What Does 3D Printing Cost? Complete Price Breakdown
"How much does 3D printing cost?" is one of the most common questions from people considering their first print. The answer depends on material, size, complexity, and whether you print yourself or use a service. This guide breaks down all the costs so you can budget accurately.
Quick Answer: Typical Costs
DIY Printing
$0.50 - $3/hour
Material + electricity + machine wear
Using a Service
$15 - $100+
Per item, varies by size and complexity
These are ballpark figures. Read on for detailed breakdowns to estimate your specific project.
The Four Cost Components
1. Material Cost
The filament or resin used to create your print. Cost depends on material type and amount used.
| Material | Price/kg | Cost/gram |
|---|---|---|
| PLA (standard) | $20-25 | $0.02-0.025 |
| PETG | $25-35 | $0.025-0.035 |
| ABS | $20-30 | $0.02-0.03 |
| TPU (flexible) | $30-50 | $0.03-0.05 |
| Nylon | $40-70 | $0.04-0.07 |
| Resin (SLA) | $30-80 | $0.03-0.08 |
Example: A 150g print in PLA costs about $3-4 in material.
2. Electricity Cost
3D printers use 50-300 watts depending on size and type. At average electricity rates:
- Small FDM printer: ~$0.01-0.02 per hour
- Large FDM printer: ~$0.02-0.04 per hour
- Resin printer: ~$0.01-0.02 per hour (plus UV curing)
Electricity is usually negligible - a 10-hour print costs about $0.20 in power.
3. Machine Time (Depreciation)
Your printer wears out over time. Professional makers factor in machine depreciation:
- Budget printers ($200-400): $0.50-1.00/hour
- Mid-range ($500-1500): $1.00-2.50/hour
- Professional ($2000+): $2.50-5.00/hour
4. Labor Cost
Time spent on setup, monitoring, and post-processing. For services, this is built into the price.
- Model prep/slicing: 5-30 minutes
- Printer setup: 5-15 minutes
- Post-processing: 5-60 minutes (support removal, sanding)
Example Cost Calculations
Small Print: Keychain (15g, 1 hour)
DIY Cost
- Material: $0.38
- Electricity: $0.02
- Machine time: $1.00
- Total: ~$1.40
Service Cost
- Minimum order usually applies
- Total: $10-20
Medium Print: Phone Stand (100g, 6 hours)
DIY Cost
- Material: $2.50
- Electricity: $0.12
- Machine time: $6.00
- Total: ~$8.62
Service Cost
- Print + labor + profit margin
- Total: $25-45
Large Print: Cosplay Helmet (500g, 40 hours)
DIY Cost
- Material: $12.50
- Electricity: $0.80
- Machine time: $40.00
- Total: ~$53.30
Service Cost
- Complex job, may include finishing
- Total: $100-250
Factors That Increase Cost
Higher Infill
More material, longer print time. 100% infill can cost 3x more than 20% infill.
Fine Layer Height
0.1mm layers take twice as long as 0.2mm. Better detail, higher cost.
Support Material
Complex shapes need supports. Adds 10-50% material waste.
Specialty Materials
Nylon, carbon fiber, or flexible filaments cost 2-4x more than PLA.
Post-Processing
Sanding, painting, or finishing adds significant labor cost.
Rush Orders
Need it fast? Expect 25-100% rush fee from services.
Tips to Reduce Printing Costs
- Lower infill: 15-20% is fine for most decorative items
- Increase layer height: Use 0.2mm or 0.3mm for non-detailed parts
- Optimize orientation: Reduce supports by rotating your model
- Hollow out thick parts: Add drainage holes for solid models
- Batch orders: Multiple items in one order often get discounts
- Use PLA: Cheapest and easiest material for most projects
Pro tip: When getting quotes from a service, mention your flexibility on timeline. Non-rush orders are often cheaper since makers can batch them with other work.
What Services Typically Charge
When using a printing service, expect these price ranges:
| Item Type | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Small items (<50g) | $10-25 |
| Medium items (50-200g) | $25-60 |
| Large items (200-500g) | $50-150 |
| XL items (500g+) | $100-400+ |
| Resin miniatures (28mm) | $15-40 |
| Multi-part assembly | Varies widely |
Prices include material, machine time, labor, and profit margin. Shipping is usually extra.
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