Filament Cost Per Print Calculator

About this calculator

FDM 3D printing consumes filament by weight, and spools are priced per kilogram (typically $15–$30 for PLA, more for PETG, ABS or specialty materials), so the raw material cost of any print is simply grams used ÷ 1,000 × price per kg. Slicer software reports the estimated grams for a model before you print, making this a quick pre-print cost check.

Real prints rarely use exactly the sliced amount — failed prints, purge towers, brims and support material all add waste, so makers typically apply a waste allowance of 5–15% on top of the raw estimate. This material-only figure is what hobbyists use to price prints for sale (before adding electricity, machine time and labor), and what print farms use to track cost-per-job across a queue.