3D Printing Cost & Pricing Calculator

Price 3D prints and small-batch maker products using real material consumption, machine wear, electricity, hands-on labor, expected failures, shipping, and selling fees. Adjust every input to match your own shop.

Editable assumptionsUS Etsy exampleNo registrationBatch-aware

Maker Cost & Pricing Calculator

Start with a real-world example, then enter your own costs.

1. Materials & consumables

Material used per unit (g)Include supports; use net material consumed.Spool / material priceAmount in your selected currency.Material per spool (g)Net material mass, not empty spool.Extra purge / material waste (%)Material wasted beyond the model.Packaging, inserts & hardware per unitBoxes, fasteners, magnets, labels.

2. Machine & production

Machine run time per unit (hours)One successful unit, including machine setup.Machine purchase costPrice paid for equipment.Useful machine life (operating hours)Your assumed billable operating life.Average system power draw (watts)Printer plus its relevant accessories.Electricity price per kWhEnter your local electricity rate.Hands-on labor per unit (minutes)Post-processing and handling, not unattended run time.Labor cost per hourYour production labor opportunity cost.Shared batch setup labor (minutes)Allocated over batch quantity.Units made per batchSetup labor is shared across these units.Estimated failure probability (%)Waste of materials and run time only; 0–95%.

3. Selling & fulfillment

Currency / input denominationDoes not convert amounts or automatically change fees.Sales channelFees below remain editable.Shipping charged to buyer per unitRevenue collected for delivery.Actual postage per unitYour shipping label cost; packaging goes above.Marketplace + payment percentage (%)US Etsy example: 6.5% + 3%.Fixed processing + listing fees per unitUS Etsy example: 0.20 + 0.25; adjust by market.Additional advertising / other variable fees (%)Optional offsite ads and similar fees.Target net profit margin (%)Share of total buyer-paid revenue, not markup.

Cost & pricing results

Recommended item list price$29.65

True cost per unit before fees$12.55

Estimated profit per unit$13.86

Material (including purge waste)	$3.51
Hardware & packaging	$1.15
Machine depreciation	$1.05
Electricity	$0.09
Hands-on & shared setup labor	$6.23
Failure allowance	$0.52
Actual shipping cost	$4.50
Estimated channel fees	$3.74
Buyer-paid revenue (item + shipping)	$34.65
Projected batch profit	$13.86
Achieved net margin	40.0%

Revenue allocation (materials & operations, postage, channel fees, estimated profit)

Important: This is an estimate, not a binding quote. The failure model assumes failed attempts consume material and machine time before finishing. Shipping is modeled per unit. Sales tax, currency exchange, subscription costs, regulatory operating fees, disputes, and overhead not entered above are excluded. Etsy/Shopify percentages are editable illustrative US figures. Changing currency changes the denomination, not foreign exchange rates.

How the estimate works: material usage includes purge waste; depreciation equals machine price divided by useful hours and then multiplied by runtime; electricity is kW × hours × local tariff. Failed production adds a risk allowance to material and machine costs. Shared setup labor is divided by batch quantity. The recommended price solves for your target profit margin after buyer-paid shipping, actual postage, and editable sales-channel fees.

Worked example: a 130 g printed part

With a 130 g part, a $25/kg spool, 4.5 hours of runtime, and a 10% failed-attempt probability, the sample includes hands-on labor, amortized equipment, and postage. The calculated item list price is $29.65 when a buyer pays $5 for shipping and the intended margin is 40% of total buyer-paid revenue. This example assumes a US Etsy-style 9.5% percentage fee plus a $0.45 fixed charge, with no Offsite Ads.

Frequently asked questions

Does print time count as labor time?

Not automatically. Unattended printer hours are charged as machine depreciation and power. Only active setup, cleanup, sanding, assembly, and packing minutes belong in hands-on labor.

What happens when a print fails?

The model increases the expected material and machine expense for repeat attempts. Failure probabilities are estimates; use your own production history when available.

Are Etsy fees accurate for every country?

No. The example uses US transaction and payment processing rates. Processing, regulatory, advertising, tax, and exchange charges may differ by seller country. Review Etsy’s official fee guidance and edit the rates before quoting.

Is margin the same as markup?

No. A 40% net margin means expected profit is 40% of buyer-paid revenue. A 40% markup adds 40% to your cost and usually produces a lower profit margin.

See all calculators Calculation methodology