3D print cost calculator
Estimate material and electricity costs for one print, using your slicer’s material and time estimates.
What the result includes
The estimate adds the cost of filament and electricity for one print. It excludes failed prints, waste, labor, maintenance, and the printer itself.
How it is calculated
Material cost is grams ÷ 1,000 × price per kilogram. Electricity cost is average watts ÷ 1,000 × print hours × price per kWh. For 80 g at $20 per kg, material is $1.60. For 4 hours at 120 W and $0.18 per kWh, electricity is $0.086, so the total is about $1.69.
Questions about this estimate
Where do I find the filament weight and print time?
Slicer software usually reports an estimated filament weight and print time for a sliced model. Enter those values.
What power should I enter?
Enter the average power the printer draws while printing. A plug-in energy monitor can measure it. The maximum rating on the label may be higher than the average.
Where does the default electricity price come from?
The default is the U.S. average residential electricity price for August 2026 from the EIA Electric Power Monthly, rounded to $0.01 per kWh. Replace it with the price on your own bill.
Sources
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