The True Cost of 3D Printing Beyond the Printer

The price of the printer is the beginning of the budget, not the end. Before you buy, it helps to think about what it takes to keep printing. This guide lists the costs people often forget and shows how to estimate them.

Up-front costs

• The printer. Check what is included in the box and what is sold separately.
• First materials. Filament or resin, plus a spare spool or bottle.
• Basic tools. A scraper for removing prints, flush cutters, and a measuring tool such as calipers are common.
• For resin printers. Gloves, a cleaning liquid, containers and a way to cure parts.
• Optional extras. An enclosure, a dry box for filament, or a dedicated table.

Ongoing costs

• Materials. Your biggest repeating cost.
• Wear parts. Nozzles, belts, tubes and build surfaces wear out. For resin printers, the film in the vat is a typical wear item.
• Electricity. Usually modest, but it is not zero for long prints.
• Failed prints. Everyone wastes some material while learning.

The hidden costs

• Time. Setting up, tuning and cleaning take real time.
• Space and noise. A printer needs a safe, ventilated place.
• Learning curve. Plan for a few weeks before prints come out the way you want.

How to estimate the cost of a print

1. Open your model in the slicer software and read how much material the print will use.
2. Find the price per unit weight of your filament or resin.
3. Multiply the two to get the material cost.
4. Add a margin for failures while you are still learning.

Ways to keep costs down

• Start with an easy material and learn the machine before adding others.
• Buy small amounts of a new material before committing to a large spool.
• Print things you will actually use.
• Do routine maintenance, since it is cheaper than replacing parts.

Back to the basics: how to choose your first 3D printer and filaments for beginners.

General information only. Prices and consumables vary by product and seller.