3D Print Cost Calculator
Filament length to weight and back from the diameter and density, and the full cost of a print: material, electricity, labour, machine wear, a failure margin and your markup.
Result…
How it's calculated
Cross-section (mm²) = π × (diameter ÷ 2)² Weight (g) = cross-section (mm²) × length (m) × density (g/cm³) Material = weight (kg) × price per kg Electricity = power (W) ÷ 1000 × print hours × price per kWh Labour = labour hours × rate; machine wear = print hours × wear per hour Quoted price = (material + electricity + labour + wear) × (1 + failure %) × (1 + markup %)
Turns filament length into weight and back, using the strand's cross-section (π × radius²) and the material's density, and prices a 3D print from the filament weight or length your slicer reports. The material cost is the weight times your price per kilogram or pound, electricity is the printer's average power draw times the print time times your price per kilowatt-hour, and labour and machine wear are hours times your rates. A failure margin covers reprints and a markup gives the quoted price. The densities listed come from Prusament and Bambu Lab technical datasheets; for any other filament, enter the density from its own datasheet. All prices are yours to enter.
Your numbers, step by step
About the 3D Print Cost calculator
This 3D print cost calculator prices a print from the filament weight or length your slicer reports, and converts filament length to weight and back. It works out the strand's cross-section from the diameter (1.75 mm, 2.85 mm or your own), multiplies by the material's density, and turns that into grams or ounces and metres or feet. For a quote it adds the material at your price per kilogram or pound, the electricity from the printer's average power draw and the print time, your labour, and machine wear per print hour. A failure margin covers prints that have to be run again, and your markup gives the price to charge. Densities for PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, PC Blend and TPU come from Prusament and Bambu Lab technical datasheets, and you can enter any other. Every step of the working is shown.
How to use it
- Choose metric or imperial units and what to work out: “Price a print”, “Length to weight” or “Weight to length”.
- Pick the “Filament diameter” and the “Material”, or choose “Enter the density” and type the value from your spool's datasheet.
- For a quote, enter the “Filament weight” (or length) and “Print time” from your slicer, and the “Filament price”.
- Enter the “Printer power draw”, your “Electricity price”, the “Labour time” and “Labour rate” and the “Machine wear” per print hour.
- Set a “Failure margin” and a “Markup”, then read the quoted price and the cost of each part in the steps.
Worked example
A 120 g PLA print on 1.75 mm filament takes 6 hours. Filament costs 22 per kg, the printer draws 110 W and electricity costs 0.3 per kWh. Material = 0.12 kg × 22 = 2.64. Electricity = 0.11 kW × 6 h × 0.3 = 0.198. Labour of 0.5 h at 25 = 12.50, and wear of 0.4 per hour × 6 = 2.40. The cost is 17.74; with a 10% failure margin it is 19.51, and a 40% markup gives a quoted price of 27.32. The print uses about 40.2 m of filament.
Updated
Questions people ask
How do I calculate the cost of a 3D print?
Multiply the filament weight in kilograms by the price per kilogram, then add electricity (power in kW × hours × price per kWh), your labour time × rate and machine wear per print hour. Add a margin for failed prints and your markup for the selling price.
How many metres of filament are on a 1 kg spool?
It depends on the diameter and the material. A 1 kg spool of 1.75 mm PLA at 1.24 g/cm³ holds about 335 m; a denser material or 2.85 mm filament gives fewer metres. Use “Weight to length” with your own spool weight.
What is the formula to convert filament length to weight?
Weight in grams = π × (diameter ÷ 2)² in mm² × length in metres × density in g/cm³. The cross-section in mm² times one metre is a volume in cm³, so multiplying by the density gives grams.
Why should I measure my printer's power draw?
The power supply rating is a maximum, and most printers draw far less once the bed and nozzle are hot. A plug-in power meter over a whole print gives the average to enter, and the electricity cost calculator can check other devices the same way.
What markup should I use for 3D printing?
There is no standard figure: it depends on your market, the finish and how much design work is involved. The markup calculator shows how a markup compares with a profit margin.
What does this 3D print estimate leave out?
It assumes a solid strand of the nominal diameter and doesn't count purge waste, supports you didn't include in the slicer weight, packaging, shipping or sales tax. Prices and tax rules depend on your country, so treat the quote as a starting point.