Calculate 3D Printing Costs Per Part
The real cost of a 3D print isn't just filament—you also pay for electricity (80–250 W depending on printer), wear and tear (nozzles, belts, hot end, PEI bed, thermistors), and your time. This calculator combines 5 cost drivers (grams, $/kg, print hours, wattage, electricity rate, profit margin) to give you the final price per part. Built for makers and small businesses selling on Etsy, Shopify, or direct. Get a cost breakdown by category so you know exactly how much goes to materials vs. overhead—plus adjust your margin (20% for friends, 50–100% for retail).
When to use this calculator
- You run a 3D printing service and need fair pricing.
- You sell figurines, keychains, brackets, planters, or custom parts.
- A customer asks for a quote in 5 minutes.
- You want to know if your current prices are profitable.
- You compare material costs (PLA vs. PETG) for custom orders.
50g PLA, 4 hours, 150W, $15/kg, $0.12/kWh, 50% margin
- Material: 50 × 15/1000 = $0.75.
- Electricity: 4 × 0.150 × 0.12 = $0.07.
- Wear at 10%: ~$0.08.
- Total: 0.75 + 0.07 + 0.08 = $0.90.
- Price with 50% margin: 0.90 × 1.5 = $1.35.
How it works
1 min readFormula
Material = (grams / 1000) × price_per_kg
Electricity = hours × (watts / 1000) × cost_per_kWh
Wear = 10% × (Material + Electricity)
Total = Material + Electricity + Wear
Price = Total × (1 + margin / 100)10% wear covers: nozzles ($1–3 per 1–2 kg printed), belts, bearings, hot end, PEI bed, thermistors, and printer depreciation (typical FDM printer $150–300 over 3 years ≈ $50–100/year).
Filament prices (2026)
| Material | $/kg |
|---|---|
| Generic PLA | $12–18 |
| Premium PLA | $25–40 |
| PETG | $15–22 |
| ABS | $14–20 |
| TPU 95A | $25–40 |
| Resin | $35–80/liter |
Power consumption by printer
| Printer | Watts |
|---|---|
| Ender 3 V2 | 100–150 |
| Prusa MK4 | 100–120 |
| Bambu P1S | 180–250 |
| Bambu X1C | 250–350 |
| LCD Resin | 40–80 |
Profit margin by customer type
| Customer | Margin |
|---|---|
| Friends | 0–10% |
| Acquaintances | 20–30% |
| Casual customers | 40–60% |
| Online sales (Etsy) | 80–150% |
| B2B wholesale | 100–300% |
Common pricing mistakes
1. Forgetting your labor: Add 20–30% for design time, support, and packaging.
2. Not accounting for failures: Budget 5–10% annual failure rate (15% for prints over 12 hours).
3. Ignoring packaging & shipping: Factor in boxes, bubble wrap, labels, and shipping materials.
4. Competing on price alone: Communicate value—speed, quality, custom design, reliability.
Combine with our filament weight calculator and hourly rate guide.
Frequently asked questions
What's a fair profit margin for 3D printing?
50–100% for direct retail sales, 150–200% minimum for B2B wholesale. Online marketplaces (Etsy) typically require 80–150% to cover platform fees and shipping risk.
What if a print fails?
Budget 5–10% of your annual output for failures. Long prints (12+ hours) are riskier—assume 15%. Factor this into smart pricing from the start.
Should I charge separately for design?
Yes, if you design the part. Charge $500–5000+ depending on complexity. If you're printing from free repositories (Thingiverse, Printables), no design fee—just print cost.
Is 10% wear cost reasonable?
Yes, for moderate use (4–6 hours/day). Heavy production (8+ hours daily) should use 15–20% to account for nozzle swaps, bed replacements, and component wear.
Does this include packaging and shipping?
No. This covers production costs only. Add boxes, bubble wrap, labels, and your chosen shipping method as separate line items.
Can I use this for resin 3D printing?
Yes. Use the same formula but input milliliters instead of grams, and the cost per milliliter of resin. Resin printers typically draw 30–60 W.
Do I need to include sales tax in my pricing?
Depends on your business structure and jurisdiction. Consult a tax professional or your local tax authority. Prices shown are pre-tax costs.
Can I adjust this for different materials (PETG, ABS)?
Absolutely. Just change the price per kg and adjust print hours if needed (some materials print slower). The formula works for any material.
How do I price for different customers (Etsy vs. custom orders)?
Same base cost, different margins. Casual buyers: 50% markup. Etsy/online: add 80–150% (fees + shipping risk). B2B contracts: 100–300% depending on volume.
Should I include labor/time in this calculation?
Not directly—this is material + equipment cost. For labor, add 20–30% to cover your design time, customer support, post-processing, and packaging. Or price hourly separately.