CalcHub

3D Printing Cost Calculator — Estimate Per-Print Cost [2026]

Enter filament weight and print time, get full cost breakdown for material and electricity. Supports PLA, ABS, PETG & more. Free, no account needed.

Cost Breakdown

Material Cost
$1.25
50g @ $25/kg
Electricity Cost
$0.13
200W x 4h
Total Cost
$1.38
Material cost per gram:$0.0250/g
Electricity cost per hour:$0.0320/h

What is 3D Printing Cost Calculator?

The 3D Printing Cost Calculator helps makers, hobbyists, and small businesses estimate the true cost of each 3D print. It accounts for both material (filament) costs and electricity consumption to give you an accurate per-print cost. This is essential for pricing 3D printed products, comparing material options, or simply understanding your hobby expenses.

How to Use 3D Printing Cost Calculator

Enter the weight of filament used in grams (from your slicer software), the cost of your filament per kilogram, the estimated print time in hours, your electricity rate in $/kWh, and your printer's power consumption in watts. The calculator breaks down your material cost, electricity cost, and total printing cost.

How 3D Printing Cost Calculator Works

The calculator computes material cost by converting filament weight from grams to kilograms and multiplying by your filament price per kg. Electricity cost is calculated by converting printer wattage to kilowatts, multiplying by print hours, then by your electricity rate. The total cost is the sum of material and electricity costs. For business use, you can add a markup percentage to determine selling price.

Common Use Cases

  • Pricing 3D printed products for sale on Etsy or other marketplaces
  • Comparing costs between different filament types (PLA, ABS, PETG, Nylon)
  • Estimating electricity costs for long overnight prints
  • Budgeting for 3D printing hobby expenses
  • Deciding whether to print in-house or outsource to a 3D printing service

Frequently Asked Questions

How much filament does a typical 3D print use?▼

A small figurine or phone case might use 20-50g of filament, while larger prints can use 100-500g or more. Your slicer software (like Cura or PrusaSlicer) will give you the exact filament weight estimate before printing.

How much electricity does a 3D printer use?▼

Most consumer FDM 3D printers use between 100-300 watts during printing. A typical 8-hour print on a 200W printer at $0.12/kWh costs about $0.19 in electricity — making filament the dominant cost.

What is the cheapest 3D printing filament?▼

PLA is generally the cheapest filament, typically costing $15-25 per kg. ABS is similar in price. Specialty filaments like Nylon, TPU, or carbon fiber-filled materials can cost $30-80+ per kg.

Does this calculator include printer depreciation?▼

This calculator focuses on per-print variable costs (filament and electricity). For a complete cost analysis, you would also need to factor in printer purchase price, maintenance, and failed prints.

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