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3D Print Cost Calculator

Work out 3d print cost instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About 3D Print Cost Calculator

Filament cost is grams used times the spool price divided by a thousand, and machine cost is the print time times an hourly rate covering power, wear and depreciation. On long prints the machine hours often exceed the filament cost, which is why quoting by weight alone undercharges for tall thin parts.

Formulas

Material cost

cost = grams x spool price / 1000

Total cost

total = material cost + print hours x hourly machine rate

Worked example

With the default values below, 3D Print Cost Calculator returns Total print cost of $4.400. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Filament usedminimum 0.01 g
56 g
Price of a 1 kg spoolminimum 0.01
25
Print timeminimum 0.01 h
6 h
Machine and power cost per hourminimum 0
0.5

Results

Total print cost
$4.400
Filament cost
$1.400
Machine and power cost
$3.000
Effective cost per gram
$0.0786

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Material cost
  3. 3Total cost
  4. 4Total print cost= 4.400
  5. 5Filament cost= 1.400
  6. 6Machine and power cost= 3.000
  7. 7Effective cost per gram= 0.0786

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 4 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the 3D Print Cost figure worked out?

cost = grams x spool price / 1000. Filament cost is grams used times the spool price divided by a thousand, and machine cost is the print time times an hourly rate covering power, wear and depreciation.

Why does this matter?

On long prints the machine hours often exceed the filament cost, which is why quoting by weight alone undercharges for tall thin parts.

What do I need to enter?

Enter filament used, price of a 1 kg spool, print time, machine and power cost per hour. The defaults shown are a realistic worked example — swap in your own figures to get a result you can use.

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