In short
- An hour of printing on the A1 mini costs about € 0.18, excluding filament.
- While printing PLA it uses around 80 watts on average. That is just over 2 euro cents per hour.
- In standby it uses 5 to 7 watts. Leave it on all the time and that costs about € 15 per year.
- A 40 gram PLA phone stand (2.5 hours) costs about € 1.31 in total.
Calculate your print on the A1 mini →
Cost per print hour
| Cost item | Per hour | How it is calculated |
|---|---|---|
| Depreciation | € 0.06 | € 220 purchase ÷ 4,000 print hours |
| Maintenance | € 0.10 | nozzles, PEI plate, lubricant, small parts |
| Electricity | € 0.02 | 80 W × € 0.30 per kWh |
| Total | € 0.18 | excluding filament and failed prints |
A1 mini parts cost about the same as those of the larger A1, so maintenance per hour is the same. The difference is the purchase price. More on these items in cost per print hour and maintenance costs.
Power consumption of the A1 mini
While the bed heats up, the printer draws much more power for a few minutes. After that, consumption drops a lot. Measurements by Bambu Lab and by users with an energy meter show this picture:
| Situation | Consumption |
|---|---|
| Standby (screen on) | 5 – 7 W |
| Printing PLA | 70 – 100 W, about 80 W on average |
| Printing PETG | similar, about 75 – 100 W |
Your own consumption depends on bed temperature, room temperature and how long your prints take. Short prints are relatively more expensive because heating up takes a bigger share of the time.
Per year: if you print 10 hours a week, the A1 mini uses about 42 kWh. That is roughly € 12.50 of electricity. More in electricity cost of a 3D printer.
What does a print on the A1 mini cost?
| Weight | Print time | Cost price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keychain | 8 g | 0.5 hours | € 0.26 |
| Phone stand | 40 g | 2.5 hours | € 1.31 |
| Plant pot | 120 g | 6 hours | € 3.65 |
| Storage box | 200 g | 10 hours | € 6.09 |
PLA at € 20 per kg, 5% failure rate included.
The A1 mini compared
| Printer | Typical 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 |
Prices change with promotions. Also see the Bambu Lab P1S page, or compare all models in the printer comparison.
When is the A1 mini enough?
- Yes, if you mostly print small and medium-sized things: holders, parts, figures, gifts.
- Yes, if you are short on space or want a quiet printer.
- No, if you often want to print things larger than 18 centimetres. You would have to print and glue them in parts.
- No, if you want to print ABS or ASA. For that you need an enclosed printer, such as the P1S.
How to print cheaper on the A1 mini
- Switch the printer off if you are not printing for a few days. That saves about € 15 per year.
- Print several items at once on one plate, so you only heat the bed once.
- Limit colour changes with the AMS lite. Every change purges filament; flush into infill if your slicer supports it.
- Use less infill for decorative prints. 10 to 15% is often enough.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does the Bambu Lab A1 mini use?
About 80 watts on average while printing PLA, with measurements between 70 and 100 watts. In standby it uses 5 to 7 watts.
What does an hour of printing on the A1 mini cost?
About € 0.18 excluding filament. Only around 2 cents of that is electricity; the rest is depreciation and maintenance.
Is the A1 mini cheaper than the regular A1?
It saves about 4 cents per hour, mainly because it costs less to buy. The build volume is smaller though: 18 instead of 25.6 centimetres in every direction.
Calculate the cost of your print
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