3D Printing Tool

3D Print Cost Calculator

Estimate what a home 3D print really costs once filament, electricity, print time, and failed-print allowance are included.

Estimate A Print Before You Start

Enter the slicer estimate and your filament cost. The calculator adds material, electricity, and a sensible failed-print allowance so you can tell whether that quick little bracket is actually cheap.

Filament usedUse the gram estimate from your slicer. Filament spool costWhat you paid for the spool. Spool weightMost common PLA/PETG spools are 1000g. Print timeHours from the slicer estimate. Printer power drawUse 80-150W for many enclosed FDM printers once warm. Electricity pricePrice per kWh. UK default here is 28p. Failure allowance Finishing / hardwareMagnets, screws, inserts, glue, paint, or spare parts.

Total estimate£0.00

Filament£0.00

Electricity£0.00

With failures£0.00

What this means

How I Use This

For home prints, filament is usually the biggest cost, but time and failed prints are what catch people out. A one-off repair part can be brilliant value even if it costs a couple of pounds. A big decorative print that takes two days should be treated more like a small project than a freebie.

If I am printing something for another person, I would never charge only the raw filament cost. Add failed-print risk, hardware, packaging, and the fact that the printer is tied up for hours.