It’s the volumetric throughput of your printer (mm³/s). You can estimate it from nozzle size, layer height, and print speed: width × layer height × speed. Many Prusa/Bambu class printers sustain ~12–18 mm³/s on PLA.

How accurate is this?

This is a macro estimate using part volume, infill %, and a shell factor. For precise times, rely on your slicer’s gcode estimate. Use this for quick quoting and sanity checks.

Print Time Estimator

Estimate print time with transparent assumptions.

Enter part volume, infill %, and your effective flow rate. We show the math and assumptions so you can sanity-check quickly.

Assumes shells = ~35% of volume at 3 walls; adjust the shell factor if your parts differ.

Part volume (cm³) Infill (%)

Effective flow rate (mm³/s)

Rough guide: PLA on Prusa/Bambu ~12–18; Ender stock ~6–10.

Shell factor

Portion of volume attributed to walls/top/bottom. Default ~35% assumes 3 walls.

Formula: mm³_load = (part cm³ × 1000) × (shellFactor + (1 - shellFactor) × infill). Time = mm³_load ÷ flowRate.

Assumptions & tips

Shell factor defaults to ~35% of volume (3 walls, top/bottom). Increase for thicker walls; decrease for vase mode.
Flow rate is your true volumetric throughput. Derive from width × layer height × speed, then adjust for your printer/material.
Use this for quoting and sanity checks; rely on slicer gcode estimates for exact jobs.

Examples

60 cm³ part, 15% infill, 35% shells, 14 mm³/s → ~1.6 hours.
120 cm³ part, 20% infill, 35% shells, 10 mm³/s → ~4.2 hours.
30 cm³ part, 10% infill, 30% shells, 8 mm³/s → ~0.9 hours.

Related calculators

FAQ

What if my slicer says something different?

Trust the slicer for final timing. This estimator is for quick quoting; adjust shell factor and flow until it matches your typical jobs.

How do I get flow rate?

Use width × layer height × speed from a typical profile. Example: 0.45mm × 0.2mm × 70mm/s ≈ 6.3 mm³/s. Increase if you push faster or use bigger nozzles.

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Got a better shell factor or flow preset? Email us.