3D Printing Cost Guides
These 3D printing cost guides cover filament, electricity, pricing, and material costs, all grounded in the same math the price calculator uses.
All guides
How Much Does 3D Printing Cost?
Filament, electricity, machine wear, failed prints, and labor, with real example numbers.
GuideHow to Price 3D Prints for Selling
Markup vs. margin, and how marketplace fees like Etsy's factor into your price.
GuideHow to Calculate Filament Cost Per Gram
The exact formula, plus the net-vs-gross spool weight trap that throws it off.
GuideHow Much Electricity Does a 3D Printer Use?
Typical wattage by printer type, and why power usage is rarely the real cost driver.
GuidePLA vs. PETG vs. ABS: Cost Comparison by Material
How the three compare on price per kilogram, and when the difference actually matters.
GuideHow to Reduce 3D Printing Costs
Less wasted infill, fewer failed prints, bulk buying, and smarter batch scheduling.
GuideIs 3D Printing Cheaper Than Buying?
When printing actually beats buying off the shelf, and when mass production still wins.
GuideHow to Calculate Your 3D Printer's Failure Rate
How to measure your real failure rate, and what's normal by experience level.
GuideHow to Calculate Your 3D Printer's Machine Wear Rate
The depreciation formula, typical lifespan estimates, and setting your own wear rate.
GuideHow to Price Custom 3D Printing Commissions
Design time, revision rounds, test prints, and rush fees, on top of true cost.
GuideHow Much Should 3D Printed Cosplay Props Cost?
Real price ranges for raw vs. finished props, and how to work out your own number.
Guide3D Printing Hourly Rate: What Should You Charge?
What your printer costs to run per hour, vs. what you should actually charge.
GuideIs a 3D Print Farm Actually Profitable?
What changes at fleet scale, and why utilization matters more than printer count.