Print Cost Calculator
Calculate the material cost of your 3D prints. Enter the weight and filament price to estimate costs per print.
Weight shown in slicer (include support material)
Price you paid per kilogram of filament
Total print time from slicer
Your electricity rate per kilowatt-hour
Average power consumption (typically 100-250W)
Percentage of prints that fail (adds cost buffer)
Enter values and click Calculate to see costs
How to Use This Calculator
- Find print weight - Your slicer shows the filament weight needed (look for "material used" or "filament weight")
- Enter filament price - Price per kilogram you paid for the filament
- Optional: Add print time - Include electricity cost for more accurate total
- Optional: Add failure rate - Account for failed prints in your cost calculations
- Calculate - See the total cost including materials and electricity
Understanding the Costs
Material Cost
The primary cost component. Calculated by:
Cost = (Weight in grams ÷ 1000) × Price per kg
Example: 50g print with $20/kg filament = $1.00
Electricity Cost
Often negligible but adds up for long prints:
Cost = (Watts ÷ 1000) × Hours × $/kWh
Example: 150W printer, 5hrs, $0.12/kWh = $0.09
Typical Filament Prices
| Material | Budget | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLA | $15-18/kg | $20-25/kg | $30-40/kg |
| PETG | $18-22/kg | $25-30/kg | $35-45/kg |
| ABS | $18-22/kg | $25-30/kg | $35-45/kg |
| TPU | $25-30/kg | $35-45/kg | $50-70/kg |
Tips for Cost Optimization
- Adjust infill - Reduce from 20% to 10-15% for non-structural parts to save material
- Optimize supports - Use tree supports or design parts to minimize support material
- Hollow large prints - Use 2-3 walls with low infill instead of solid prints
- Buy in bulk - Purchase multiple spools to reduce per-kg cost
- Use budget filament - For prototypes and non-critical parts
- Batch prints - Print multiple small items at once to amortize electricity cost
Selling Prints? Add These Costs
If you're selling 3D prints, don't forget to include:
- Failed print rate (typically 5-10%)
- Printer wear and maintenance
- Design time or licensing fees
- Post-processing (sanding, painting, assembly)
- Packaging and shipping materials
- Your time and labor
- Profit margin (typically 2-4x material cost minimum)
Related Tools
- Spool Weight Calculator - Calculate remaining filament
- Filament Length Calculator - Convert weight to length