3D Printing Cost Calculator (filament, electricity, wear & failures)

Understanding the 3D printing cost calculator — concept and principle

What does a 3D print really cost? The filament is only part of it. This calculator adds filament, electricity, printer wear and an allowance for failed prints, plus optional labour and markup, to give the cost of one good print and the cost per gram. Hobbyists use it to understand their costs, and makers use it to price prints for sale.

Filament is most of the cost; machine wear, failures and power add the rest.

How it is calculated

Filament = grams used × spool price ÷ spool weight

Electricity = average power (W) × print hours ÷ 1,000 × price per kWh

Printer wear = printer price ÷ lifetime hours × print hours

Failure allowance = (filament + electricity + wear) × f ÷ (1 − f)

Cost of one good print = filament + electricity + wear + allowance + labour

Selling price = cost × (1 + markup ÷ 100)

f is the failure rate as a fraction.

The principle

Each cost is a rate times an amount: price per gram times grams, price per kWh times energy, price per printing hour times hours. Wear spreads the purchase price across the hours the printer is expected to work, a simple straight-line depreciation. Failures matter because every failed attempt costs materials and time too. If a share f of attempts fails, you need 1 ÷ (1 − f) attempts per good print, so the extra cost is f ÷ (1 − f) times the cost of one attempt.

Worked example

Default inputs: 85 g of filament, $25 per 1,000 g spool, 6.5 h, 120 W, $0.17/kWh, $600 printer over 5,000 h, 10% failures, no labour or markup.

Filament = 85 × 25 ÷ 1,000 = $2.13.
Electricity = 120 × 6.5 ÷ 1,000 = 0.78 kWh; × 0.17 = $0.13.
Wear = 600 ÷ 5,000 × 6.5 = $0.78.
Failure allowance = (2.125 + 0.133 + 0.78) × 0.1 ÷ 0.9 = $0.34; labour $0.00.
Cost of one good print = $3.38; per gram $0.0397; selling price with no markup $3.38.

Each point is the calculator re-run with only “Spool weight (g)” changed; the gold point is the default example. Change the inputs above and this chart follows your numbers.

Spool weight (g)	Cost of one good print
250	$10.46
500	$5.74
750	$4.16
1,000	$3.38
1,250	$2.90
1,500	$2.59
2,000	$2.19

How to read the result

For many small prints, filament is the largest cost, but wear can be significant on cheap filament and long prints. Reducing failures through good bed adhesion and calibration often saves more than shopping for cheaper filament. If you sell prints, include your time for preparing files, removing supports and finishing, which often exceeds the material cost.

Common mistakes

Using the power-supply rating instead of average power draw.
Ignoring failed prints and support material in the gram count.
Forgetting post-processing time.
Spreading wear over calendar years instead of printing hours.

Keep in mind: Results are estimates for pricing guidance, not financial or tax advice.

Frequently asked questions

How much electricity does a 3D printer use?

It depends on the printer and settings, and the heated bed usually uses the most; measure yours with a plug-in energy meter.

Why add an allowance for failures?

Failed prints use filament and time, so each good print effectively pays for them.

How long does a printer last?

It varies widely with model and maintenance; set the lifetime hours to your own expectation.

Should support material be included?

Yes, use the total grams the slicer reports, including supports.

Sources: Standard cost arithmetic: material cost, electrical energy E (kWh) = P (W) × t (h) ÷ 1,000, straight-line depreciation and expected failures as a share of attempts

Checked 9 Nov 2026. Cost arithmetic: material = mass × price per gram; electrical energy E (kWh) = P (W) × t (h) ÷ 1,000; straight-line depreciation over operating hours; expected failures as a share of attempts (cost ÷ (1 − failure rate)).

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