What does a 3D print typically cost?

A small PLA print (20-50g) typically costs 50p to £2 in material, plus 10-30p in electricity for a 2-4 hour print. Machine wear adds another 50p-£2 depending on your printer value.

How do I estimate machine wear cost?

Divide your printer purchase price by its expected lifespan in hours. For example, a £300 printer lasting 3000 hours costs 10p/hour. Add a buffer for replacement parts (nozzles, belts, etc.).

Should I include failed prints in cost?

Yes. A realistic failure rate of 5-10% should be factored into your per-print cost, especially if quoting for customers. Use our Material Waste Calculator for this.

3DPrintCalcs

Print Cost Calculator — Total Cost per Print

Calculate total print cost including material, electricity and machine wear.

Filament Used

Weight from your slicer

Print Time

Spool Price

Spool Weight

Printer Wattage

Electricity Rate

Machine Wear Rate

How We Calculate This

Formula

Material cost = Filament weight x (Spool price / Spool weight)
Electricity cost = (Wattage x Hours / 1000) x Rate per kWh
Wear cost = Print hours x Hourly wear rate
Total cost = Material + Electricity + Wear

All costs are user-entered, so results reflect your actual prices and equipment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Calculators

Electricity Cost Calculator

Estimate the electricity cost of a print based on wattage and duration.

Time vs Quality Calculator

Compare print time at different layer heights and speed settings.

Batch Printing Calculator

Calculate time and cost savings from printing multiple parts in one batch.

Material Waste Calculator

Estimate wasted material from failed prints, supports and purge lines.

Printer ROI Calculator

Calculate how quickly your printer pays for itself based on usage.

Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Always verify settings with test prints before committing to final prints.