Cost Formula Breakdown
Base pricing formula: material + electricity + labor + overhead + failure allowance, then apply your target margin. Use our 3D printing cost calculator to calculate accurate costs for any print.
How to price 3D prints for hobby, business, and print farm operations
Use one framework to price accurately across UK services, Etsy listings, commission work, and scaled print production.
Base pricing formula: material + electricity + labor + overhead + failure allowance, then apply your target margin. Use our 3D printing cost calculator to calculate accurate costs for any print.
Hobby pricing can absorb lower margins. Business pricing must cover wages, repeatable overhead, and growth capital.
UK pricing should account for GBP energy costs and VAT. US pricing often leans on lower power costs and different fee structures.
Model Etsy pricing with listing, transaction, and processing fees before setting markup to protect post-fee margin.
Commissions should include consultation time, revision rounds, communication overhead, and delivery commitments.
Farm pricing should include fleet utilization, operator time, maintenance cycles, and failure-rate-adjusted capacity.
Build full cost and sell-price outputs.
Include Etsy fee impact in pricing.
Test margin and break-even sensitivity.
Generate customer-ready pricing quotes.
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Startup, operating, and per-order cost model.
Quote custom jobs with revision and risk pricing.
Plan multi-printer utilization and margin.
Need proof-style numbers?
Review modeled outcomes in the new case studies library.
Calculate total print costs
Calculate material costs, electricity, labor, shipping, and profit margins for any 3D print. Includes advanced mode for VAT, failure rates, and printer hourly costs.
ROI & profitability analysis
Calculate profit margins, break-even points, and return on investment. Test different pricing strategies and see how they affect your bottom line.
Material cost breakdown
Calculate material costs per gram for different filaments. Compare PLA, ABS, PETG, TPU, and specialty materials to find the best value for your projects. For full print cost calculations, use our 3D printing cost calculator.
Lost revenue visibility
Estimate monthly and annual losses from failed prints based on failure rate, print cost, and monthly volume.
Step-by-step guide covering pricing formulas, cost calculations, profit margins, and strategies for different markets (Etsy, business, professional services).
Calculate Ender 3 running cost per hour and per print with electricity, material, machine wear, and labor assumptions.
Estimate Bambu A1 cost per print using power, filament, time, machine wear, and handling labor.
Model Prusa MK4 hourly cost with electricity, depreciation, maintenance, and supervision labor.
Regional pricing page for UK makers with a GBP-focused calculator covering filament, electricity, labor, overhead, and failure allowance.
Regional pricing page for US makers with a USD-focused calculator covering filament, electricity, labor, overhead, and failure allowance.
Regional pricing page for Europe-focused pricing with a EUR calculator for filament, electricity, labor, overhead, and failure allowance.
Comprehensive market analysis with 2025 pricing trends, market rates, real-world examples, and best practices for profitable 3D printing.
Specialized guide for pricing 3D prints on Etsy. Learn how to account for fees, compete effectively, and maximize profits on the platform.
Complete guide to starting and running a profitable 3D printing business. Includes pricing strategies, cost management, and scaling advice.
Excel Spreadsheet
Complete Excel template for calculating 3D printing costs including material, electricity, labor, shipping, and profit margins. Includes formulas and examples.
Excel Spreadsheet
Calculate return on investment for 3D printing equipment, materials, and business ventures. Track payback periods and profitability.
Excel Spreadsheet
Specialized template for pricing 3D printed products on Etsy. Includes fees, shipping costs, and competitive pricing analysis.
See complete cost breakdowns and pricing strategies for real 3D printed products:
TPU, 25g, 2.5 hours
Cost: £5.43 | Price: £21.72 | Profit: £14.88 (73%)
PLA, 8g, 1.2 hours
Cost: £6.04 | Price: £30.20 | Profit: £24.16 (80%)
PETG, 120g, 8 hours
Cost: £12.12 | Price: £42.42 | Profit: £30.30 (72%)
PLA, 50g total, 3 hours
Cost: £8.66 | Price: £24.00 | Profit: £15.34 (64%)
Understanding material costs is essential for accurate pricing. Here are the most cost-effective materials for different applications:
£0.012-0.013/g
Best for: General prints, beginners
£0.016/g
Best for: Functional parts
£0.017/g
Best for: Durable parts
£0.020/g
Best for: Flexible parts
If you quote frequently, these tools usually improve consistency and reduce avoidable reprint cost.
Measure parts and tolerances before dispatch.
Lower moisture-driven failures and QA drift.
Entry-level printer for cost-conscious scaling.
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Calculate your total costs (material + electricity + labor + overhead), then apply a profit margin (typically 200-400%). Use our cost calculator to get accurate numbers.
For standard prints: 200-300% markup. For custom/unique prints: 300-400% markup. For Etsy: Factor in 6.5% fees, aim for 40-60% profit margins after fees. Use our profit calculator to test different margins.
Material costs: £0.012-0.020 per gram. Electricity: £0.10-0.50 per hour. Labor: £10-30 per hour. A typical 50g print costs £1-3 in materials and electricity. Use our calculator for precise costs.
Calculate your costs, apply 250-400% markup, then divide by 0.905 to account for Etsy's 9.5% total fees. See our Etsy pricing guide for detailed strategies.