Apr. 07, 2025
As a 3d printing company, we always get asked: "how much does it cost to 3d print?".
kaierwo supply professional and honest service.
Our answer has always been "it depends" as there are factors that contribute to the cost of 3d printing. You're looking at anywhere between $3 to $(or even more) for the cost to 3d print based on these factors.
So today, we're breaking down each factor for you. If you're 3D printing at home, then those factors are your material, electricity and 3D printer cost. But if you're looking for a 3d printing service or looking into starting a 3D printing business, this guide should help you understand how pricing works when it comes to 3d printing.
If you're starting a 3D printing business or looking to make money with 3D printing, you might want to consider the price of a 3D printer in calculating the cost to 3D print something. 3D printers can cost anywhere between $200 to $150,000 depending on the technology being used.
Let's say you purchased a $ 3D Printer that you plan to use 8 hrs / day for 2 years. We're going to ignore repair cost, electricity, etc. for the sake of simplicity.
8 x 365 x 2 = total hours
$ / hrs = ~ $0.21/hr
So if your 3D model would take about 4 hours to 3D print, then you need to charge $0.84 on top of your price to account for your machine upkeep.
In a way, the time it takes to 3D print also adds to the cost of 3D printing.
"Send us the 3D model" is the second thing we tell our clients after telling them "it depends". Without the 3D model, it's tough to come up with an accurate quote for a 3D print even for seasoned veterans.
The 3D model gives us essential information that can help us quote a 3d print.
With the 3d model on hand, we can calculate the total volume of the model, including the generated supports. The total volume lets us know how much material is needed to 3d print your file.
In short, the larger the volume, the higher the cost. There are ways to reduce the cost of 3D printing, and one of them is to hollow your model.
A 3ft model can have less volume than a 1ft model if the 1ft model is solid on the inside, while the 3ft model is hollow.
That is why coming up with an estimate price of 3d printing without the 3d model is not easy.
Not all 3d models are created equal. Some are 3d print-ready, while some are just plain crazy. 3d printing takes preparation and planning. For some 3d printing services, everything is automated, which can make transactions faster. For simple products, this can be the right solution.
But what about complex parts and architectural models? We found that even with the most sophisticated algorithm, you still need some human guidance when it comes to 3d printing these type of projects.
A quick story, a client sent us a 3d model of an actual stadium. They wanted a 3d printed version of this. As we inspected the file, we saw that the model had multiple problems. There were loose joints, the walls were too thin, and there were 3d models inside the stadium itself.
If we just 3d printed it right away, it would have cost us thousands of dollars on wasted material!
Take this into consideration. Are you willing to risk having your 3d model printed as is? Or do you want to make sure that the final print exceeds your expectations?
The materials that you choose matters when it comes to the cost of 3d printing. There are tons to choose from so we are going to focus on the popular ones, thermoplastics and resin.
Cost: $
Even if you are new to 3d printing, you have probably heard of "ABS" or "PLA". That's because these two are the most widely used 3d printing material out there. Hobbyists love these thermoplastics as they are cheap. These filaments can cost between $20 to $70 per kg.[1]
Although they are cheap, getting a high-quality 3d print out of them is not easy. It will take hours of post-processing time to get smooth finishing from these prints. (More on that later.) In addition to that, 3d printing complex 3d models are nearly impossible using this type of material.
Cost: $$$
Resin is, in our opinion, the best 3d printing material out there. It's versatile for almost any complex project, and it would give you the best quality 3d print. But at the same time, resin material can get quite costly. Standard resin, on average, cost $50 per litre, and some resin materials can go up to $300 per litre. Luckily, 3d printing companies usually have access to discounted prices for this type of material.
Most don't realize that 3d printing is not an instant process. Drop your file, print, and it's ready. (We hope it was).
After 3d printing, the resulting print needs to be cured, cleaned and polished before you can consider them useable. That is if the 3d printing service company cares about the quality of their product.
For filaments, don't even waste your time. As someone who spent hours removing supports, we don't want to you put you through that hell. If you value your time, the amount of time you will spend sanding these prints would cost a lot. And even then, the quality wouldn't be on par compared to resin.
For resin, it's simpler. Once the pieces are UV cured, we can polish it by hand or using a sandblaster.
Again, the 3d model matters as it could affect post-processing. Some models are so complex that the generated supports are very hard to clean. It would take some expertise and a lot of patience for someone to clean these prints.
At PrintAWorld, the projects that we work on usually require more than just 3d printing. Our clients would ask for their 3d print to have a gold finishing, chrome or even an exact Pantone color. With current 3d printing technology, this is impossible to accomplish. So we offer metal plating and painting on top of our 3d printing services.
For 3D printing companies to stay in business, they need to add a profit margins on top of the 3D printing cost. Profit margins for a 3D printing business can be somewhere between 50% - 90% of material cost. We're using material cost as a basis for the sake of simplicity. But profit margins are actually much lower once you start including labor and overhead costs.
There is also a base price (or a minimum fee) that gets added if if the cost of 3D printing is less than a certain amount. It wouldn't make sense for a company to 3D print something for you for a print that costs $3. Even in a highly automated 3D printing service, there's still some labor involved. Either you add more quantity or pay the base price which is around $30-$90.
Now that we know what factors affect the price of 3D printing, let's see how much it would cost to 3D print this popular WallStreeBets mascot by ChaosCoreTech.
For this test we will be using SLA 3D printing.
We modified the file so we can stress test the on-demand 3D printing services that offer SLA printing.
Scaled it up to 152mm or ~6" high
We hollowed the 3D model. Meaning, the insides are empty.
This makes it use less material, making it cheaper.
Speed up the 3D printing time for SLA, which should lower the cost.
Price: $537
3DHubs won't even allow you to print this in resin as it's bigger than what their manufacturers can print.
Price: $211.17
Cheaper than 3DHubs but they won't clean the supports for you at this price. If you need it cleaned, you need to pay extra.
Price: $.56
Contact us to discuss your requirements of 3d printing service price. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
We're not sure why it's this expensive. They might have miscalculated the model volume which made it seem that this piece would require half a liter of resin to print. But, either way, Shapeways is the most expensive one out of this group.
Price: $136.32
Disclaimer. This is our 3D printing company. For SLA 3D printing, we are definitely the cheapest compared to the others in this group. Removing the supports and polishing is even included in the service.
3D printing services are expensive because we have to account for factors mentioned beforehand such as labor, post processing and overhead costs. We also have to account the industrial 3D printers that they use, which cost at least $100,000 and upwards. Plus, they have to add profit margin on top of that cost.
This begs the question, is it better to buy a 3D printer instead?
Multiple factors affect the price of a 3d printing service. If you add in all these variables, you're looking at anywhere between $30 to $15,000 for the cost of 3d printing. The price can even be lower or higher, depending on the scale of your project.
Capital is an important factor in determining your choice of a 3D printing service, further calling for understanding the factors that determine the cost of the 3D printing service. Below are the important factors that should guide you when making your decision.
The cost of the 3D printer used by the 3D printing service plays a huge role in the cost of outsourcing to them. 3D printer cost depends on factors such as technologies, features, setup prices, etc., which dictate the ease of operation, need for technical expertise, compatible material, and design complexity.
3D printer service that uses high-tech 3D printers will likely charge more. Therefore, you should note the following you choose a 3D printer:
3D printers make printed parts using a CAD model. However, their technology determines the compatible materials, mechanism, production speed, cost of the 3D printed parts, and 3D printing service cost.
All 3D printing technologies used globally have different prices. For example, FDM printers are the cheapest 3D printers used for plastics. They are less costly than SLA printers that use laser beams to cure resin and hardened plastic due to the latter’s precision and versatility.
Printers running other technologies such as the Direct Selective Laser Sintering printers are expensive due to rarity, easier operation, productivity, need for technical expertise, print quality, and the material they work on.
A 3D printing service using a Direct Selective Laser Sintering printer would charge more than one using other printers for compatible materials. 3D printing technology is not only applicable to 3D printing services. Hobbyists or other individuals should also consider the cost before choosing one.
The 3D printer setup price would add to the cost of 3D printing for people who want a personal or company 3D printer and want to hire a technician. Most people hire technicians to avoid damaging the 3D printer or triggering a wrong setting during installation.
While helpful, hiring a technician comes at a price. This depends on the technician’s expertise, experience, branding, and the 3D printer’s sophistication. Based on the 3D printer sophistication, the FDM printer setup price will also be lower than the Direct Selective Laser Sintering printers.
The operation price also adds to the 3D printing service cost. The cost of operation is the cost of a 3D printer divided by the total hours of operation. Below is a simple illustration of the 3D printer operation price and how it affects how much 3D printing services charge.
Imagine you buy an FDM 3D printer for $10,000, and you will use it 20 hours daily for four years. Ignoring the cost of repairs, maintenance, and electricity, the cost of operation will be:
Without maintenance, a 3D printer will fail to deliver top-notch quality prints over time. Therefore, proper maintenance is important. 3D printing services would have added it to the general cost they provide. However, you need to factor this into the cost of 3D printing for individual owners. Maintenance costs can take many forms, including:
Maintenance depends on the 3D printer’s sophistication, features, rarity, and technology. Therefore, FDM printer users might say maintenance ranges from $200 to $599, while DSLS printer users would likely say maintenance costs above $. Also, if you hire a technician, the maintenance costs will increase as the technician will also charge his fee.
There are many types of materials used in 3D printing. This is responsible for the field’s development and determines the process’s flexibility, choice of printers, cost of 3D printed parts, and 3D printing service. Most services access the cost of material based on availability and compatibility with 3D printers and printing technology.
By understanding how to calculate the cost of material, you can know how much it costs to make a 3D printed part. Use the illustration below.
Imagine a 3D printed part will require 100 grams of PLA, and PLA filament costs $25/kg. This means that the cost is $25/ g= $0.025/g. Therefore, the 3D printed part cost will be 100 x 0.025 = $2.5. It does not matter whether the printed part is small.
Common materials used in 3D printing and their relation to cost include:
Powders and filaments are thermoplastics. They are considered the cheapest and the most common 3D printing material. Non-experts and/or hobbyists commonly use them in making 3D models.
These materials are inexpensive due to their high accessibility and availability. Also, they don’t need exquisite 3D printers and technologies. For example, thermoplastics such as PLA and ABS cost as low as $20 per kg and are compatible with FDM printers.
Powder and filaments are cheap. However, they also incur additional costs as much time will be spent to perfect the printed parts.
Resins deliver high-quality printed parts, are easy to work on, and seldom need post-operation procedures. Consequently, they are expensive. This is visible in the high cost of 3D printed parts made from resin and the cost of 3D printing services charge.
High-end materials such as titanium and aluminum are expensive due to their unavailability, rarity, and need for specific 3D printing technologies. For example, most metals will use the DMLS, which is very expensive.
The 3D model size desired will also determine the 3D printing service cost. A large 3D model will increase the cost due to the need for more material, the right size of 3D printers, operation cost, and printing technologies.
A complex 3D model will require an accurate and precise printing technology to determine the process’s cost. Complex models also need preparation, especially if the 3D printing service will handle slicing and other preparation procedures. Therefore, you should understand the model’s complexity to prevent capital-wasting and time-wasting.
Mass production of 3D printed parts generally reduces the individual cost of 3D printed parts. However, by being a large production volume, there is a need for more materials (which drives up the material cost) and a long printing time (which drives up the operation cost).
Post-processing options such as polishing and electroplating help the printed parts to improve their functionality and aesthetics. Using any of these processes will add to the 3D printing service cost. Depending on the process, each one has its cost. Below are the common ones and their relationship with cost.
Polishing involves sanding the 3D printed parts, rinsing them, and applying polish to get the smoothest possible surface. It is an expensive process because it requires high dimensional accuracy and a moderate skill level to deliver a quality 3D printed part.
It is an aesthetic and/or function-improving process that involves coating the 3D printed parts using metals via electrolysis. Electroplating is highly expensive due to the coating metal’s mechanism and choice.
Epoxy coating is a common 3D printing post-processing option that involves coating the 3D prints with an epoxy resin. Then a hardener is used to improve their strength and seal the porous part of the prints. The process is highly effective. However, the cost depends on the type of epoxy coating.
Reducing the cost of a 3D printing service entails reducing the operation cost and material used. Below are several ways you can use to reduce the 3D printing cost.
Understand the project’s complexity, the functions of the printed parts, the environment of use, and other things, then use these to choose the cheapest material. Nevertheless, the 3D printed part must not lose its function.
If possible, choose a material that does not require elaborate technologies. For example, you can use polycarbonate if you desire hardness, and you don’t necessarily have to use a metal (which requires the expensive DSLS 3D printer).
Sophisticated technologies will increase the cost of 3D printing. Using a sophisticated machine depends on the material and product complexity. Therefore, you should endeavor to choose the technology within your capital range without the 3D printed part losing functions and the process losing its productivity.
It is not ideal to alter the 3D printing size, complexity, or functionality to reduce cost. Nevertheless, reducing the size will reduce the material used but affect the product’s functionality. Nevertheless, if you have the liberty, you should save printing material using the following procedures:
If the 3D printed part does not require solidity, you can hollow the model to reduce the amount of material used. Consequently, this will reduce the material cost and the operation time.
Support structures ensure that the part doesn’t have overhangs, affecting stability. Using a support structure uses more materials and increases the operation time. Consequently, it increases the 3D printing service cost. You can remove support structures from your 3D models by designing an overhang angle greater than 450 and splitting your model.
Reducing the infill percentage will reduce the cost of 3D printing by reducing the materials cost and increasing productivity. However, you should only apply this hack if the part does not need its structural properties
Layer height determines the quality of prints and the speed of printing. On the one hand, low layer height will lead to smooth print by high production time. Therefore, there is an increase in operating costs. On the other hand, increasing the layer height will reduce the production time. Consequently, it reduces the operation cost. This hack is suitable for making 3D printed parts that do not need aesthetics.
Ensure the 3D printing service uses a post-processing finish that balances cost and functionality/aesthetics. For example, painting is an ideal method over electroplating if you want aesthetics at a low cost. However, since it is less durable, you should ensure you do maximum research before saying the processing finish you want. The services can also advise you on the best post-processing technique and the cost they attract.
Are you interested in learning more about aluminum cnc machining service? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!
Previous: Maximizing Efficiency: Innovations in Aluminium Extrusions
Next: Top Benefits of Custom Sheet Metal Fabrication Services for Your Projects
If you are interested in sending in a Guest Blogger Submission,welcome to write for us!
All Comments ( 0 )