In short
- An hour of printing on the A1 costs about € 0.22, excluding filament.
- When printing PLA, the A1 uses about 95 to 100 W on average: roughly 3 cents per hour.
- On standby it uses about 5 W, or about € 13 per year if you leave it switched on.
- A 50 g PLA print (2.5 hours) costs about € 1.62 in total.
Cost per print hour
| Cost item | Per hour | How it is calculated |
|---|---|---|
| Depreciation | € 0.09 | € 350 purchase price ÷ 4,000 print hours |
| Maintenance | € 0.10 | nozzles, build plate, lubricant, small parts |
| Electricity | € 0.03 | 100 W × € 0.30 per kWh |
| Total | € 0.22 | excluding filament and failed prints |
Want to know more about how these amounts are built up? Read cost per print hour and maintenance costs.
Calculate your print with the A1 →
Power consumption of the A1
| Situation | Consumption | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Standby (on, not printing) | about 5 W | € 0.04 per day |
| Printing PLA (bed 55 – 65 °C) | about 95 W on average | € 0.03 per hour |
| Heating the bed | briefly much higher | negligible per print |
| Printing ABS (hot bed, open printer*) | up to about 200 W | € 0.06 per hour |
Values as measured by users on the Bambu Lab forum, with electricity at € 0.30 per kWh. Actual consumption depends on room temperature, bed temperature and print speed. *The A1 is an open printer; ABS and ASA print better on an enclosed printer.
If you print 10 hours a week (520 hours a year), the A1 costs you about € 16 in electricity per year, and about € 113 in total printer-hour costs (electricity, maintenance and depreciation). More about this in electricity costs of a 3D printer.
What does a print cost on the A1?
| Weight | Print time | Cost price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keychain | 8 g | 0.5 hours | € 0.28 |
| Phone stand | 40 g | 2.5 hours | € 1.41 |
| Plant pot | 120 g | 6 hours | € 3.89 |
| Board game insert | 300 g | 16 hours | € 9.95 |
PLA at € 20 per kg, including 5% waste. For more examples, see what does a 3D print cost.
The A1 compared
| Printer | Price | Build volume | Cost per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bambu Lab A1 mini | € 220 | 180 × 180 × 180 mm | € 0.18 |
| Bambu Lab A1 | € 350 | 256 × 256 × 256 mm | € 0.22 |
| Bambu Lab P1S Combo | € 560 | 256 × 256 × 256 mm | € 0.28 |
The A1 mini is slightly cheaper per hour but has a smaller build volume. The P1S is enclosed, so it is better suited to ABS and ASA. See the printer comparison.
How to print more cheaply on the A1
- Switch it off when you won't be printing for a few days. That saves about € 13 per year.
- Lower the bed temperature for PLA to 55 °C, as long as your prints still stick well.
- Use 10 to 15% infill for decorative prints.
- Limit colour changes with the AMS lite: every change wastes filament.
- Dry damp filament to prevent failed prints. Read drying filament.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does the Bambu Lab A1 use?
When printing PLA, about 95 to 100 W on average. At € 0.30 per kWh that is roughly 3 cents per hour. On standby it uses about 5 W.
What does an hour of printing on the Bambu Lab A1 cost?
About € 0.22 for depreciation, maintenance and electricity. Filament comes on top of that.
Why does the specification say 1300 watts?
That is the maximum power, which the A1 only reaches briefly while heating the bed. The average consumption while printing is about a tenth of that.
Calculate the cost of your print
Enter weight, print time and material and instantly see what your print costs, including electricity, wear and failed prints.
Calculate the cost of your print →