3D Print Cost Calculator
Drop a model to estimate filament weight, material cost and a rough print time. Edit price per kg, infill and walls to match your setup.
The formulas, explained
Filament weight starts from the model's solid volume. A print is not fully solid: it has a shell of walls and top/bottom layers, and a partly filled interior. A simple and transparent way to estimate it splits the volume that way:
- shell volume = surface area × wall thickness
- interior volume = (model volume − shell volume) × infill %
- printed volume = shell volume + interior volume
- weight (g) = printed volume (cm³) × density (g/cm³)
- cost = weight (kg) × price per kg
Example: a 50 cm³ model in PLA with a thin shell and 15 % infill might print around 20 to 25 g, which at $20/kg costs about $0.40 to $0.50. A solid print would be 50 × 1.24 = 62 g.
Settings that change the number most
- Infill: going from 15 % to 40 % can nearly double the weight of a chunky model, but barely changes a thin one.
- Walls: more walls add weight proportional to surface area, so they matter most for large hollow-looking objects such as vases and enclosures.
- Material: PETG is slightly heavier than PLA per cm³; ABS is about 16 % lighter.
- Price per kg: budget PLA and premium or engineering filaments can differ several-fold, so set your actual spool price.
- Supports: not included in the base estimate. Heavily supported figurines can use 10 to 30 % more filament.
For resin prints, the calculator uses 1.10 g/cm³. Hollowing in the slicer reduces resin use a lot on large models.
How print time is estimated
Print time is a rough estimate based on the printed volume and typical extrusion rates, and it is clearly labelled as such. Real time depends on layer height, speed profile, acceleration, number of travel moves and supports, which only your slicer knows.
For an accurate time, slice in Bambu Studio, OrcaSlicer, PrusaSlicer or Cura and read their preview. Use the MeshShift estimate earlier in the process: deciding whether a figure should be 80 or 120 mm tall, comparing PLA and PETG, or quoting a rough price to a friend before you set up the job.
Pricing a print for someone else
Material is usually the smallest part of what a print costs. If you print for friends or sell prints, add the other costs on top of the filament estimate:
- electricity: a typical FDM printer draws roughly 100 to 150 W while printing;
- machine wear: nozzles, build plates and belts;
- failed prints: many hobbyists add 10 to 20 % to material for retries;
- your time for setup, support removal and finishing.
The calculator gives you a reliable material number to start from. Everything else depends on your own setup and local energy prices.
Frequently asked questions
How much filament does a 3D print use?
It depends on volume, infill and walls. A solid 10 cm³ part in PLA weighs about 12.4 g, but printed at 15 % infill with a few walls it might use 5 to 7 g. Drop your model into the calculator to see the estimate for your settings.
What density should I use for PLA?
1.24 g/cm³ is the standard value for PLA and is the default here. PETG is 1.27, ABS 1.04 and standard resin around 1.10. Filled or specialty filaments can differ, so check the spool's datasheet.
Why does my slicer show a different weight?
Slicers know your exact wall count, layer height, top and bottom layers, supports and brim. The calculator uses a simpler model of shell plus infill without supports, so expect differences of 10 to 20 %, more on heavily supported prints.
Is the cost calculator free?
Yes. It is free, needs no account and runs in your browser, so your model is not uploaded. The same estimate appears on every file you convert or generate on MeshShift.
