In short
- Ordering from a Dutch print service costs about € 0.10 per gram of PLA, plus start-up fees and shipping.
- Printing yourself costs about € 0.03 per gram, but you pay for the printer first.
- With a € 350 printer, you are cheaper off after about 30 to 50 prints. With a € 220 printer, after just 20 to 30 prints.
- If you only print something a few times a year, ordering is cheaper and easier.
What does ordering a print cost?
Print services usually charge a price per gram, plus start-up fees per order. An example from a Dutch print service (September 2026):
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| PLA per gram | € 0.10 |
| PETG per gram | € 0.11 |
| Start-up fee PLA | € 1.00 |
| Minimum order | € 3.50 |
| Shipping, letterbox parcel | € 3.99 |
Other services charge by machine hours, a design rate or a fixed amount per file. If something also needs designing, you quickly pay € 25 to € 50 per hour. Always ask for a quote.
What does printing yourself cost?
With a € 350 Bambu Lab A1, a 50 gram PLA print (2.5 hours) costs:
| Cost item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Filament (50 g × € 0.02) | € 1.00 |
| Electricity (100 W × 2.5 hours × € 0.30/kWh) | € 0.08 |
| Maintenance (€ 0.10 per hour) | € 0.25 |
| Printer depreciation (€ 350 over 4,000 hours) | € 0.22 |
| Failed prints (5%) | € 0.08 |
| Total (rounded) | € 1.62 |
The same print costs € 6.00 at the print service above, plus € 3.99 shipping: € 9.99.
After how many prints has your printer paid for itself?
Every print you make yourself instead of ordering saves the difference between the service’s price and your own costs (filament, electricity, maintenance and failed prints). Divide the printer price by that saving and you know how many prints you need.
| Type of print | Ordered (incl. shipping) | Printed yourself (excl. printer) | Saving per print | Paid back after (€ 350) | Paid back after (€ 220) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small: 20 g, 1 hour | € 7.49 | € 0.56 | € 6.93 | 51 prints | 32 prints |
| Medium: 50 g, 2.5 hours | € 9.99 | € 1.39 | € 8.60 | 41 prints | 26 prints |
| Larger: 100 g, 5 hours | € 14.99 | € 2.78 | € 12.21 | 29 prints | 18 prints |
We assume one print per order. If you order several prints at once, you pay less in shipping and start-up fees, and paying back your printer takes longer.
What the calculation leaves out
For printing yourself
- You learn as you go, and that takes time. At first, more than 5% of your prints will fail.
- You print more than you planned. Once you own a printer, you also print things you would never have ordered. That is fun, but it is not a saving.
- Speed. You can print a broken clip yourself within an hour. A print service delivers in 2 to 5 working days.
For ordering a print
- No hassle. No calibration, maintenance or failed prints.
- More materials and better quality. A service often has resin, nylon or SLS printers that you do not have at home.
- Design help. If you do not have a 3D model, a service can make one for you.
What suits you?
| You... | Advice |
|---|---|
| need a part just once | Order a print |
| print something a few times a year | Order a print |
| print more than 2 or 3 times a month | Print yourself |
| want to sell prints | Print yourself. Also read KvK and VAT when selling |
| need a special material or very high quality | Order a print |
Want to buy a printer? The printer comparison shows what a print hour costs for each model. Use the calculator to work out the cost of your own print.
Frequently asked questions
What does it cost to have something 3D printed?
A small 50 gram PLA print costs about € 6 at a Dutch print service, plus about € 4 shipping. For larger prints you pay about € 0.10 per gram.
Is your own 3D printer cheaper than ordering prints?
Yes, if you print often. With a € 350 printer, you are cheaper off than with a print service after about 30 to 50 prints.
What does 3D printing yourself cost per gram?
About € 0.02 per gram for PLA. Add electricity, maintenance, depreciation and failed prints and you get to about € 0.03 to € 0.05 per gram.
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