💰 3D Print Cost Calculator
Calculate accurate costs for your 3D prints including materials, electricity, time, and get recommended pricing for selling your prints.
🧵 Material Costs
Weight of filament consumed
Price for 1kg spool (£)
Optional: Support/raft material
⏱️ Time & Electricity
Total printing duration
Average printer consumption
Your local electricity rate
👤 Labor & Overhead
Slicing, setup, bed leveling
Cleanup, support removal, finishing
Your time value (£ per hour)
🏢 Business Costs (Optional)
Printer wear per print (£)
Rent, insurance, software licenses
Percentage of failed prints
💵 Pricing Strategy
Profit margin (50% = 2x cost)
How you calculate final price
📊 Cost Analysis
Total Cost
£0.00
Recommended Price
£0.00
Your Profit
£0.00
💡 Cost Breakdown
Material Cost
£0.00
Electricity Cost
£0.00
Labor Cost
£0.00
Depreciation & Overhead
£0.00
Failure Buffer
£0.00
TOTAL COST
£0.00
💡 Pricing Tips
- • Markup: 50-100% is standard for custom prints
- • Volume: Offer discounts for bulk orders (10-30% off)
- • Complexity: Charge more for intricate designs requiring supports
- • Rush Orders: Add 25-50% for expedited service
- • Market Research: Check competitors' pricing in your area
📖 How to Use
- Enter Material Costs: Input filament weight and price per kg
- Add Time Details: Specify print duration and electricity costs
- Include Labor: Account for prep and post-processing time
- Set Overhead: Add equipment depreciation and business costs
- Choose Markup: Select your desired profit margin
- Calculate: Get your total cost and recommended sell price
- Adjust: Refine based on market conditions and competition
💡 Cost Factors Explained
🧵 Material Cost
Based on filament weight and price per kg. Don't forget support material!
⚡ Electricity
Average 3D printer uses 50-250W. Calculate: (Watts × Hours) ÷ 1000 × Rate
⏱️ Labor Time
Include slicing, bed prep, monitoring, support removal, and finishing work
🔧 Equipment Wear
Nozzles, belts, and bearings wear out. Factor in replacement costs over time
❌ Failure Rate
Account for failed prints, bed adhesion issues, and material waste
🎯 Pricing Strategies
📈 Cost-Plus Pricing
Calculate all costs, add markup percentage
- Simple and transparent
- Ensures profit on every print
- Good for custom orders
🏪 Market-Based Pricing
Research competitor prices, position accordingly
- Competitive positioning
- May yield higher margins
- Requires market research
📦 Volume Discounts
Lower per-unit price for bulk orders
- Encourages larger orders
- Reduces per-print overhead
- Builds customer loyalty
⚡ Value-Based Pricing
Price based on customer value, not just cost
- Higher margins possible
- Rewards skill and quality
- Best for specialized work
📊 Typical Costs (Reference)
| Item | Typical Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PLA Filament | £12-25/kg | Standard quality, various colors |
| PETG Filament | £16-28/kg | More durable, slightly harder to print |
| ABS Filament | £14-25/kg | Strong but requires enclosure |
| Electricity (UK avg) | £0.24-0.30/kWh | Varies significantly by region and supplier |
| Labor Rate | £12-40/hour | Based on skill level and market |