How to Calibrate E-Steps (Marlin and Klipper)

A step-by-step 100 mm extrusion test, the formula for new E-steps or rotation_distance, and when to adjust flow rate instead.

By CalciTools · Published · 6 min read

Every number on this page is calculated with the same formulas as our calculators. How we build and check them

Mark the filament 120 mm above the extruder, ask the printer to extrude 100 mm, and measure what is left. If 25 mm is left, the printer actually pushed 95 mm, so new E-steps = current × 100 ÷ 95. A printer set to 93 steps/mm should be changed to 97.89. On Klipper, a rotation_distance of 7.5 becomes 7.1250.

What you need

  • A ruler or calipers and a fine marker
  • A way to send G-code: the printer’s console, OctoPrint, Mainsail/Fluidd or Pronterface
  • The filament you print with most

Step by step (Marlin)

  1. Send M503 and note the E value on the M92 line — your current E-steps.
  2. Heat the nozzle to your normal printing temperature.
  3. Mark the filament exactly 120 mm above where it enters the extruder.
  4. Send M83 (relative extrusion), then G1 E100 F100 to extrude 100 mm slowly. Wait until it stops.
  5. Measure from the extruder to your mark. Actual extrusion = 120 − that distance.
  6. New E-steps = current × 100 ÷ actual. Send M92 E<new value>, then M500 to save.
  7. Repeat the test. Within about 1 mm is good.

On Klipper

Klipper uses rotation_distance in the [extruder] section of printer.cfg instead of E-steps, and the correction goes the other way: new rotation_distance = current × actual ÷ requested. Save the file and restart the firmware, then test again.

Common mistakes

  • Extruding too fast. The hotend can’t melt plastic quickly enough, the extruder slips and you over-correct. Keep to about 100 mm per minute.
  • Measuring from the wrong point. Measure to the same reference point you marked from.
  • Fixing a single filament with E-steps. Use slicer flow rate for that instead.

The E-steps calculator does the arithmetic and gives you the exact commands to send.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I calibrate E-steps?

Once after building the printer or changing the extruder, gears or firmware. It is a property of the extruder hardware, so it rarely changes after that.

E-steps or flow rate — which should I change?

If every filament under- or over-extrudes by the same amount, fix E-steps. If only one filament looks wrong, change its flow rate in the slicer.

Can I calibrate with the hotend removed?

Some people extrude through a detached extruder to remove the hotend from the test. Extruding slowly through a hot nozzle, as described here, is the more common method and tests the real setup.

Sources

Estimates for planning. Results depend on the numbers you enter — use the gram, hour and ml figures from your slicer, and your real material and power prices. Material densities are typical values; check your spool or bottle datasheet for exact figures.

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