3D Print Time Calculator

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

About 3D Print Time Calculator

Extrusion time is the material volume in cubic millimetres divided by the volumetric flow rate, with travel moves, retractions and layer changes added as an overhead percentage. Print speed is limited by how fast the hotend can melt plastic rather than how fast the motors move, which is why volumetric flow rate is the honest speed metric.

Formulas

Extrusion time

seconds = volume in mm3 / flow rate in mm3/s

Total time

total = extrusion time x (1 + overhead)

Worked example

With the default values below, 3D Print Time Calculator returns Estimated print time of 1.085. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Material volume to extrudeminimum 0.01 cm3: 25 cm3
Volumetric flow rateminimum 0.01 mm3/s: 8 mm3/s
Travel and non-printing overheadaccepts 0–200 %: 25 %

Results

Estimated print time: 1.085 h
Print time in hours, minutes and seconds: 1:05:06
Time spent actually extruding: 0.868 h
Effective average flow rate: 6.400 mm3/s

Step by step

1Values used
2Extrusion time
3Total time
4Estimated print time= 1.085 h
5Print time in hours, minutes and seconds= 1:05:06
6Time spent actually extruding= 0.868 h
7Effective average flow rate= 6.400 mm3/s

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 3 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
Figures are rounded for display to 3 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 Time figure worked out?

seconds = volume in mm3 / flow rate in mm3/s. Extrusion time is the material volume in cubic millimetres divided by the volumetric flow rate, with travel moves, retractions and layer changes added as an overhead percentage.

Why does this matter?

Print speed is limited by how fast the hotend can melt plastic rather than how fast the motors move, which is why volumetric flow rate is the honest speed metric.

What do I need to enter?

Enter material volume to extrude, volumetric flow rate, travel and non-printing overhead. The defaults shown are a realistic worked example — swap in your own figures to get a result you can use.