How the 3D print cost calculator works
A print costs more than the plastic it uses. This calculator adds up the five things that go into every part you make: filament, electricity, wear on the printer, your own time, and an allowance for prints that fail. It then adds your markup and, if you sell on a marketplace like Etsy, works backwards to a price that still leaves you that markup after fees.
Your slicer (Cura, PrusaSlicer, Bambu Studio, OrcaSlicer) shows the filament weight or length and the print time for each model. Those two numbers drive most of the result.
The formula in plain English
- Filament = grams used ÷ 1,000 × price per kg. If you only know the length, grams = length × the filament's cross-section × its density.
- Electricity = power draw in watts ÷ 1,000 × print hours × price per kWh.
- Printer wear = (printer price ÷ expected lifetime hours + maintenance per hour) × print hours.
- Labour = setup and finishing minutes ÷ 60 × your hourly rate.
- Total cost = the four above, plus your failure rate on top.
- Selling price = total cost plus markup, then grossed up so that percentage and fixed fees come out of the buyer's payment, not your margin.
Worked example
A 50 g PLA print that takes 3 hours, on a $600 printer you expect to last 5,000 hours, with 10 minutes of your time at $15 an hour:
- Filament: 50 g of $20/kg PLA = $1.00
- Electricity: 0.12 kW × 3 h × $0.17 = $0.06
- Wear: ($0.12 + $0.05 maintenance) × 3 h = $0.51
- Labour: 10 ÷ 60 × $15 = $2.50
- Subtotal $4.07, plus a 10% failure buffer = $4.48 total cost
- With a 50% markup you want $6.72 after fees
- Etsy-style fees (6.5% + 3% + $0.25 + $0.20) push the price to $7.92, leaving $2.24 profit
Notice that labour is the biggest cost here, not plastic. Small prints are usually priced by time, not by weight.
Typical filament densities
Densities vary a little by brand and colour, so treat these as typical values. Weight per metre is for 1.75 mm filament.
| Material | Density (g/cm³) | Grams per metre |
|---|---|---|
| PLA | 1.24 | 2.98 |
| PETG | 1.27 | 3.05 |
| ABS | 1.04 | 2.50 |
| ASA | 1.07 | 2.57 |
| TPU (flexible) | 1.21 | 2.91 |
| Nylon (PA) | 1.14 | 2.74 |
FAQs
How much electricity does a 3D printer use?
Most desktop printers average 70 to 150 W once the bed and nozzle are hot; heating up briefly draws more. Even long prints rarely cost more than a few cents in power, so focus on filament and time first.
What failure rate should I use?
5 to 10% suits a well-tuned printer and proven models. Use 15 to 25% for new designs, tall thin parts or tricky materials like TPU and nylon.
Are the Etsy fees up to date?
They are typical values for each currency and can change. Check Etsy's current fee page and edit the numbers if yours differ. Etsy also charges its transaction fee on shipping, which this calculator leaves out.
Do I pay VAT on Etsy fees?
In the UK, sellers who aren't VAT registered pay 20% VAT on Etsy's fees, so the GBP setting includes it, payment processing fees too. If you're VAT registered, set it to 0 (you account for it on your VAT return instead). In the EU, enter your country's VAT rate; US sellers can leave it at 0.
Can I share a calculation?
Yes. The page address updates as you type, so you can bookmark it or send the link to someone.