TPU Filament Cost Calculator
Calculate the real cost of every TPU flexible print — material, electricity, and suggested selling price.
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TPU filament cost in 2026
| Tier | Price per kg |
|---|---|
| Budget TPU | £18–28/kg |
| Mid-range | £25–38/kg |
| Premium | £35–55/kg |
TPU vs PLA — flexible vs rigid
TPU costs 50–100% more per gram than PLA but fills a completely different niche — it's rubber-like, flexible, and highly impact resistant. Use TPU for phone cases, cable protectors, gaskets, vibration dampeners, shoe insoles, or anything that needs to flex and return to shape. It's much harder to print than PLA: bowden extruders struggle to push it reliably, and it needs slow speeds (20–35mm/s) to avoid tangles. Direct drive extruders handle it well. Print slowly and you'll get excellent results.
Typical TPU print costs
| Item | Weight | Time | Material | Electricity | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phone case | 40g | 2h | £1.6 | £0.14 | £1.74 |
| Cable protector | 15g | 1h | £0.6 | £0.07 | £0.67 |
| Gasket | 25g | 1.5h | £1 | £0.1 | £1.1 |
| Shoe insole | 120g | 5h | £4.8 | £0.34 | £5.14 |
Based on TPU at £0.040/g, 200W printer, £0.34/kWh
FAQ
How much does TPU filament cost per gram?
TPU typically costs £0.025–0.045 per gram (£25–45/kg). Budget options like Sunlu TPU cost around £0.025/g; higher-shore-hardness or specialty flexible filaments reach £0.045–0.060/g. TPU is significantly more expensive per gram than PLA or PETG, so accurate weight estimates are especially important for pricing.
Can I print TPU with a bowden extruder?
It is possible but difficult. Bowden tubes compress flexible filament and cause inconsistent extrusion and jams. If you must use a bowden setup, use the shortest possible tube, the slowest possible speed (15–25mm/s), and a Shore 95A or harder TPU. Direct drive extruders (Bambu, Prusa, most modern printers) handle TPU reliably.
What temperature does TPU print at?
TPU prints at 220–240°C nozzle and 30–60°C bed (optional). Print at 20–35mm/s — much slower than PLA. Disable or minimise retraction to avoid grinding the flexible filament. Cooling fan at 50–100% gives good bridging results.
What is Shore hardness in TPU?
Shore hardness measures flexibility. 95A is relatively stiff (good for functional parts, phone cases). 85A is softer and more rubber-like (good for gaskets, grips). Lower Shore values are harder to print. Start with 95A if you are new to flexible filaments.
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