Projects & Tools

3D Print Calculator

What one plate really costs, what to charge for a piece, and how much the printer earns per hour. Enter prices in any currency — the maths is the same.

Currencyany code or symbol, just a label

Print Job

Pieces per plateFilament per plate, gincluding supports and brimFilament price per kg, USDPrint time, hPrinter power, WElectricity price per kWh, USD

Machine & Risk

Printer price, USDPrinter lifespan, hhours of printing before it is worn outFailed prints, %plates you have to print again

Labour & Sale

Hands-on time per plate, minsetup, removal, cleanupYour hourly rate, USDPackaging per piece, USDMarkup, ×

Cost of One Plate

Filament2.00 USD24%

Electricity0.12 USD1%

Printer wear0.50 USD6%

Labour5.00 USD59%

Failed prints0.85 USD10%

Total per plate8.47 USD

Cost per piece

9.47 USD

one piece per plate, packaging included

Price & Profit

Suggested price18.93 USD

Profit per piece9.47 USD50% margin

Profit per printer hour1.89 USD

How It Is Counted

Profit per printer hour

The number that decides what to print when you have one machine. A plate that takes thirty hours and one that takes five cannot be compared by margin alone — margin ignores time.

Failed prints

A failed plate has to be printed again, so you pay for both. The cost is divided by the share of plates that succeed rather than marked up by the failure rate.