3D Printing Cost Calculator

How the 3D Printing Cost Calculator works and why it is useful

The 3D Printing Cost Calculator estimates the true cost of producing a printed part by combining material, energy and labor expenses, then applying a profit margin. It is designed for makers, designers, 3D printing businesses and hobbyists who need to price prints accurately and remain competitive in the additive manufacturing market.

The calculator breaks the total price into clear components: Filament Cost, Energy Cost, Labor Cost, Total Cost and Final Price with profit. Each component is derived from simple, transparent formulas so you can see how changes in material choice, printer efficiency, or labor rate affect the final price. This makes it easier to quote jobs, compare suppliers, set shop rates and evaluate whether a print job is profitable.

How to use the calculator (step by step)

Enter Filament Price per Kilogram. Use your local currency (for example 25 for $25/kg).
Enter Filament Used in grams for the part. Typical small prints use tens of grams, larger parts can use hundreds.
Enter Printer Consumption in watts. If you do not know the exact number, check your printer specs or use a power meter.
Enter Print Time in hours. This is the total machine run time for the part.
Enter Energy Price per kWh in your area. Use the same currency unit as the filament and labor cost (for example 0.20 for $0.20/kWh).
Enter Labor Cost per hour. This can be your hourly wage or a rate that covers supervision, post-processing and overhead.
Enter Desired Profit Margin as a percentage. Common values range from 10 to 50 percent depending on market position.
Click Calculate Cost to see Filament Cost, Energy Cost, Total Cost and Final Price (with profit). Use Clear to reset fields.

Tips for accurate inputs

Measure filament used directly in your slicer estimate or on a filament usage calculator in grams.
Use a plug-in power meter to measure real printer consumption during typical prints, rather than relying only on manufacturer specs.
Include realistic labor times for cleanup, support removal and any secondary operations.
Confirm the currency and units your region uses for energy price (kWh). Enter consistent units across all fields.

Calculation details and formulas

The calculator uses these formulas to compute each component:

Filament Cost: Cost = (Price per kg × Quantity in grams) ÷ 1000
Energy Cost: Cost = (Consumption in watts × Time in hours × Price per kWh) ÷ 1000
Labor Cost: Cost = Cost per hour × Print time
Total Cost: Total Cost = Filament Cost + Energy Cost + Labor Cost
Final Price with Profit: Final Price = Total Cost + (Total Cost × Profit Margin %)

These formulas keep calculations straightforward and transparent, so you can adjust any input and immediately see the effect on unit economics.

Practical examples of use

Below are two common scenarios that illustrate how the calculator produces actionable pricing information.

Example 1: Small prototype part (PLA)

Inputs:

Filament Price per kg: 25 (currency units)
Filament Used: 15 grams
Printer Consumption: 65 watts
Print Time: 2 hours
Energy Price per kWh: 0.20
Labor Cost: 15 per hour
Desired Profit Margin: 30%

Calculations:

Filament Cost = (25 × 15) ÷ 1000 = 0.375
Energy Cost = (65 × 2 × 0.20) ÷ 1000 = 0.026
Labor Cost = 15 × 2 = 30.00
Total Cost = 0.375 + 0.026 + 30.00 = 30.401
Final Price = 30.401 × 1.30 = 39.52 (rounded)

This example shows how labor time can dominate the cost of small parts, making automation or batch printing a key strategy to reduce unit price.

Example 2: Functional bracket (PETG)

Inputs:

Filament Price per kg: 30
Filament Used: 300 grams
Printer Consumption: 120 watts
Print Time: 10 hours
Energy Price per kWh: 0.20
Labor Cost: 10 per hour
Desired Profit Margin: 40%

Calculations:

Filament Cost = (30 × 300) ÷ 1000 = 9.00
Energy Cost = (120 × 10 × 0.20) ÷ 1000 = 0.24
Labor Cost = 10 × 10 = 100.00
Total Cost = 9.00 + 0.24 + 100.00 = 109.24
Final Price = 109.24 × 1.40 = 152.94 (rounded)

This example highlights that for longer prints the labor component can again be significant. Reducing supervision time, optimizing nesting, or increasing throughput helps lower per-piece labor cost.

Typical filament prices and settings to consider

PLA: 20–30 per kg
ABS: 20–35 per kg
PETG: 25–35 per kg
TPU: 30–50 per kg

Energy consumption categories: low (50–80 watts), medium (80–150 watts), high (150+ watts). Profit margin guidance: low margin 10–20%, medium 30–50%, high 50%+ for specialized or rush jobs.

Conclusion and benefits

Using the 3D Printing Cost Calculator lets you price prints with confidence by breaking down costs into transparent, adjustable components. Benefits include faster quoting, better margin control, clearer client communication and insight into which variables most impact profitability. Regular use of the calculator helps you optimize material selection, printing schedules and labor allocation to achieve competitive yet profitable pricing.

Important note: the calculated values are estimates based on the provided parameters. Consider variations in actual energy consumption, filament quality and part complexity when finalizing prices.