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3D Print Cost Calculator

Most makers only count filament. Your real cost also includes electricity, machine depreciation, the prints that fail, and your time. This calculator adds them all up so you never sell at a loss.

Enter your numbers

$per kg
Price you paid for a 1 kg spool.
g
Grams of filament for this print (your slicer shows this).
hours
Estimated print duration.
watts
Average watts while printing (FDM ~80-150 W; with heated bed more).
$per kWh
Your power price per kilowatt-hour.
$
What the printer cost you (for wear/depreciation).
hours
Expected printing hours before replacement/major service.
%
Share of prints that fail and waste material/time.
minutes
Your time: prep, removal, clean-up, post-processing.
$per hour
What your time is worth.

Results update as you type — no button needed.

Result

  • Material—
  • Electricity—
  • Machine wear—
  • Labour—
  • Failure allowance—
Total cost per print—

How it's calculated

Material = price/kg × grams ÷ 1000. Electricity = watts ÷ 1000 × hours × rate. Machine wear = printer cost ÷ lifespan hours × print hours. Labour = minutes ÷ 60 × hourly rate. A failure allowance of failure% is then applied to the whole cost to cover wasted prints.

Assumptions
  • Depreciation is straight-line over the lifespan hours you set.
  • The failure allowance spreads the cost of wasted prints across successful ones.
  • Consumables (nozzles, glue, electricity for idle/heating) beyond the print itself aren't separately itemised.

FAQ

How do I find the filament weight for a print?
Your slicer (Cura, PrusaSlicer, Bambu Studio, OrcaSlicer) shows the estimated filament weight in grams and the print time after you slice the model.
Why include machine wear and failures?
Printers don't last forever and some prints fail. If you don't price these in, your real margin is lower than you think — a common reason maker shops quietly lose money.

Related calculators

Selling Price & Profit Calculator3D Printer Electricity Cost CalculatorFilament Cost-per-Gram Calculator
Disclaimer: These calculators are provided for guidance only and use representative material constants and published marketplace fee rates (as of June 2026). Real costs vary — always verify against your own figures before pricing or purchasing. PrintProfit is reader-supported and may earn a commission from links to recommended products, at no extra cost to you.