How Much Does 3D Printing Cost?
Cost components
- Filament: the main cost. From ~$25/kg standard PLA to $40+ for premium or specialty
- Electricity: cents per hour for a typical desktop printer (around 100 to 300 W)
- Wear and consumables: nozzles, build sheets, glue stick, minor
- Failed prints: hidden cost, calibration matters
Cost per typical print
| Approx filament cost | |
|---|---|
| Keychain (5 g) | 10 to 20 cents |
| Phone stand (50 g) | $1.50 to $3 |
| Cosplay helmet panel (300 g) | $8 to $15 |
| Functional bracket (60 g PETG) | $1.50 to $3 |
| Vase, vase mode (150 g silk PLA) | $5 to $10 |
| Drone frame (250 g PA-CF) | $15 to $30 |
Saving money
- Calibrate your printer to reduce failures
- Buy in volume (sample spools to test colours, full spools to print)
- Use sensible infill (15 to 25 percent is fine for most prints)
- Skip premium materials unless the use case demands them
Browse
Standard PLA, Sample spools. Related: Cheap filament Australia.