3D Print Cost Calculator

Total print cost includes filament material cost (weight used multiplied by cost per gram), electricity cost (rated printer wattage multiplied by print hours multiplied by your local kWh rate), machine depreciation or wear, and an optional failure rate reserve. For resale or service work, you add a markup over total cost. This calculator models each component so you can see which cost drives the total and price jobs accurately for customers.

Standard PLA filament typically costs $0.02 to $0.04 per gram in 1 kg spools priced at $20 to $40. PETG is similar or slightly higher. ABS, ASA, and TPU typically run $0.03 to $0.06 per gram. Engineering filaments such as Nylon, Polycarbonate, and carbon-fiber-filled variants cost $0.06 to $0.20 or more per gram. Resin for SLA or MSLA printing ranges from $0.05 to $0.30 per gram depending on type and brand. Filament cost is often less than 50% of total print cost for long prints.

A typical FDM desktop printer (bed heated, chamber unenclosed) draws 100 to 250 watts during printing. An enclosed high-temperature printer may draw 400 to 600 watts. At $0.15 per kWh, a 200-watt printer running for 20 hours consumes 4 kWh and costs $0.60 in electricity. Electricity is usually a small fraction of total print cost but becomes significant for very large, multi-day prints. Use a smart plug with energy monitoring for your specific printer's actual draw.

A failure rate reserve covers wasted filament and machine time from failed prints. Setting a failure rate of 5% to 15% depending on complexity and material adds a proportional material and time cost to successful jobs. For client-facing pricing, covering failure cost in your base price ensures profitability even when a print must be re-run. Dialing in your printer's calibration, using quality filament, and running test prints reduce actual failure rates significantly.