What does it really cost to run a 3D printer?
For a typical desktop FDM printer, the machine itself costs less per hour than most people expect: a $600 printer that lasts 3,000 hours wears out at 20¢ per hour, and drawing 120 W at $0.18/kWh costs about 2¢ per hour in electricity. Machine time for the example print comes to $0.27 per hour.
The two costs people forget are their own time and failed prints. A few minutes of removal and cleanup at a fair hourly rate often costs more than the plastic. That matters most when you price prints to sell.
How much power does a 3D printer use?
Heating the bed and nozzle takes the most power at the start; once at temperature, many desktop printers average roughly 80–200 W depending on bed size, temperatures and enclosure. Higher-temperature materials such as ABS and ASA, and larger heated beds, draw more. The most accurate way to know is an inexpensive plug-in power meter: run one print and read the kWh.
How do I calculate the cost of a 3D print?
- 1Filament: grams used ÷ 1,000 × price per kg.
- 2Electricity: average watts × print hours ÷ 1,000 × price per kWh.
- 3Printer wear: printer price ÷ expected life in hours × print hours, plus maintenance per hour.
- 4Labor: minutes of hands-on time ÷ 60 × your hourly rate.
- 5Failures: if f% of prints fail, add (material + power + wear) × f ÷ (1 − f).
- 6Add any extras such as packaging or hardware.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a 3D printer last?
There’s no fixed lifespan — parts like nozzles, belts and build plates are replaced along the way. Using a few thousand hours as the depreciation period is a common, conservative way to spread the printer’s price across prints; raise it if your printer has run longer.
What failure rate should I use?
Use your own history if you track it. For a well-tuned printer and proven files, a few percent is common; new designs, new materials or tall delicate prints fail more often.
Should I charge for my time if printing is a hobby?
If you only print for yourself, set the hourly rate to zero. If you sell prints, include your time — it’s usually the difference between a profitable shop and a busy one that loses money.
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.