Resin vs Filament 3D Printing Cost: Which Is Cheaper Per Print? (2026)
The material cost per gram is similar, but the total cost per print is not. Resin printing has hidden running costs — FEP sheets, IPA wash solution, UV curing electricity — that most comparisons ignore. This guide runs the real numbers for both, side by side.
Quick answer
Small prints (<30ml / <30g): Comparable cost — resin's consumables hurt more on tiny prints.
Medium prints (30–100ml / 30–100g): FDM is usually 20–40% cheaper total once consumables are counted.
Large solid objects (>200g): FDM wins clearly — resin material cost and wash volume scale with part size.
High-detail miniatures: Resin gives far better quality for the same cost, making it the better value despite similar price.
Head-to-head: resin vs filament cost breakdown
| Cost factor | FDM filament | MSLA resin |
|---|---|---|
| Material cost | £0.015–0.032/g | £0.018–0.035/ml |
| Consumables per print | None (nozzle: ~£0.005) | FEP + IPA: £0.35–0.60 |
| Electricity — printing | £0.03–0.12/hr (180–350W) | £0.01–0.03/hr (30–80W) |
| UV curing electricity | None | £0.002–0.008/print |
| Failure rate | 3–8% | 5–15% |
| Post-processing time | Minimal | 15–30 min (wash + cure) |
| Printer price range | £150–£1,200 | £100–£700 |
UK market figures, March 2026. Use the resin cost calculator or filament cost calculator to plug in your exact numbers.
Worked examples: same print, both technologies
These examples use realistic mid-range assumptions: PLA at £0.020/g, standard MSLA resin at £0.022/ml, 200W FDM printer, 50W MSLA printer, electricity at £0.34/kWh, FEP at £12/100 prints, IPA at £8/L (200ml per wash).
Example 1: 28mm tabletop miniature (3g / 3ml)
FDM (PLA)
Result: rough surface, no fine detail
MSLA Resin
Result: crisp detail, smooth surface, paint-ready
Verdict: Resin costs 61% more, but the quality difference is enormous. For miniatures, resin is worth every penny.
Example 2: Functional wall bracket (80g / 80ml)
FDM (PLA/PETG)
Strong, lightweight, good enough for most loads
MSLA Resin
Brittle under load, not ideal for structural parts
Verdict: Similar cost but FDM wins on material properties. Use PETG or ABS for functional parts.
Example 3: Decorative vase (200g / 200ml)
FDM (PLA)
MSLA Resin
Verdict: FDM is cheaper and more practical for large hollow objects. Resin's build volume also limits print size on most printers.
The hidden costs that make resin more expensive than it looks
When people ask "is resin cheaper than filament?", they usually compare material costs in isolation. Resin at £22/L vs PLA at £20/kg sounds similar — and per gram, it is. But every resin print has three unavoidable additional costs that FDM doesn't:
1. FEP sheet degradation
The FEP film at the bottom of your resin vat gets damaged by UV light and mechanical stress with every print. A typical FEP sheet lasts 80–120 prints. At £12 per sheet, that's £0.10–0.15 per print added to your cost — before you've touched any resin. On a 3ml miniature, the FEP cost is larger than the resin cost.
2. IPA wash (or wash solution)
After printing, resin prints must be washed to remove uncured resin from the surface. A typical wash cycle uses 150–300ml of 99% IPA. At £8/L, that's £1.20–2.40 per litre of IPA consumed per wash. Many people underestimate this — IPA costs can easily match or exceed resin costs on small prints. Water-washable resin eliminates this cost but costs 20–35% more per litre.
3. Higher failure rates
Resin print failures are binary — the print either releases from the FEP mid-print (destroying the FEP and wasting all the resin poured), or it doesn't. FDM failures are usually recoverable (layer shift, stringing) and often catch-able early. Resin failure rates of 5–15% are common, especially with hollow prints, thin walls, or new resin brands. Factor this into your cost or you'll underprice sells.
When to use resin vs filament
✅ Choose resin for:
- Tabletop miniatures and figurines
- Jewellery, rings, and small detailed models
- Dental models and medical prototypes
- Display models requiring smooth finish without sanding
- Prints where £0.30–0.60 extra consumable cost is acceptable
✅ Choose FDM filament for:
- Functional parts, brackets, and enclosures
- Large decorative objects (vases, planters, cosplay props)
- High-volume / print farm production
- Prints over 100g where consumable overhead scales badly
- Outdoor parts requiring UV resistance (PETG, ASA)
Material cost comparison: all major types (2026)
| Material | Cost per kg/L | Cost per gram/ml | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLA | £15–28/kg | £0.015–0.028 | FDM |
| PLA+ | £18–30/kg | £0.018–0.030 | FDM |
| PETG | £18–35/kg | £0.018–0.035 | FDM |
| ABS / ASA | £18–32/kg | £0.018–0.032 | FDM |
| TPU | £22–45/kg | £0.022–0.045 | FDM |
| Standard MSLA resin | £18–28/L | £0.018–0.028 | Resin |
| ABS-like resin | £25–38/L | £0.025–0.038 | Resin |
| Water-washable resin | £22–35/L | £0.022–0.035 | Resin |
| 8K high-detail resin | £28–45/L | £0.028–0.045 | Resin |
Material cost only — resin prints carry additional consumable costs of £0.30–0.60 per print not reflected above. See the resin cost calculator for the true total.
Running both: the case for owning an FDM and a resin printer
Most serious makers end up with both. An Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra or Anycubic Photon Mono M7 costs £250–400 and handles all your high-detail work. Your FDM printer (Bambu A1, Ender-3 V3, Prusa MK4) handles everything else. The two technologies aren't competing — they serve completely different use cases.
If you sell on Etsy, splitting your range makes financial sense too. Resin miniatures and jewellery models command higher per-unit prices (£8–25 for a painted mini) while FDM handles volume products (phone stands, cable clips, storage solutions) where cost efficiency matters more than surface finish.
Use the resin cost calculator and filament calculator side by side to work out your exact numbers before pricing any product line.
FAQ
Is resin printing cheaper than FDM?
Not when you factor in all consumables. Material costs per gram are similar, but every resin print adds £0.30–0.60 in FEP wear and IPA wash costs on top. For prints under 30ml, the consumable overhead makes resin noticeably more expensive per print. For large solid objects, FDM is clearly cheaper.
Does water-washable resin save money overall?
It depends on your volume. Water-washable resin eliminates IPA costs (saving £0.12–0.24 per print) but costs 20–35% more per litre. At low volumes, it breaks even. At high volume (10+ prints per day), standard resin + bulk IPA is usually cheaper — but water-washable is safer and easier to dispose of.
What's the cheapest resin printer to run?
Smaller MSLA printers (Elegoo Mars 4, Anycubic Photon Mono 2) draw 30–40W vs 60–80W for larger format printers. Lower wattage means lower electricity cost, but you'll print fewer parts per plate. For cost efficiency at scale, a mid-size printer like the Elegoo Saturn series balances plate size with power draw well.
Can I reduce resin print failure rate?
Yes. Use fresh, well-shaken resin, print at ambient temperatures above 20°C, dial in lift speeds for your resin type, and replace FEP before it develops milky patches or micro-tears. Most failures come from trying to print cold resin or worn FEP. Paying an extra £0.05 per print to replace FEP proactively saves expensive resin waste.
Related tools & guides
Resin 3D Printing Cost Calculator
Calculate your true resin print cost including FEP, IPA wash, and UV curing.
Filament Cost Calculator
Calculate FDM print costs for PLA, PETG, ABS, and TPU.
Filament Cost Per Gram Reference (2026)
PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU cost-per-gram table with spool price ranges.
How to Price Resin Prints
Full guide to pricing resin prints for Etsy and commissions.
Selling both resin and filament prints?
Pro calculator handles multi-material jobs, batch runs, failure rate tracking, and saved SKUs. 30-day free trial, no card required.