How Much Does It Cost to 3D Print Something? (Real Examples)
Most people assume 3D printing is nearly free — just the cost of filament, right? The real number is 2–5× higher once you add electricity, your time, and printer wear. This guide breaks down the real cost for four common objects with actual figures for both UK and US makers.
The Short Answer
| Print size | Material cost | Total production cost | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (~20g, e.g. keychain) | £0.50 / $0.50 | £1.50–£3.00 / $2–$4 | 45–90 mins |
| Medium (~80g, e.g. phone stand) | £2.00 / $2.00 | £5.00–£10.00 / $6–$12 | 2–4 hrs |
| Large (~200g, e.g. vase) | £5.00 / $5.00 | £12.00–£22.00 / $15–$28 | 4–8 hrs |
| Functional part (~50g, e.g. bracket) | £1.25 / $1.25 | £4.00–£8.00 / $5–$10 | 1–3 hrs |
These are production costs — what it costs you to make. Selling prices are typically 2–4× these figures.
Use the free 3D print cost calculator to get an exact figure for your specific print — enter weight, print time, and your electricity rate.
What Goes Into the Cost of a 3D Print?
1. Filament / material cost — the most visible cost. Formula: weight (g) × price per gram. PLA runs £0.018–£0.025/g (UK) or $0.015–$0.025/g (US). A 50g print uses about £1.25 of PLA. Use our cost per gram calculator to convert spool price to cost per gram.
2. Electricity — often underestimated. A typical FDM printer draws 150–350W. At UK rates (£0.34/kWh), a 3-hour print on a 200W machine costs about £0.20. At US rates ($0.12/kWh) it's around $0.07. The electricity calculator does this in seconds.
3. Machine depreciation — your printer cost spread over its lifespan. A £300 Bambu A1 Mini rated for 3,000 hours = £0.10/hr. Often ignored by hobbyists, always relevant for sellers. See our pricing guide for the full formula.
4. Labour — your time for design, setup, removal, post-processing, quality check, and packing. At even £12/hr, 20 minutes of work adds £4.00 to cost. Most hobbyists forget this and effectively work for free.
5. Consumables and overhead — nozzles, bed surfaces, adhesive, packaging, software subscriptions. Add 5–10% on top of the above as a buffer.
Real Example 1 — Phone Stand (PLA, 80g, 3.5 hours)
| Cost component | UK (£) | US ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Material: 80g PLA @ £0.025 / $0.025/g | £2.00 | $2.00 |
| Electricity: 180W × 3.5h × rate | £0.21 | $0.08 |
| Machine depreciation: £0.10/hr × 3.5h | £0.35 | $0.35 |
| Labour: 20 mins @ £15/hr | £5.00 | $5.00 |
| Packaging | £0.40 | $0.50 |
| Total production cost | £7.96 | $7.93 |
| At 200% markup (selling price) | £23.88 | $23.79 |
The filament alone (£2.00) is only 25% of the real cost. Sellers who price at "3× filament cost" are still undercharging once labour is included.
Real Example 2 — Miniature Figure (resin-style PLA, 15g, 1.5 hours)
| Component | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Material: 15g PLA @ £0.025/g | £0.38 | $0.38 |
| Electricity: 180W × 1.5h | £0.09 | $0.03 |
| Depreciation | £0.15 | $0.15 |
| Labour (10 mins) | £2.50 | $2.50 |
| Total cost | £3.12 | $3.06 |
| Suggested sell | £9–12 | $9–12 |
Miniatures look cheap to make but the labour-to-material ratio is high. Pricing under £8/$8 leaves almost no margin after Etsy fees.
Real Example 3 — Decorative Vase (PLA, 200g, 7 hours)
| Material: 200g PLA @ £0.025/g | £5.00 | $5.00 |
| Electricity: 180W × 7h | £0.43 | $0.15 |
| Depreciation: £0.10 × 7h | £0.70 | $0.70 |
| Labour (25 mins) | £6.25 | $6.25 |
| Packaging | £0.50 | $0.60 |
| Total cost | £12.88 | $12.70 |
| At 200% markup | £38.64 | $38.10 |
Real Example 4 — Functional Bracket (PETG, 45g, 2 hours)
| Material: 45g PETG @ £0.032/g | £1.44 | $1.44 |
| Electricity: 200W × 2h | £0.14 | $0.05 |
| Depreciation | £0.20 | $0.20 |
| Labour (15 mins) | £3.75 | $3.75 |
| Total cost | £5.53 | $5.44 |
PETG costs ~28% more per gram than PLA. If you use the same price for all materials, you're losing money on every PETG print. See our filament cost per gram reference.
How Much Does It Cost to Run a 3D Printer Per Hour?
| Printer | Print wattage | UK cost/hr (£0.34) | US cost/hr ($0.12) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bambu A1 Mini | 180W | £0.061 | $0.022 |
| Ender-3 V3 | 200W | £0.068 | $0.024 |
| Prusa MK4 | 240W | £0.082 | $0.029 |
| Bambu P1S | 350W | £0.119 | $0.042 |
Electricity is rarely the biggest cost — your time almost always is.
The electricity cost calculator lets you enter your exact printer wattage and local rate for a precise figure.
3D Printing Cost vs Buying: When Does It Make Sense?
Printing makes sense for custom and niche items not available commercially — one-off prototypes, personalised name signs, replacement parts for discontinued products, and designs you can't buy anywhere. For commodity items like a basic phone stand or cable clips, Amazon is often cheaper once you count labour; the real value of a printer is customisation, iteration speed, and unique items that don't exist on shelves.
For Etsy sellers, the margin opportunity is in designs competitors don't sell. Generic prints race to the bottom; distinctive or custom work supports healthy margins after Etsy fees and your time.
FAQ
How much does it cost to 3D print 100g of PLA?
100g × £0.025 = £2.50 material + ~£0.10–0.20 electricity + depreciation. Total production cost roughly £4–6 including labour. Use the free calculator for your exact numbers.
Is 3D printing expensive to run?
Electricity is cheap (£0.05–0.12/hr). The cost is filament and your time. A busy printer costs £5–15/day in consumables.
How much does a 3D printed part cost compared to machined?
FDM is 10–100× cheaper for prototypes and small runs. CNC machined aluminium = £50–500+. 3D printed equivalent = £5–30.
Does printer quality affect running cost?
Better printers often use more power but fail less. A £800 Prusa MK4 over 8,000 hours costs £0.10/hr in depreciation — same as a £300 Bambu over 3,000 hours.
How do I calculate the exact cost of a print?
Enter weight, material, print time, and power into the free calculator. Takes 30 seconds.
Get the Exact Number for Your Print
Enter your print weight, material, print time, and electricity rate. The calculator handles the rest — material cost, electricity, depreciation, and suggested selling price.
Open Free Calculator →