Filament Cost Calculator
Determine the exact material cost for your FDM 3D prints.
How This Tool Works
It’s simple math, not magic. We break down your spool price into a "price per gram" and then multiply that by exactly how much plastic your model uses.
- Formula:
(Spool Price / Spool Weight) x Model Weight - The Logic: If you buy in bulk, your prints are cheaper. This tool standardizes everything to 1 gram so you can compare a $20/kg spool vs. a $50/500g exotic spool fairly.
- Assumptions: We assume you aren’t including shipping costs in the spool price unless you add them yourself.
How to Use
- Check your receipt for how much you paid for the filament.
- Weigh your finished print (or check the slicer's estimate). Pro Tip: Include the weight of the supports and raft! That’s wasted money, but it still costs you.
- Hit calculate to see the damage.
Example Calculation
Say you bought a standard roll of PLA for $22.00.
It’s a 1kg (1000g) spool.
You print a headset stand that weighs 150g.
• Cost per gram: $0.022
• Total Print Cost: $3.30
Why This Tool Is Accurate
Slicers are good, but they sometimes guess density. Weighing the actual print (popping it on a kitchen scale) is 100% accurate because you are measuring the physical plastic used.
Limitations & Disclaimer
This only covers material costs.
• It doesn't account for electricity (use our Electricity Cost Calculator
for that).
• It doesn't factor in failed prints (the "spaghetti cost").
• It doesn't count your time (which is probably the most expensive
part).
FAQs
Technically yes, but resin bottles are usually liters, not kg. Use our Resin Cost Calculator for better accuracy there.
Infill changes the weight. If you increase infill, your model gets heavier, and the price goes up. This tool doesn't care about settings, only final weight.
Yes! If you paid $20 for filament and $10 for shipping, that spool actually cost you $30. Enter $30 to see your true cost.