3D Printing Cost Calculator
Free 3D printing cost calculator: filament, electricity (18.83¢/kWh US avg), depreciation and failure rate. A 150 g PLA print costs about $5.50 all-in.
A 3D print costs more than the filament it’s made of — but usually less than people fear. This 3D printing cost calculator adds up all five real inputs: material (model weight plus a supports-and-waste allowance, at your spool price per kg), electricity (printer wattage × print hours × your rate, defaulting to the EIA’s April 2026 US residential average of 18.83¢/kWh), printer depreciation (purchase price spread over an expected 5,000-hour lifetime), a failure-rate buffer (default 10%), and optional post-processing labor. It then suggests a sale price at your chosen markup if you sell prints. With the defaults — $25/kg PLA and a 120 W printer bought for $300 — a typical 150 g, 10-hour print works out to about $5.50 all-in, not the $4.13 the filament alone would suggest. Enter your own weights, hours, and prices to get your true cost per print.
How much does a 3D print cost?
At home, most FDM prints cost between $1 and $30 in materials, electricity, and printer wear. Using 2026 US prices — PLA at $25/kg and power at 18.83¢/kWh — a small 30 g print costs about $1.15, a medium 150 g print about $5.50, and a large 800 g print about $28.85, including a 10% failure buffer. Ordering the same parts from an online service typically costs 3–10× more.
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3D Printing Cost Calculator
Key Information
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| US average electricity rate (EIA, April 2026) | 18.83¢/kWh |
| PLA filament, 1 kg spool (US, 2026) | $15–$30 |
| Electricity per print hour at 120 W | ≈2.3¢ |
| True cost of a 150 g, 10-hour PLA print | ≈$5.50 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a 3D print cost?
At home, most FDM prints cost between $1 and $30 in materials, electricity, and printer wear. Using 2026 US prices — PLA at $25/kg and power at 18.83¢/kWh — a small 30 g print costs about $1.15, a medium 150 g print about $5.50, and a large 800 g print about $28.85, including a 10% failure buffer. Ordering the same parts from an online service typically costs 3–10× more.
How much electricity does a 3D printer use?
A typical FDM printer averages about 120 W while printing, or 0.12 kWh per hour — about 2.3 cents per hour at the April 2026 US average residential rate of 18.83¢/kWh. A 10-hour print costs roughly 23 cents in electricity, and even a 48-hour print costs about $1.08. Enclosed high-temp printers and resin wash-and-cure stations draw more, but electricity is almost never the biggest line item.
How much should I charge for a 3D print?
Charge 2–3× your true cost for made-to-order prints. Calculate the full cost first — material, electricity, depreciation, failure buffer, and your labor at a real hourly rate — then apply the markup. A print with a $9.25 all-in cost lists near $23 at 2.5×. Remember marketplace fees: Etsy’s mandatory fees run roughly 10% of a sale in 2026, and Offsite Ads take another 12–15% when they bring the buyer, so sub-2× markups often lose money.
Are these calculators free to use?
Yes, all calculators on CalcCorp are completely free — no registration, no login, no hidden charges. Results are calculated instantly in your browser and we do not store any of your data.
How accurate are these calculations?
Our calculators use standard financial formulas updated with the latest tax rates, interest rates, and government policies for 2026. Results are accurate for planning purposes but should be verified with a professional for final decisions.
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Last updated: March 2026