Print Cost Total Calculator
The true cost of a 3D print goes beyond just the filament. A complete cost model includes material cost, machine depreciation and maintenance time charges, and electricity consumed during the print. This calculator combines all three components into a total job cost, making it useful for pricing print services, tracking project spend, and comparing the economics of different print strategies.
Print cost formula
Electricity cost ($) = Power (W) * Hours / 1,000 * Electricity rate ($/kWh)
Machine cost ($) = Hours * Machine hourly rate ($/hr)
Total cost = Material + Machine cost + Electricity cost
Each component is additive. Material cost can be calculated from the Filament Cost Calculator or Resin Print Cost Calculator and entered here directly.
Typical cost breakdown for a 4-hour PLA print
- Material (85 g at $22/kg): approximately $1.87
- Machine time (4 hr at $0.50/hr): approximately $2.00
- Electricity (150 W for 4 hr at $0.15/kWh): approximately $0.09
- Total: approximately $3.96 for a 4-hour print
- Machine time and depreciation often exceed material cost for longer or complex prints.
Print cost total calculator: frequently asked questions
What should I include in machine hourly rate?
Machine hourly rate covers depreciation of the printer spread over its expected life (e.g. $400 printer over 1,000 hours = $0.40/hr), maintenance consumables (nozzles, beds, belts), and operator time if you charge for your labour.
How do I estimate printer electricity cost?
A typical FDM printer (heated bed, E3D-style hotend) uses 100 to 200 watts. Multiply watts by hours to get watt-hours, divide by 1,000 for kilowatt-hours (kWh), then multiply by your electricity rate. For example, 150W for 8 hours at $0.15/kWh = 150*8/1000*0.15 = $0.18.
How do I price for selling printed parts?
A common starting formula is: (material + machine time + electricity) * 3 for break-even plus modest margin. Professional print services typically mark up 4 to 5x costs. Adjust based on complexity, design time, and market rates.
Should I include failed print costs?
Yes. If you have a 10% failure rate, add 10% to your material cost to cover wasted filament on failed runs. For new or complex prints, budget a higher failure allowance until the print settings are dialled in.
What is a realistic machine hourly rate for a desktop FDM printer?
For a $300 to $500 hobbyist printer with 2,000-hour expected life, raw depreciation is $0.15 to $0.25/hr. Adding consumables (nozzles, beds) and a small maintenance allowance brings a typical rate to $0.25 to $0.75/hr. Professional service bureaus often charge $2 to $10/hr for machine time.
Official sources
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: Average Retail Electricity Prices.
- NIST: Measurement Needs for Additive Manufacturing.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 15 June 2026. See our methodology.