3D Printing Filament Calculator
The 3D printing filament calculator helps makers, hobbyists, and engineers estimate how much filament a print will consume and what it will cost. By entering the print volume (from your slicer software), the filament material density, the spool price, and the spool weight, the calculator converts cubic centimetres to grams and then to a dollar cost. This is useful for budgeting print jobs, comparing materials, or deciding whether a project fits within your remaining spool. Filament mass equals volume times density, so a 10 cm3 PLA print at 1.24 g/cm3 uses 12.40 g of filament. The cost scales linearly with grams used and the per-gram price of your spool.
Filament mass and cost formula
Mass (g) = Volume (cm3) x Density (g/cm3)
Cost per gram = Spool price / Spool weight (g)
Print cost = Mass (g) x Cost per gram
The slicer's reported volume already accounts for infill percentage, wall count, and support structures. Always use the sliced volume, not the solid model volume, for accurate results.
Common filament densities
- PLA: 1.24 g/cm3 - the most common beginner filament, biodegradable, easy to print.
- PETG: 1.27 g/cm3 - stronger than PLA, slightly flexible, food-safe grades available.
- ABS: 1.04 g/cm3 - heat-resistant but prone to warping, requires enclosure.
- TPU: 1.21 g/cm3 - flexible rubber-like filament for gaskets and phone cases.
- Nylon: 1.13 g/cm3 - strong and durable, absorbs moisture from the air.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find the volume of my 3D model?
Most slicer software (such as PrusaSlicer, Cura, or Bambu Studio) reports the model volume in cubic centimetres or cubic millimetres. You can also find volume in your CAD tool. Use that figure as your input. If your slicer reports filament length instead, multiply by the cross-section area of the filament (pi * (diameter/2)^2).
What is the density of common filaments?
PLA is approximately 1.24 g/cm3, PETG approximately 1.27 g/cm3, ABS approximately 1.04 g/cm3, and TPU approximately 1.21 g/cm3. Nylon averages about 1.13 g/cm3. Using the correct density gives you an accurate gram estimate.
Does infill percentage affect filament use?
Yes. A print at 20% infill uses significantly less filament than one at 100% infill. Your slicer will account for infill when it reports the final model volume for the sliced print. Enter the sliced volume, not the solid model volume, for the most accurate result.
How much does a standard filament spool weigh?
Standard spools are most commonly 1 kg (1,000 g) of filament. Some spools are 500 g or 750 g, and specialty filaments may come in smaller quantities. Check your spool label for the net filament weight.
Can I use this calculator for resin printing?
This calculator is designed for FDM (filament) printing. For resin (SLA/DLP) printing, you would use volume times resin density (typically 1.1 to 1.2 g/cm3), but resin pricing per millilitre differs from filament pricing per gram, so you would need to adjust the cost inputs accordingly.
Sources
- NIST: Measurement Science for Polymer-Based Additive Manufacturing.
- America Makes / ANSI: Additive Manufacturing Standardization Roadmap.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 14 June 2026. See our methodology.