3D Print Cost Calculator: Filament, Electricity and Cost per Part

Enter the filament weight or model volume, filament price, print time and electricity rate to estimate the filament cost, electricity cost and cost per part of a 3D print. Below the calculator: how it works, common filament densities and ways to lower the cost.

Calculate your print cost

Estimate

Filament used (with waste): —
Filament cost: —
Energy used: —
Electricity: —
Cost per part: —
Total cost: —

This is an estimate and excludes printer depreciation, wear parts, labor and shipping.

How the cost is calculated

Filament cost = filament weight × (1 + waste share) × price per kilogram ÷ 1000. Electricity cost = average printer power (W) × print time (hours) ÷ 1000 × price per kWh. The cost per part is the sum of the two, and multiplying by the quantity gives the total.

Where to get the filament weight

The most accurate source is your slicer: after slicing it shows the estimated filament weight and print time, including walls, infill and supports. Before slicing, multiply the model volume by the material density; every boxesmodel model page lists the default solid volume, and its "Estimate print cost" link fills it in for you.

Solid volume treats every part as fully solid. Storage boxes are mostly thin walls, so the infill setting matters less, but supports, skirts and color-change purges add material; your slicer result is the final figure.

Common filament densities

Filament	Density (g/cm³)	1 kg is about
PLA	1.24	806 cm³
PETG	1.27	787 cm³
ABS	1.04	962 cm³
ASA	1.07	935 cm³
TPU	1.21	826 cm³

These are typical values; brands and formulas vary slightly, so use the figure on your spool if it differs.

What to enter for printer power

The power supply's rated wattage is a ceiling; average draw during a print is usually much lower, peaking while the bed and nozzle heat up and dropping once they hold temperature. If you have a plug-in energy meter, measure one print and use that; the calculator's default is only an example.

Ways to lower the cost

Test-print a small section or a single part to check the fit before printing the full set, so you do not reprint whole parts; orient parts to reduce supports; and size boxes to the space you actually have instead of printing them larger than needed. boxesmodel models can be resized online, with dividers and matching parts updated together.

What the estimate leaves out

The estimate covers filament and electricity only. It leaves out printer depreciation, wear parts such as nozzles and build plates, labor, post-processing and shipping; add those yourself if you are quoting a price.