Understand your result
Turn grams, machine hours and labor into a repeatable print-cost estimate. This calculator uses the inputs above to produce a planning estimate. It does not predict sales or guarantee that the modeled price will work for your buyers.
Calculation formula
Worked example
At $24/kg filament, 80 g used, five hours at 110 W with $0.16/kWh electricity, $0.35/hour machine wear, 20 minutes of labor at $18/hour and $1 packaging, the base print cost is $10.76. With a 10% failure allowance, cost per successful print is $11.96; at 30% margin, suggested price is $17.08.
Before you rely on the estimate
- Use your printer’s measured average power where possible, not its maximum rated wattage.
- Failure allowance models repeat attempts statistically; very different failed-print timing can change your actual waste.
- Commercial permissions for printable models and intellectual-property rights are separate from production cost.
Frequently asked questions
Does this calculate resin prints?
No. This version models filament printing and would need different material and cleanup assumptions for resin.
Does failure rate include every failed attempt?
It assumes successful attempts bear the cost of failed attempts on average. Real partial failures can cost less than a complete print.
Do I need to include machine depreciation?
A reasonable hourly allowance for machine wear or depreciation helps avoid treating machine time as entirely free.