In short
- A small print such as a keychain or cable clip costs € 0.30 to € 0.70.
- A phone stand or lithophane costs about € 1.50.
- Big projects such as a cosplay helmet quickly cost € 25 to € 35.
- Filament is usually the biggest cost. For small or slow prints, printer hours weigh relatively heavily.
The ten examples
| Weight | Print time | Filament | Printer hours | Cost price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keychain | 8 g | 0.5 hours | € 0.16 | € 0.11 | € 0.28 |
| Set of cable clips | 20 g | 1 hour | € 0.40 | € 0.22 | € 0.65 |
| Replacement clip (PETG) | 15 g | 1 hour | € 0.33 | € 0.22 | € 0.57 |
| Phone case (TPU) | 25 g | 2 hours | € 0.75 | € 0.43 | € 1.24 |
| Lithophane (photo lamp) | 30 g | 3 hours | € 0.60 | € 0.65 | € 1.32 |
| Phone stand | 40 g | 2.5 hours | € 0.80 | € 0.54 | € 1.41 |
| Vase (vase mode) | 80 g | 4 hours | € 1.60 | € 0.87 | € 2.59 |
| Plant pot | 120 g | 6 hours | € 2.40 | € 1.30 | € 3.89 |
| Board game insert | 300 g | 16 hours | € 6.00 | € 3.48 | € 9.95 |
| Cosplay helmet (in parts) | 900 g | 45 hours | € 18.00 | € 9.79 | € 29.18 |
Weight and print time are typical values with standard settings. Your model and settings can differ quite a bit: check your slicer for the real values.
What these prices are based on
- Printer: Bambu Lab A1 (about € 350, roughly 100 watts while printing).
- Printer hours: € 0.22 per hour. That is depreciation over 4,000 print hours (€ 0.09), maintenance (€ 0.10) and electricity at € 0.30 per kWh (€ 0.03). See cost per print hour.
- Filament: PLA € 20 per kg, PETG € 22 and TPU € 30. See costs by material.
- Failed prints: 5% extra on the total.
- Not included: your own time, post-processing (sanding, painting) and shipping.
What stands out?
Small prints are almost free, but not quite
For an 8 gram keychain, the printer hours (€ 0.11) already cost two-thirds of the filament (€ 0.16). So with small prints, printer hours count for a lot.
Big prints: the filament sets the price
For the cosplay helmet, filament is almost two-thirds of the cost. Less infill or thinner walls really save money here. So does avoiding a failed 20-hour print: for big prints, allow a bit more for failures.
Print time costs money too
A lithophane weighs only 30 grams, but prints slowly. That is why the printer hours cost more than the filament.
What should you charge if you sell it?
The cost price is not your selling price. Add your own time (preparation, post-processing, packing) and a margin. A phone stand with a cost price of € 1.41 easily sells for € 6 to € 8 with 10 minutes of work and a 50% margin. Read more in how much to charge for a 3D print.
Calculate your own print
Enter the weight and print time from your slicer in the calculator and you instantly see the cost price and a selling price. Don’t have a printer? Then read whether printing yourself or ordering a print is cheaper.
Frequently asked questions
How much does 3D printing cost per gram?
For PLA, count on about € 0.02 per gram for filament. Add printer hours and failed prints and you usually end up at € 0.03 to € 0.05 per gram. See cost per gram.
What does a small 3D print cost?
A small print of 10 to 40 grams usually costs between € 0.30 and € 1.50 if you print it yourself.
Why is ordering a print so much more expensive?
A print service also charges for labour, margin, VAT (BTW), start-up fees and shipping. A 50 gram print there easily costs € 6 plus shipping.
Calculate the cost of your print
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