3D Printing Cost Calculator
Calculate the real cost of 3D printing a part: filament, electricity and depreciation. Select your printer and country for automatic values.
How the calculation works
The 3D printing cost is broken down into three components: materials (filament or resin), electrical energy and printer depreciation. The calculator adds these three components and optionally applies a profit margin to obtain the suggested selling price.
Weight and print time data are provided by your slicing software (Bambu Studio, PrusaSlicer, Cura, etc.) before starting the print.
Formulas used
The power consumption shown for each printer model is the average during printing, not the startup peak. For greater accuracy you can measure the actual consumption with a power meter (wattmeter) and update the value manually.
Practical example
An 85 g PLA decorative figure that takes 5 hours to print on a Bambu Lab A1 (220 W) costs approximately: filament €1.70 + electricity €0.20 = €1.90 production cost (Spain, €0.18/kWh). With a 40% margin the suggested selling price would be €2.66.
Adding depreciation (e.g. €0.20/h for a €400 printer with 2,000 hours of useful life) brings the production cost to €2.90 and the selling price to €4.06.
How to reduce 3D printing costs
- Buy filament in 2–5 kg spools: the price per kg drops significantly compared to 1 kg spools.
- Reduce infill percentage to the minimum your part needs: going from 20% to 10% can save 8–12% in filament and time.
- Orient the part to minimise supports: supports can account for 15–30% of total material.
- Print during off-peak hours if you have a time-of-use electricity tariff.
- Calibrate temperature and speed properly: printing faster is not always cheaper if it increases the failure rate.
Updated data
Electricity prices by country are updated automatically every quarter. Printer power values are average consumption during printing based on community measurements. Last manual review: June 2026.
Frequently asked questions about 3D printing
How much does it cost to 3D print a part?
The cost depends mainly on the weight of the part, the filament price and the print time. With PLA at €20/kg, a 50 g part printed for 3 hours on a 200 W printer costs approximately €1.10–1.40 in Spain (electricity at €0.18/kWh).
How much electricity does a 3D printer use?
Power consumption varies greatly by model. Entry-level FDM printers (Ender 3, Prusa Mini+) average between 80 and 130 W. High-speed enclosed CoreXY machines (Bambu Lab X1C, P1S) average 250–300 W. Resin printers use just 40–60 W.
How do I calculate the selling price of a 3D printed part?
The selling price must cover material (filament), energy (electricity), printer depreciation and a profit margin. A 30–50% margin is typical for occasional sales; if you sell professionally, also factor in your labour time.
Which filament is cheaper, PLA or PETG?
PLA is generally cheaper (€15–25/kg) than PETG (€20–35/kg). However, PETG offers better heat and moisture resistance. For decorative or indoor parts, PLA is the most economical option. For functional or outdoor parts, PETG offers a better value ratio.
How do I calculate 3D printer depreciation?
Divide the purchase price by the estimated number of hours of useful life. For example, a €400 printer with 2,000 hours of useful life has a depreciation cost of €0.20/hour. For hobbyist use with 500 hours per year, depreciation would be €0.80/hour.
How can I reduce my 3D printing costs?
The main levers are: buying filament in 2–5 kg spools (cheaper per kg), reducing infill to the functional minimum, optimising part orientation to minimise supports, printing during off-peak electricity hours and tuning speed to the optimal quality-time point.