Last reviewed: 2026-11-11
How to price a 3D print from filament grams
Short answer: filament is usually the smallest part of the price. Add printer wear, electricity, your own time and an allowance for failed prints, then divide by (1 − your margin). A 20 g PLA part with 15 minutes of your time sells for about €10.65, not the €0.73 that filament alone suggests.
What you need from your slicer
- Filament used (g): the slicer shows it after slicing.
- Print time (h): drives printer wear and electricity.
Worked example: 20 g of PLA, 2 hours
- Filament: 20 g × €22/kg = €0.44
- Printer wear: €599 printer ÷ (3 years × 1,800 h) = €0.11/h × 2 h = €0.22
- Electricity: 0.15 kW × 2 h × €0.30/kWh = €0.09
- Your time (setup, removing, packing): 0.25 h × €20/h = €5.00
- Cost: €5.75. Allow 10% failed prints: €5.75 ÷ 0.90 = €6.39
- 40% margin: €6.39 ÷ 0.60 = €10.65 sell price, €4.26 profit
Price on filament alone (€0.44 ÷ 0.60 = €0.73) and you lose money on every sale once your time is counted. Selling on Etsy or another marketplace? Add the fee too: pricing after marketplace fees.
Try it with your numbers
The calculator starts with this example. Change grams, print time and margin.
Suggested sell price
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Estimates only. Your filament price, electricity rate and printer differ; the calculator uses defaults for your country that you can change.