How to calculate the cost of a 3D print
Most people only count filament, but a fair cost includes four things: material, electricity, printer wear and an allowance for failed prints. Add your labor and packaging if you sell the part.
Worked example
A 50 g PLA part that prints in 3 hours: filament 50 ÷ 1000 × $20 = $1.00; electricity 120 W × 3 h = 0.36 kWh × $0.17 = $0.06; wear $400 ÷ 4,000 h × 3 h = $0.30. With a 10% failure allowance the part costs about $1.50. At 100% markup you would charge about $3.00, before your time and shipping.
Where the money really goes
- Filament is usually 50–80% of the cost of small parts.
- Electricity is small: a typical FDM printer uses less than 0.15 kWh per hour.
- For long prints, printer wear and your time matter more than plastic.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to 3D print something?
Small PLA parts usually cost $0.50–$3 in materials and power. A 1 kg spool at $20 works out to 2 cents per gram.
How much electricity does a 3D printer use?
About 100–150 W on average with a heated bed, or 0.1–0.15 kWh per hour. A 10-hour print uses 1–1.5 kWh, about $0.25 at $0.17/kWh.
How should I price 3D prints to sell?
Start from the full cost, add your labor per hour and a markup of 2–3× for one-off parts. Use the selling price calculator to include marketplace fees.