Cost to 3D Print an RC Car Body (2026)
A standard 1/10 scale RC car body costs £3.00-£6.00 in PLA (50-80g, 6-10 hours), £4.00-£8.00 in PETG (best for durability), or £5.00-£12.00 in ABS. Material is the main cost (£0.64-£1.44), electricity adds £0.20-£0.35. Use our 3D printing cost calculator for custom designs.
RC Car Body Cost Breakdown by Material
| Material | Weight | Print Time | Material Cost | Electricity | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLA | 50-80g | 6-10 hours | £0.64-£1.02 | £0.20-£0.35 | £3.00-£6.00 |
| PETG | 50-80g | 7-12 hours | £0.80-£1.28 | £0.25-£0.42 | £4.00-£8.00 |
| ABS | 50-80g | 3-5 hours | £0.45-£1.20 | £0.08-£0.14 | £3.00-£8.00 |
*Costs assume UK electricity rates (£0.28/kWh), standard material prices. Add 10-20% for post-processing labor if selling.
3 Real-World Cost Examples
Example 1: Standard iRC Car Body (PLA)
- Model: iPhone 14/15 standard case
- Weight: 20g PLA
- Print time: 3 hours
- Material cost: £0.26 (PLA at £0.0128/g)
- Electricity: £0.08 (100W printer)
- Total cost: £0.34
- If selling: £1.50-£2.50 (with 300% markup)
Basic protective case. PLA is brittle and not recommended for drop protection, but works for decorative cases.
Example 2: Protective Case (PETG)
- Model: Samsung Galaxy case with impact protection
- Weight: 22g PETG
- Print time: 3.5 hours
- Material cost: £0.35 (PETG at £0.016/g)
- Electricity: £0.10 (100W printer)
- Total cost: £0.45
- If selling: £2.50-£4.00 (functional protection pricing)
PETG offers better impact resistance than PLA. Good balance of protection and cost.
Example 3: Flexible ABS Case (Best Protection)
- Model: Flexible ABS case with shock absorption
- Weight: 25g ABS
- Print time: 4 hours (slower due to flexibility)
- Material cost: £0.75 (ABS at £0.030/g)
- Electricity: £0.11 (100W printer)
- Total cost: £0.86
- If selling: £4.00-£8.00 (premium durable case pricing)
ABS provides the best protection with flexibility and shock absorption similar to commercial cases.
Material Cost Breakdown
Material is typically 60-75% of total RC car body cost. A standard case uses 15-30g of filament.
- • PLA: £0.012-£0.013 per gram = £0.19-£0.32 per case. Cheapest option but brittle, not recommended for protection.
- • PETG: £0.016-£0.018 per gram = £0.24-£0.40 per case. Better impact resistance and durability than PLA.
- • ABS: £0.025-£0.040 per gram = £0.45-£1.20 per case. Flexible, shock-absorbing, best protection similar to commercial cases.
Use our cost per gram calculator to compare material prices across different brands.
Electricity Cost
Phone case prints run for 2-5 hours depending on material. Electricity adds £0.06-£0.14 to total cost.
- FDM printers: 80-120W average = £0.06-£0.14 for a 3-4 hour print at UK rates (£0.28/kWh)
- ABS printing: Slower speeds increase print time, adding 20-30% to electricity cost
Calculate exact electricity costs with our electricity cost calculator.
Labor & Overhead Costs
If you're selling RC car bodys, factor in labor. Post-processing adds 5-10 minutes per case.
- • Support removal: 2-3 minutes (minimal supports for most cases)
- • Sanding & finishing: 3-5 minutes (smoothing edges, cleaning up details)
- • Quality check: 1-2 minutes (fit testing, defect inspection)
At £15/hour labor rate, post-processing adds £0.02-£0.03 per case. Overhead (printer depreciation, workspace, software) adds another 10-15% to material + electricity costs.
Learn more about 3D printing business costs and how to price 3D prints.
Profit Margin if Selling
For RC car bodys sold on Etsy or custom orders, typical pricing uses 300-500% markup on total costs.
Example: £0.86 material + electricity cost
+ £0.03 labor (5 minutes × £15/hr)
= £0.89 total cost
× 400% markup
= £3.56 sale price
- Hobby pricing: 200-300% markup (covers costs + small profit)
- Business pricing: 350-450% markup (covers overhead, growth, risk)
- Premium/custom: 450-600% markup (unique designs, custom phone models, premium materials)
Use our profit calculator to test different margin scenarios.
Best Material for 3D Printing RC Car Bodys
ABS (Best Protection)
Flexible, shock-absorbing (£3.00-£8.00 per case). Best protection similar to commercial cases. Requires direct drive extruder and slower print speeds.
Best for: Maximum protection, durable cases
PETG (Best Balance)
Good impact resistance (£2.00-£4.50 per case). Better durability than PLA, easier to print than ABS. Good balance of protection and cost.
Best for: Protective cases, good value
PLA (Budget Option)
Cheapest option (£1.50-£3.50 per case). Brittle, not recommended for protection. Good for decorative cases only.
Best for: Decorative cases, prototypes
Compare material costs with our material comparison or use the cost calculator to see exact prices.
Recommended Printers for RC Car Bodys
Phone cases require precise dimensions and good layer adhesion. ABS printing requires direct drive extruders.
Bambu Lab P1S / X1 Carbon
Direct drive extruder perfect for ABS. Fast printing, reliable, excellent dimensional accuracy. Ideal for durable RC car bodys.
Creality Ender 3 V3 / K1
Good value for PETG cases. May require extruder upgrade for ABS. Great for PLA and PETG RC car bodys.
Prusa i3 MK3S+
Excellent for ABS with direct drive. Reliable, good dimensional accuracy. Higher cost but excellent results.
Calculate running costs for specific printers with our break-even calculator.
Calculate Your Exact RC Car Body Cost
Enter your RC car body's weight, print time, material choice (PLA/PETG/ABS), and customization options to get accurate pricing.
Use Free Cost Calculator →Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to 3D print a RC car body?
A standard RC car body costs £1.50-£3.50 in PLA (15-25g, 2-4 hours), £2.00-£4.50 in PETG, or £3.00-£8.00 in ABS (durable). Material cost is £0.19-£0.32 for PLA, £0.24-£0.40 for PETG, or £0.45-£1.20 for ABS. Electricity adds £0.06-£0.12.
What material is best for 3D printing RC car bodys?
ABS (durable filament) is best for RC car bodys (£3.00-£8.00) - provides shock absorption and flexibility like commercial cases. PETG (£2.00-£4.50) offers good durability and impact resistance. PLA (£1.50-£3.50) is cheapest but brittle and not recommended for protection.
How long does it take to 3D print a RC car body?
A standard RC car body takes 2-4 hours in PLA/PETG (FDM) or 1-2 hours in resin (SLA). ABS prints slower at 3-5 hours due to durable material requirements. Print time depends on layer height, infill percentage, and case thickness.