3D Printing Cost & Material Estimator
What a print really costs. Filament price is the part you can see; machine depreciation is usually bigger, and electricity — the cost everyone looks up — is typically a few per cent. Every line is shown as a share so you optimise the right thing.
What are you printing with?
Resin has consumables FDM does not — the tool models them separately
Sets a typical price — override with what you actually pay
Filled in from the material — use your supplier’s figure
/kg
Advanced / Custom Input — the material
Only used if you enter a volume rather than a weight.
g/cm³
Used to show how many parts one spool or bottle yields.
g
The print job
From your slicer, including supports
g
From your slicer
mL
Resin supports are often a third of the model again
mL
From your slicer
h
1 in 20 failing is 5%. Expect 20–30% while you are learning.
%
Advanced / Custom Input — the job
Machine time is shared across everything printed together.
nos
Resin cured onto the FEP or lost on part removal.
mL
Priming line, purge blocks, multi-colour tower waste.
%
The machine
This section is usually the biggest cost, and the one most calculators leave out.
Typically 3,000–10,000 print hours
h
AVERAGE, not the number on the power supply
W
Filled in from your country
/kWh
Advanced / Custom Input — consumables and upkeep
Nozzles, belts, build plates, PTFE. 0 to fold into depreciation.
/h
Water-washable resin removes this cost entirely.
/L
nos
nos
Exposure hours before the screen degrades.
h
Your time, and what to charge
Slicing, removal, support cleanup, sanding, painting
h
0 if this is a hobby and your time is free
/h
Applied on top of true cost to suggest a selling price
%
Advanced / Custom Input — the business case
Per part. The tool works out how many parts justify owning the printer.
Result
Put in the weight and print time from your slicer, then press “Work out the cost”.
Estimate only — verify with a qualified professional and current local pricing before relying on this for commercial quoting. Track your own numbers over time for a real figure.