Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about 3D printing costs, filament pricing, and selling your prints.
How much does it cost to 3D print something?
The cost of a 3D print depends on the weight of filament used, print time (electricity), and any additional costs like labour or packaging. A typical small print (50g PLA, 2 hours) costs roughly £0.50–£1.50 in materials and electricity at UK rates. Use our free calculator to get an accurate figure for your specific print.
What is a good price per gram for PLA filament?
Budget PLA typically costs £0.015–0.020 per gram (around £15–20 per kg spool). Mid-range brands like Polymaker or eSUN PLA+ cost £0.020–0.030/g. Premium options like Prusament cost £0.030–0.040/g. The free calculator defaults to £0.025/g which is a reasonable midpoint for most users.
How do I calculate electricity cost for 3D printing?
Multiply your printer's power draw (in kilowatts) by print time (hours) by your electricity rate (per kWh). A 200W printer running for 3 hours at £0.34/kWh costs: 0.2 × 3 × 0.34 = £0.20. Our calculator does this automatically — just enter your print time.
How should I price my 3D prints for Etsy?
Start with your total cost (material + electricity + packaging + your time), then apply a markup of 200–300% for a healthy margin. Factor in Etsy's fees — 6.5% transaction + £0.20 listing + 3.25% payment processing. Our calculator has an Etsy fee option built in so you can see exactly what you'll keep after fees.
What markup should I use for 3D printed products?
Most successful 3D printing sellers use a 200–400% markup on raw costs. A 200% markup means you charge 3× your cost — covering materials, electricity, and leaving profit. If your cost is £1.50, charge at least £4.50. Adjust based on your market and how much your time is worth.
How do I account for failed prints in my pricing?
If 1 in 10 prints fails, your effective cost per successful print is 10% higher. Add your failure rate as a percentage to your total cost before applying a markup. The Pro calculator includes a failure rate field that does this automatically.
What are Etsy's fees for 3D printed items?
Etsy charges: a £0.16 listing fee per item, 6.5% transaction fee on the sale price including shipping, and 3.25% + £0.21 payment processing fee. On a £10 sale you'd pay roughly £1.50 in fees total. Our calculator shows you the exact breakdown.
How do I calculate the cost per gram of filament?
Divide the spool price by the spool weight in grams. A £19.99 1kg spool = £19.99 ÷ 1000 = £0.020 per gram. The free calculator includes a spool price helper — just enter the spool price and weight and it calculates this for you.
Does print quality affect cost?
Print quality settings affect print time but not material cost significantly. A higher-quality print at 0.1mm layers takes roughly 2× as long as a 0.2mm print, doubling electricity cost. For most small prints the electricity difference is small — material weight is the bigger cost driver.
How much does it cost to run a 3D printer per hour?
At UK electricity rates (£0.34/kWh), a 200W printer costs about £0.068 per hour to run. At US rates ($0.12/kWh) a similar printer costs around $0.024/hour. Our calculator adjusts automatically based on your country and allows you to enter your exact printer wattage.
Should I include my time when pricing 3D prints?
Yes — especially for Etsy and other selling platforms. Time spent on design, slicing, print monitoring, removal, post-processing, packaging, and customer service all has value. Even at a modest £10/hour, 30 minutes of work adds £5 to your cost. The Pro calculator includes a labour rate field.
What is the difference between the Free and Pro calculator?
The free calculator covers material, electricity, shipping, platform fees, and profit markup — perfect for quick pricing. The Pro calculator adds multi-material support, filament inventory tracking, batch costing, machine depreciation, failure rate, VAT, Etsy CSV analytics, SKU management, and saved settings across devices.
Ready to calculate your print cost?
Use the free calculator — no sign-up required.