What does a 3D print cost?
The plastic is only part of the price. A realistic quote covers four cost factors — the calculator itemises each one so you can see exactly where the money goes:
Filament
Weight used × spool price per gram, plus your markup. A 125 g print from a $25.99 spool of PLA costs about $3.25 in material.
Energy
Print time × printer wattage × your electricity price. Six hours at 150 W and $0.30/kWh adds roughly $0.27.
Machine depreciation
Your printer wears out. Spreading a $299 printer over three years of 4-hour days adds about $0.07 per print hour, plus a repair allowance.
Labour
Slicing, plate prep and post-processing take time. 15 minutes at $12/hour adds $3.00 — often more than the plastic itself.
Example: what a real print costs
A 125 g PLA print that runs for 6 hours:
Filament — 125 g from a $25.99 / 1 kg spool
$3.25
Energy — 6 h × 150 W at $0.30/kWh
$0.27
Machine — $299 printer, 3-year payback at 4 h/day
$0.41
Labour — 15 min prep and cleanup at $12/h
$3.00
True cost, before markup
$6.93
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate the cost of a 3D print?
Add up four things: filament (grams used × price per gram), energy (print hours × printer wattage × your electricity rate), machine depreciation (printer price spread over its expected lifespan, plus repairs) and your labour. This calculator does all of it for you and shows an itemised breakdown.
How much does filament cost per gram?
A typical 1 kg spool of PLA costs $20–30, which works out to $0.02–0.03 per gram. Engineering filaments like ABS, PETG or nylon and specialty materials can run two to five times that.
How much electricity does a 3D printer use?
Most desktop FDM printers draw 50–150 W while printing. At $0.30 per kWh, a 6-hour print costs roughly $0.10–0.30 in electricity — small, but it adds up across a print farm.
What should I charge for a 3D print?
Start from your true cost — material, energy, machine wear and your time — then add a markup. Hobbyists selling prints commonly add 20–50% on top of material cost; professional services charge considerably more to cover failures and overhead.
Is this calculator free?
Yes. Calculating and exporting a PDF of your cost breakdown are free and need no account. A free account lets you save calculations and reopen them later, including in the mobile app.