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How Much Does 3D Printing Cost? Guide of 2025

  • By Kim Fields

Last updated: Apr. 24, 2025

Wondering about how much does 3D printing cost? It's a common question whether you're just starting out or considering a new project. 3D printing can cost anywhere from $3 up to thousands of dollars, depending on various factors like materials, printer type, and design complexity.

 

The real cost breakdown involves more than just materials. You'll need to factor in electricity, machine maintenance, and print time when calculating your printing costs. 

 

Want a clear picture of what factors affect the cost of 3d printing? Then you can't miss the important factors listed below, in addition to learning how you can save money for your 3d printing project.

Is 3D Printing Expensive?

Wants to know if 3d printing is cheap or expensive? The answer isn't as simple as yes or no!

 

The cost of 3d printing depends on several factors: 3d printers, materials, and 3d models etc. Don't forget other expenses, electricity, replacement parts and maintenance can add up to a lot.

 

For additive manufacturing enthusiasts, 3D printing is relatively affordable compared to traditional manufacturing methods. Most technologies are becoming more accessible each year!
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Factors That Influence The 3D Printing Cost

When you're planning a 3D printing project, several key factors will affect how much you'll pay. Understanding these can help you budget more effectively!

Cost Of Buying And Running A 3D Printer

When jumping into 3D printing, you'll need to consider both the initial investment for the machine and the ongoing expenses that keep your projects flowing. These costs vary widely depending on the technology and how often you use your printer.

3D Printer Cost

The price of a 3D printer depends largely on the technology and your needs. Entry-level and hobbyist 3D printers typically cost between $300-$500, though some can reach $1,500 for better quality models. For more professional applications, expect to pay more:

  • Desktop 3D Printers: $300-$1,500+
  • Industrial 3D printers: $10,000-$100,000+

What's the right price point for you? Think about your goals! Are you printing for fun or running a business? More expensive printers generally offer better precision, larger build volumes, and faster printing speeds.

 

3D Printer Running Cost

Once you've got your printer, the expenses don't stop there! The main ongoing costs include:

  • Materials: Filament for FDM printers runs about $20-$50 per kilogram and specialized materials cost more.
  • Electricity: Most printers use 50-150 watts, costing only about $0.006 per hour. Even printing 24/7 would add just a few dollars to your monthly bill.
  • Maintenance: Budget $100-$300 annually for replacement parts, cleaning supplies & unexpected repairs.
  • Labor costs: If operating commercially, factor in operator wages ($15-$25/hour) and design work ($30-$60/hour) when determining total costs.

3D Printing Material Cost

Material costs vary widely in 3D printing and often make up a significant portion of your overall printing expenses. Your choice of material will depend on your project requirements, printer type, and budget constraints.

 

Thermoplastics: Filaments And Powder

For most home and hobby users, filament-based printing offers the most affordable option.

 

PLA filament typically costs between $20-30 per kilogram, making it budget-friendly for beginners. This biodegradable material is perfect for decorative items and prototypes.

 

ABS filament runs in a similar price range but offers better durability and heat resistance. If you need something stronger, PETG combines the ease of PLA with improved mechanical properties at $25-40 per kg.

 

Thermosets: Resin

Resin printing delivers impressive detail but at a higher material cost.

Your options include:

  • Standard Resin: $50-80/liter-Good for general models and figurines
  • Flexible Resin: $80-120/liter - For elastic parts
  • Engineering Resin: $100-200/liter - Higher strength and temperature resistance

Remember that resin printing has additional costs for cleaning supplies, gloves, and disposal materials. You'll also need isopropyl alcohol for cleaning and post-processing equipment.

 

Metal Materials

Metal 3D printing represents the highest material cost category but delivers industrial-grade results.

Common metal powders for SLM printing:

  • Aluminum: $75-150/kg
  • Stainless Steel: $80-120/kg
  • Titanium: $350-500/kg

3D Model Cost

Getting your hands on 3D models is a key part of your printing journey! Models can range from a few dollars to hundreds depending on complexity and source.

 

If you're buying pre-made models from online marketplaces, you might spend anywhere from $3-$20 for simple designs. More complex or specialized models can cost $50 or more.

 

Want something custom? Hiring a professional for CAD work typically costs $20-$200 per hour.

 

Post-Processing

After your 3D print comes off the printer, it often needs some work to look its best. Post-processing can significantly impact the final cost of your project but greatly improves quality and appearance.

 

Polishing

Polishing removes layer lines and gives your prints a smooth, professional finish. Start by sanding with coarse grit sandpaper (around 120 grit) and gradually move to finer grits (up to 2000).

 

Finishing

Finishing includes painting, coating, and other treatments that give your print its final look. A basic spray paint costs around $5-10 per can and can cover multiple small projects.

 

Popular finishing options:

  • Spray paint (primer + color + clear coat)
  • Electroplating

Manpower Costs And Profitability Of 3D Printing

When calculating your 3D printing costs, don't forget about the human element! Labor costs can significantly impact your overall expenses and profitability.

 

Your profit margin should account for all these labor costs. Many beginners make the mistake of only calculating material expenses!

 
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3D Printing Cost Calculators

Ever wondered exactly how much your cool 3D project will cost before hitting "print"? You're not alone! Thankfully, there are several handy calculators that can help you figure out the costs in just a few clicks.

 

  • Prusa 3D Printing Calculator: You can either load a gcode file or manually enter your print time and filament weight. It comes pre-filled with common values, but you can customize everything to match your setup.
  • CNCKitchen: offers an excellent Excel sheet that many businesses use to calculate their printing costs. It's free and available on GitHub!
  • Fabbaloo calculator: It includes all the basic factors that are easy to obtain and gives you a reasonable cost estimate without overcomplicating things.

 

Remember, calculating your 3D printing costs accurately helps you price your work fairly if you're selling prints, or just keep track of your hobby expenses!
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Strategies To Reduce 3D Printing Costs

Want to save money on your 3D printing projects? There are several simple ways to make your printing more cost-effective.

 

Optimized Design For Cost Efficiency

Smart design choices can dramatically reduce your 3D printing expenses while maintaining functionality. By thinking strategically about your model's structure and size, you can save both material and printing time.

 

Downsizing

Want to cut your 3D printing costs quickly? 

Try scaling down your models! Even a small reduction in size can lead to big savings. 

 

For example, reducing a model by just 10% can decrease material usage by roughly 27% due to the cubic relationship between dimensions and volume.

 

Think about whether your functional parts really need to be as large as initially designed. Many beginners make their first models unnecessarily big. 

 

Ask yourself: 

"What's the minimum size that will still serve my purpose?"

 

Hollowing Of 3D Models

Why print solid objects when hollow ones will do the job? Hollowing your 3D models is one of the smartest ways to save on material costs. Most functional parts don't actually need to be 100% solid to perform well.

 

The process involves creating an outer shell with an empty interior, usually with some internal support structure. Modern slicing software makes this easy with settings for shell thickness and infill percentage.

 

For SLA printing especially, hollowing is crucial since resin is expensive. A hollow model with 2mm walls instead of a solid piece can reduce material usage by up to 70%! Just remember to add drain holes so unused resin can escape after printing.

 

Minimize 3D Printing Support Material

Support structures can eat up your filament and increase printing time. By making smart design choices, you can slash these extra costs while still getting great prints.

 

Reorientation

Ever thought about how your model sits on the print bed? The orientation of your 3D model makes a huge difference in how much support material you'll need. Try these techniques:

  • Rotate your model to minimize overhangs
  • Place flat surfaces on the build plate whenever possible
  • Consider printing the model on its side or back

For example, printing a figurine lying down instead of standing up can reduce supports by up to 40%! Think about which surfaces are most important for detail or strength, then orient those away from supports if possible.

 

Control Support Overhang Angle

Did you know you can adjust exactly when supports kick in? Most 3D printers can handle overhangs up to a certain angle without any problems.

The magic number is typically 45°, but you can push this depending on your printer's capabilities:

  • Standard setting: 45° overhang angle
  • Experienced users: Try 50-55° to reduce supports
  • Advanced printers: Some can handle up to 70° overhangs!

You can adjust this setting in your slicer software. Look for "support threshold," "overhang angle," or similar options.

Try running test prints with different overhang angles to find your printer's sweet spot. Small adjustments here can dramatically reduce support usage while maintaining print quality!

 

Batch Printing For Efficiency

Want to save money on your 3D prints? Batch printing is your secret weapon! Instead of printing one item at a time, you can print multiple parts simultaneously on your build plate.

 

The math is simple but powerful. If your printer takes 15 minutes to warm up before each print, doing 10 separate prints wastes 150 minutes on warm-ups alone! Batch them together, and you only need one warm-up period.

 

Arranging your models strategically on the build plate maximizes space usage. Try to nest smaller parts inside larger hollow ones when possible!


 

Conclusion

In conclusion, the cost of 3D printing can vary widely, from $30 to $15,000 or more, influenced by factors such as the type of printer, materials, print size, complexity, energy use, and maintenance. 

This variability underscores the importance of understanding these costs for effective budgeting and decision-making in the 3D printing field.
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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does 3D printing cost per gram?

At DHtech3D, stereolithography (SLA) prints made with resin start from $0.25 per gram. We offer transparent, high-temp, rigid, generic and high toughness resins.

 

SLS 3D printing (cost per gram)
SLS (PA) is $0.4 per gram. Please note that the price is also subject to part structure.

 

FDM 3D printing (cost per gram) 
The price of FDM filaments starts from $0.23 per gram. We offer a wide range of FDM materials including ABS, PC and PLA.

 

Metal 3D printing (cost per gram) 
Powdered metal materials are more expensive, and typically cost $10 and up per gram.

How much to charge for 3D printing per hour?

To provide a practical example, at a library, using a 3D printer yourself might cost $1 to $3 per hour, including the plastic and other expenses.

Is a 3D printing business profitable?

Making money with a 3D printing business is possible, but it's not easy. It depends on what your business does. 

 

If you offer services that need special skills, like custom printing, selling things you print, or giving design advice, you need to be really good at those things.
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