Use this comprehensive calculator to accurately estimate the total cost and required selling price for your 3D printed parts, factoring in materials, machine time, labor, and profit margins.
3D Print Cost & Selling Price Calculator
Total Estimated Cost (Selling Price)
Detailed Calculation Breakdown
3D Print Cost Formula
Total Cost = (Raw Material Cost + Machine Cost + Labor Cost) / (Success Rate / 100)
Selling Price = Total Cost × (1 + Profit Markup / 100)
Where:
Raw Material Cost = Object Weight × Material Cost per Gram
Machine Cost = Print Time × Hourly Machine Rate
Labor Cost = Labor Time × Hourly Labor Rate
Formula Sources: Simplify3D Guide, All3DP Breakdown
Variables Explained
- Object Weight (Grams): The weight of the final printed part, often calculated by the slicer software.
- Material Cost per Gram (USD): The true cost of the filament or resin per unit of weight, accounting for spool waste.
- Print Time (Hours): The total duration the 3D printer is actively running.
- Hourly Machine Rate (USD/Hr): The fixed rate to run the machine, covering electricity, depreciation, and maintenance.
- Labor Setup/Post-processing (Hours): Time spent preparing the model, cleaning, sanding, curing, or packaging.
- Hourly Labor Rate (USD/Hr): The wage cost for the person performing setup or post-processing.
- Success Rate (%): The percentage of prints that succeed on the first attempt (e.g., 95%). Used to offset the cost of failed parts.
- Profit Markup (%): The desired percentage added to the total cost to determine the final selling price.
Related Calculators
What is 3D Print Cost Calculation?
Calculating the true cost of a 3D printed part is far more complex than simply measuring the material used. It requires a holistic view of the entire operational process. A comprehensive cost calculation ensures sustainability and profitability for service bureaus and small businesses. The goal is to move beyond “guessing” a price and arrive at an evidence-based selling price that covers all fixed and variable overheads.
The primary components include the **Material Cost**, which is the most obvious variable, but equally important are **Machine Costs** (depreciation, power, and maintenance), **Labor Costs** (setup, monitoring, and post-processing), and the non-obvious cost of **Failure Rates**. Ignoring any of these components often leads to underpricing and financial losses over time.
How to Calculate 3D Print Cost (Example)
Let’s use an example with an object weighing 50g, printed in 4 hours, with a 95% success rate and a 25% profit markup.
- Calculate Raw Material Cost: 50 grams × $0.05/gram = $2.50
- Calculate Machine Cost: 4.0 hours × $2.00/hour = $8.00
- Calculate Labor Cost: 0.25 hours × $25.00/hour = $6.25
- Determine Subtotal Cost: $2.50 + $8.00 + $6.25 = $16.75
- Adjust for Failure Rate: $16.75 / (95 / 100) = $17.63 (This covers the cost of one failed part every 20 prints)
- Calculate Selling Price (Markup): $17.63 × (1 + 25 / 100) = $22.04. This is your final estimated selling price.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The success rate normalizes the cost of failed prints across all successful parts. If your success rate is 50%, the cost of a successful print effectively doubles to cover the failed one.
What should I include in the Hourly Machine Rate?The Hourly Machine Rate should include the prorated cost of the printer’s purchase price (depreciation), energy consumption, and scheduled maintenance/repairs, divided by the expected yearly operating hours.
Why is labor cost often overlooked?For many small operators, their own time is not accounted for. However, professional costing requires allocating time for setup (slicing, bed leveling) and post-processing (support removal, cleaning) at a standard hourly rate.
What is a reasonable Profit Markup percentage?This depends entirely on the market, competition, and complexity of the part. Standard markups range from 15% to 50% or higher. Customized, high-tolerance parts command higher markups than simple functional prototypes.