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3D Printing Cost Calculator

Instant cost breakdown (filament, power, labour, profit)

Used by makers every day

Calculations performed

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Used by makers

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Approximate platform totals, updated periodically.

How much does 3D printing cost?

  • Material cost per gram: PLA typically £0.012–0.020/g; PETG £0.015–0.022/g. Multiply by print weight.
  • Electricity per hour: £0.10–0.50/hour depending on printer wattage and energy tariff.
  • Labour: Setup, monitoring, post-processing (removing supports, sanding) add time-based cost.
  • Typical small prints: A 50g figurine ≈ £0.80–2.50 material + electricity; add labour and markup for selling.
Example print Material Typical cost
Small figurine (50g)PLA£0.80–2.50
Phone case (80g)PETG£1.50–4.00
Functional part (120g)PLA/PETG£2.00–6.00

Use the calculator above to get your exact cost for any print.

How 3D Printing Costs Work

Pricing 3D prints involves five key factors: material usage, electricity consumption, labor time, overhead costs, and your desired profit margin.

  • Material: Filament weight multiplied by price per gram. Most PLA costs £0.012–0.020 per gram.
  • Electricity: Print duration times your energy rate. Typically £0.10–0.50 per hour depending on printer wattage.
  • Labor: Time spent on setup, monitoring, and post-processing (removing supports, sanding, etc.).
  • Overhead: Printer maintenance, failed prints, tools, and workspace costs.
  • Profit: Markup typically ranges from 200% to 400% depending on complexity and market demand.

Our calculator handles all these calculations automatically, so you can focus on your business.

Why This Calculator Works

Real-World Accuracy

Based on actual costs from print farms and sellers. We've tested these numbers with real businesses.

Built for Business

Designed for Etsy sellers, freelancers, and print farms. Automatically accounts for platform fees and overhead.

Instant Results

No registration needed. Get detailed cost breakdowns and pricing recommendations in seconds.

Free Calculator vs PRO

Choose the right tool for your needs

Free Calculator

Free Forever

Perfect for quick cost calculations and pricing individual prints.

  • Material & electricity cost calculation
  • Labor & overhead tracking
  • Profit margin calculator
  • VAT & tax calculations
Use Free Calculator
PRO

Calculator

Free Trial

Built for makers who sell: import Etsy statements and see true profit after VAT, shipping, marketing, and fees in 60 seconds.

  • Everything in Free plus:
  • Track inventory
  • Save presets for quick reuse
  • Multiple materials per calculation
  • Import Etsy statement CSVs for instant order-level analysis
  • See true profit after VAT, shipping, marketing, and marketplace fees
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Ready to Price Your Prints?

Get detailed cost breakdowns, profit margins, and recommended selling prices for your 3D prints.