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3DPrintMates

3D print cost calculator

Work out what a print really costs - and what to charge. Itemize filament, electricity, machine wear, labor and failed prints, then apply your markup.

Calculate.stlRuns locally

Estimate filament from a model (optional)

Drop a file here or

.stl, .3mf, .obj · processed on your device, never uploaded

Material
g

From your slicer, or estimate from an STL above.

$/kg
Machine
h
W

Typical desktop FDM printers average roughly 100-200 W while printing.

$/kWh
$/h

Printer price ÷ expected lifetime hours, plus parts.

Labor & business
h
$/h
%
%
pcs

How to use the 3D Print Cost Calculator

  1. 1Enter filament used in grams (from your slicer), or drop an STL to estimate it.
  2. 2Enter print time, power draw and your electricity price.
  3. 3Add wear per hour, labor and an expected failure rate.
  4. 4Set a markup to see a suggested price per part and for the whole order.

The 3D printing cost formula

The calculator uses this breakdown for each part:

  • filament = grams ÷ 1000 × price per kg
  • electricity = watts × hours ÷ 1000 × price per kWh
  • machine = hours × wear per hour
  • labor = labor hours × rate
  • failures = (filament + electricity + machine) × rate ÷ (1 − rate)
  • price = cost × (1 + markup)

The failure allowance spreads the cost of reprints across successful parts: at a 10% failure rate you print about 1.11 parts for every good one. Labor is excluded because you rarely post-process a failed print.

Pricing as a print service

For most small jobs, labor and setup outweigh material. That is why shops often charge a minimum order. Read how much 3D printing costs for typical ranges, or list your shop to receive requests when our board launches.

Frequently asked questions

How do you calculate the cost of a 3D print?

Add filament (grams × price per gram), electricity (watts × hours × price per kWh), machine wear (hours × hourly depreciation) and labor, then add an allowance for failed prints. A selling price adds markup on top.

How much does filament cost per print?

Filament cost is grams used × spool price ÷ 1000. A 50 g part from a $20/kg spool uses $1.00 of filament. Your slicer reports grams for each print.

How much electricity does a 3D printer use?

A desktop FDM printer typically averages around 100-200 W while printing, mostly for the heated bed. At $0.17/kWh, a 5-hour print at 120 W costs about 10 cents.

What markup should I charge for 3D printing?

There is no single standard. Many small shops price well above material cost because labor, failed prints and design time dominate. Use the markup field to model your own pricing and compare with local shops.

Can it estimate filament from an STL?

Yes, roughly. Drop in an STL and pick a material and infill; it estimates grams from the model volume and surface area. A slicer estimate is more accurate.