The Ultimate 3D Print Cost & Profit Calculator

A professional tool for hobbyists and businesses to accurately price their 3D prints. Whether you use Cura, PrusaSlicer, or need a more comprehensive Bambu Studio cost calculator alternative, simply take the estimated print time and filament weight from your slicer and enter them below. New to 3D printing? Visit our Learning Center.

1. Slicer & Print Details
Get this value from your slicer software (e.g., Cura, Bambu Studio).

2. Filament & Material
Standard spools are 1000g (1kg). Sample spools are often 250g.

3. Printer & Energy
Estimates average power consumption (Watts) for these models.
Suggested Rate Based on Geographical Location
Used for depreciation. Entry: 200-400, Pro: 1000+.
Budget printers: ~2,000 hrs. High-end/Pro: ~5,000+ hrs.
Cost of nozzles, belts, lube. Standard estimate: 0.10/hr.

4. Business & Labor
Suggested Rate Based on Minimum Living Wage
Slicing, cleaning bed, loading filament. Avg: 5-15 mins.
Removing supports, sanding, packing. Avg: 10-30 mins.
Reliable printer: 5%. Difficult prints/ABS: 10-20%.
Guideline: 100-300% for generic items, 400%+ for custom parts.

Recommended Sale Price

$0.00

This is the price you should charge to meet your profit goals.

Profit Analysis

Total Cost
$0.00
Net Profit
$0.00
Margin
0%

Cost Breakdown

How to Use the Calculator

This calculator breaks down every hidden cost in 3D printing. Here is a detailed explanation of every input field:

1. Slicer & Print Details

  • Print Time (Hours/Minutes): The total time the printer is running. You can find this estimate in your slicer software (Cura, PrusaSlicer, Bambu Studio) after you slice the model.
  • Filament Used (grams): The weight of the plastic used for the model, including supports, rafts, and brims. This is also found in your slicer preview.

2. Filament & Material

  • Filament Spool Weight: The net weight of the plastic on a full spool. Standard spools are usually 1000g (1kg).
  • Filament Spool Cost: The price you paid for that spool of filament. This calculates exactly how much each gram of plastic costs you.

3. Printer & Energy

  • Printer Model: Select your printer to automatically estimate its power consumption (Watts). We have updated the list to include the latest models from Bambu Lab, Creality, Elegoo, and more.
  • Electricity Cost: The price you pay for electricity per kilowatt-hour. You can find this on your monthly utility bill.
  • Printer Purchase Price: The total cost of your machine. This is used to calculate depreciation (how much value the machine loses per hour of use).
  • Expected Lifespan: How many hours the printer will last before it dies or needs major replacement. Hobbyist printers usually last 2,000 to 5,000 hours.
  • Maintenance Buffer: An estimated hourly cost for consumables like nozzles, belts, PTFE tubes, and lubricants. A safe bet is 0.10/hr.

4. Business & Labor

  • Labor Rate: How much you want to pay yourself per hour. Don't work for free!
  • Setup Time: The time spent slicing the file, cleaning the print bed, loading filament, and starting the print. This is often overlooked but is a real cost.
  • Post-Processing Time: The time spent removing supports, sanding, painting, or packing the item for shipping.
  • Print Failure Rate: The percentage of prints that fail. If you enter 10%, the calculator adds a markup to successful prints to pay for the plastic and time lost on the failed ones.
  • Desired Profit Margin: The percentage of profit you want on top of your costs. 50% means you sell it for 1.5x the cost.