, colour and fillers change them, so choose Custom density if your datasheet differs.
Density and filament weight
Weight of one metre of filament and the length of a 1 kg spool, calculated from the typical datasheet densities used in this calculator. Your brand may differ by a few percent.
| Material | Density (g/cm³) | g per m, 1.75 mm | g per m, 2.85 mm | m per 1 kg spool, 1.75 mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLA | 1.24 | 2.98 | 7.91 | 335 |
| PETG | 1.27 | 3.05 | 8.10 | 327 |
| ABS | 1.04 | 2.50 | 6.63 | 400 |
| ASA | 1.07 | 2.57 | 6.83 | 389 |
| TPU | 1.21 | 2.91 | 7.72 | 344 |
Worked example
A 100 g PLA print on a 20 per kg spool, 5 hours at 120 W and 0.15 per kWh, 10% failures, 1.00 of labor, a 400 printer lasting 4,000 hours and a 30% margin. The amounts are example values in any currency.
| Item | Amount | Share of cost |
|---|---|---|
| Material | 2.00 | 51.6% |
| Electricity | 0.09 | 2.3% |
| Depreciation | 0.50 | 12.9% |
| Labor | 1.00 | 25.8% |
| Failed prints | 0.29 | 7.4% |
| Total cost | 3.88 | 100% |
| Profit | 1.66 | |
| Selling price | 5.54 |
Reading the result
- The failure allowance spreads the cost of scrapped prints over the good ones. At 10% it adds 11.1% to material, electricity and depreciation, not 10%.
- Printing time drives electricity and depreciation, material drives the rest. Halving the print time with a faster profile cuts both.
- The calculator leaves out slicer waste such as purge towers, supports and skirts unless they are already in the grams your slicer reports, and it leaves out taxes, packaging and shipping.
FAQ
How much does it cost to 3D print something?
Filament is usually the biggest item. At 20 per kg, a 100 g print costs 2.00 in material and about 0.09 in electricity for 5 hours at 120 W and 0.15 per kWh. Failures, printer wear and your time come on top.
How do I turn filament length into grams?
Multiply the length in metres by the weight of one metre: π × (d ÷ 2)² × density. For 1.75 mm PLA that is 2.98 g per metre, for 1.75 mm PETG 3.05 g and for 2.85 mm PLA 7.91 g.
What failure rate should I use?
Use your own history: failed or scrapped prints divided by all prints. Many hobbyists see 5 to 15%. A well-tuned printer running simple parts can be lower; flexible or very large prints are often higher.
What is the difference between margin and markup?
Margin is profit as a share of the selling price, markup is profit as a share of cost. A 30% margin means a 42.9% markup. Use the markup calculator if you think in markup.
How many watts does a 3D printer use?
It depends on the printer, the bed and the nozzle temperature, and it cycles on and off. Typical averages are about 50 to 150 W for open-frame printers and more for enclosed or large-bed machines. A plug-in power meter measures the real figure.
Should I include depreciation?
If you sell prints or want to know the true cost, yes. Divide the printer price by the hours you expect it to last (many people assume 3,000 to 6,000) and the calculator charges that per print hour. Leave the printer price empty to skip it.