Why not just charge three times the filament cost?
“Material × 3” is a common rule of thumb, but it ignores the two things that vary most between prints: how long the printer is busy and how much of your time the job takes. A long, light print can tie up a printer for a day while using little plastic; a quick print with supports and sanding can take more of your time than the printer’s.
Pricing from the full cost keeps every order profitable. Find your machine cost per hour with the print cost calculator.
What is the difference between margin and markup?
Margin is profit as a share of the selling price; markup is profit as a share of cost. Charging $20 for a print that costs $10 is a 50% margin and a 100% markup. This calculator works from margin because it tells you directly how much of each sale you keep.
Selling on Etsy or another marketplace?
Marketplace and payment fees come out of your price, so a price that looks right here can earn less after fees. Put the price into the Etsy profit calculator to see what you actually keep, or ask it for the price that hits your margin after fees.
How to price a 3D print
- 1Filament: grams ÷ 1,000 × price per kg.
- 2Machine time: print hours × your machine cost per hour (power, wear and maintenance).
- 3Your time: minutes of prep, removal, cleanup and packing ÷ 60 × your hourly rate.
- 4Failures: if f% of prints fail, add (filament + machine) × f ÷ (1 − f).
- 5Price = total cost ÷ (1 − target margin). For a 50% margin, divide by 0.5.
Frequently asked questions
What machine cost per hour should I use?
Add your electricity, printer depreciation and maintenance per hour. For a typical desktop printer this is often well under a dollar an hour; the print cost calculator works it out from your printer price, expected life and power draw.
What profit margin is reasonable for 3D prints?
It depends on your market and how much design and finishing work you add. Use the price ladder to see how the price changes between 30% and 70% margin, and compare it with what similar items sell for.
Should I charge for failed prints?
Not as a separate line, but your price should cover them. The failure allowance spreads the cost of reprints across the prints you deliver.
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.