Top 8 3D Printing Cost Calculators of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

3D printing technology is gradually finding extensive applications in healthcare, automotive, and construction due to its freedom from geometric constraints. However, since 3D printing falls under additive manufacturing, it can be quite expensive. So, it's crucial to consider costs carefully for every 3D printing project.

If you also face challenges in calculating 3D printing costs, you might want to explore the 3D printing cost calculators. These tools can help you plan your budget effectively and estimate potential costs before starting your 3D printing project. In this case, today’s post will introduce 8 practical and powerful 3D printing cost calculators to you. Now without further ado, let’s dive in!

Why 3D Printing Calculators Are Important?

3D printing price calculators are essential because 3D printing is fundamentally an additive manufacturing process. It gradually builds physical objects by adding material based on a 3D model. This process encompasses a wide range of 3D printers, printing materials, and labor, all of which require cost estimates through a 3D print cost calculator in advance.

Such calculations help you strike a balance between operational strategies and 3D printing efficiency in your projects. Also, they can help select the most suitable 3D printer by factoring in data like filament usage, printer power, and equipment depreciation.

Besides, 3D printing cost calculators play important roles in business. Transparent cost estimation facilitates building trust and enhancing communication with customers or partners, allowing you to gain a competitive edge in the market.

Top 8 3D Printing Cost Calculators

The widespread adoption of 3D printing has given rise to numerous 3D print price calculators. If you're unsure about how to choose, in this section, we will recommend the top 8 3D printing cost calculators. You can compare them to find the one that best suits your project's needs.

Omni Calculator

Omni Calculator is a free and comprehensive calculator online, with the 3D printing cost calculator being one of them. Its user-friendly interface has three main sections: material cost, labor cost, and the final price. Recognizing that calculation units may vary depending on different regions and projects, this calculator provides multiple units for each value. Additionally, it provides detailed explanations of 3D printing calculations, allowing manual verification of results.

Prusa Calculator

Prusa Calculator is a professional and free program. It offers web and software versions for your convenience, allowing you to choose the appropriate tool based on your usage scenario. It primarily focuses on calculating energy costs, labor costs, and machine maintenance expenses. Meanwhile, due to its elaborate design, you can not only use it to calculate the total cost of filament based on filament type and filament failure rates, but also directly add other possible cost data, like Kapton tape, glue sticks, nozzle, and more to calculate the overall cost of 3D printing.

Fabbaloo

Fabbaloo is ideal for users who own 3D printers as it factors in the printer's purchase price in the cost calculation. This online 3D printing price cost calculator tool emphasizes energy consumption, operational time, and equipment lifespan. If you're a 3D printing service provider or produce and sell 3D printed products, this calculator can aid in pricing and service provision. Besides, clear instructions for each input field make it user-friendly and efficient

 IC3D's Job Cost Calculator

If you're looking for a simple but detail-oriented 3D print cost calculator, you can give IC3D's Job Cost Calculator a try. It is also an online tool and free to use. Visit the tool's webpage, you'll notice that it pays particular attention to filament cost. You can calculate the cost of 3D printing filament cost by selecting filament density, size, and the time required for printing. While IC3D offers such a straightforward calculation service, the precision in cost details within 3D printing makes it worth a try.

MakerShop's 3D Print Cost Calculator

In addition to the basic calculation of material and energy costs, MakerShop's 3D Print Cost Calculator also covers some details such as machine wear, maintenance, bed adhesion, and 3D print markup percentage. Since this 3D printing cost calculator is web-based, it has pre-set calculation units for your convenience, allowing you to fine-tune the numerical options to obtain the desired cost results. Better still, STL files are supported. It can break down your file and provide estimated values necessary for calculating the printing cost.

Xometry's 3D Printing Cost Calculator

Xometry is a provider of 3D printing services, and its website offers a handy 3D printing price cost calculation tool. Unlike other calculators that manually input or select options, Xometry's 3D Printing Cost Calculator allows you to directly upload data files for cost estimation. It supports various file formats such as STEP, STP, SLDPRT, STL, DXF, and more. If you already have existing 3D printing cost data files, this tool is worth a try.

Shatter Box

Shatter Box is free software, and because of this feature, it can be used to calculate 3D printing costs even without an internet connection. Like other 3D print price calculators, Shatter Box calculates material, labor, energy, and other costs by adjusting parameters. However, it boasts a standout feature in its ability to provide multiple profiles for different printers. For 3D printing businesses that use various 3D printers, this feature not only can save time but also store the cost data of each 3D printer.

3D Print HQ

Print HQ comes with a simple interface and offers both web and software versions for your convenience, allowing you to switch between them as needed. With pre-set units, you only need to select the corresponding values to obtain the 3D printing cost results. What's even better is that the software supports exporting 3D printing price calculator Excel files. The clear tabular data greatly facilitates subsequent printing tasks.

Factors Affecting 3D Printing Cost

In practical 3D printing, there are seven main factors to consider. Whether you're a manufacturer or a 3D printing service provider, it's crucial to keep these factors in mind at each stage of the 3D printing process.

• Material and Technology Selection:Since 3D printing is not ideal for mass production. Thorough research is necessary to select appropriate printing materials and techniques, which can help reduce 3D printing costs to some degree.
• Build Quantity and Volume:More quantities and larger printed volumes often come with increased 3D printing costs. Hence, it is crucial to optimize build volume and the printing size.
• Part Complexity:The part complexity affects material selection, layer height, and other parameters. To control costs, you can optimize part design without compromising quality.
• Labor Cost:3D Modeling and parameter setup still rely on manual work. Thus, providing effective training to improve human efficiency can greatly cut labor costs.
• Energy Cost:Energy cost depends on the 3D printer's electricity consumption and usage duration. It's recommended to select a 3D printer with lower energy consumption based on your project needs.
• Depreciation Cost:3D printers typically have a lifespan of several years. Proper use and maintenance are essential to reduce depreciation costs, and equipment leasing can also be a consideration.
• Post-Processing:Sanding and polishing may also be needed when printing is done. To minimize post-processing costs, consider optimizing product design or employing automated post-processing.

In addition to the seven aspects mentioned above, 3D printers can also significantly influence 3D printing costs. Affordable and feature-rich 3D printers like AnkerMake M5 3D Printer and AnkerMake M5C 3D Printer offer a cost-effective solution. These printers feature customizable one-click printing buttons, lightning-fast print speeds of up to 500 mm/s, and a generous extrusion rate of 35 mm³/s. They also achieve precise prints down to 0.1 millimeters. Such budget-friendly and powerful 3D printers effectively reduce both initial procurement and post-processing expenses.

Conclusion

To sum it up, integrating a 3D printing price calculator into your workflow is a smart move. It not only helps you stay within budget but also enhances your overall printing experience. The 8 best 3D printing cost calculators mentioned in this article each have their preferences. Some provide comprehensive calculations for 3D printing costs, while others concentrate on the finer details of printing expenses. Given this range, it's essential to select the one that aligns seamlessly with your unique requirements.

FAQ

How do I calculate the costs of a 3D printing job?

Businesses and individuals can calculate costs based on the equation "total cost = material cost + labor cost + equipment depreciation + energy cost + other costs." However, businesses, in particular, must factor in profitability by considering market dynamics and project intricacies, requiring more intricate pricing models. To achieve precision in calculations, utilizing specialized cost calculation tools is recommended to minimize errors.

How much does it cost to 3D print per inch？

The cost of 3D printing per inch varies based on the material and method. Resin prints using SLA or DLP range from $0.70 to $3 per gram, while metal prints cost between $10 to $100 per cubic centimeter. The exact costs per inch would depend on material density and design specifics.

How do you calculate the cost of a 3D model?

To calculate the cost of a 3D model, you are recommended to use a 3D printing cost calculator. And here are the specific steps below.

1. Identify the material type and its price per kg and density.
2. Use modeling software to calculate model volume.
3. Multiply the volume by material density for the model's mass.
4. Multiply the mass by material price. This is the 3D model cost. Include other costs like labor and electricity.