3D Print Cost Calculator
Work out what a print really costs: filament (plus waste), electricity, printer wear and a buffer for failed prints. Add labour and markup if you sell prints.
Estimates only. Check numbers against your own slicer, scale and electricity bill. Some links on this page may be affiliate links.
How the calculation works
Cost per gram = spool price ÷ spool weight. Filament cost = grams × (1 + waste%) × cost per gram. Energy (kWh) = watts ÷ 1000 × hours, and electricity cost = kWh × your rate. Wear = hours × wear rate. Everything is added up, then multiplied by (1 + failure%) because some prints fail and have to be reprinted. Sale price = true cost × (1 + markup%).
Worked example
A 45 g PLA print taking 3 h 15 min on a P1S (105 W), $20 per 1 kg spool, 5% waste, $0.15/kWh, $0.10/h wear and an 8% failure buffer: filament $0.945, electricity $0.051, wear $0.325, subtotal $1.32, true cost ≈ $1.43.
Typical costs by print size
| Filament | Time | Approx. true cost* | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keychain | 8 g | 30 min | $0.24 |
| Phone stand | 45 g | 3 h 15 m | $1.43 |
| Helmet / large part | 600 g | 24 h | $16.61 |
*Defaults above, 5% waste, 8% failure buffer, 105 W at $0.15/kWh.
Where the defaults come from
- Printer power averages: Bambu Lab Wiki – power consumption (PLA averages; PSU peak ratings are only brief heating spikes).
- Cost structure follows the open CNC Kitchen 3D printing cost sheet approach.
- Wear rate and failure buffer are editable estimates — change them to suit your printer.
Related: filament length ↔ weight · AMS purge waste · electricity cost
FAQ
Where do I find the filament weight?
Your slicer shows it after slicing (Bambu Studio, OrcaSlicer, PrusaSlicer and Cura all list grams). Use the total including supports.
How much waste should I add for AMS multi-colour prints?
Single-colour prints usually waste around 5%. Multi-colour prints can waste 30–60% or more in purge. Use our AMS purge waste calculator for an exact figure.
Should I include labour?
For hobby prints, no. If you sell prints, add your time for slicing, removing supports and packing, plus a markup.
Why use average watts instead of the power supply rating?
A printer only draws near its PSU maximum while heating up. Average draw during printing is much lower, e.g. about 105 W for a Bambu P1S printing PLA.