What a 3D printer costs per month

Simulates the monthly cost of filament, electricity and wear for a 3D printer from hours per week, electricity rate and filament price.

PrinterSets the average power draw (W).

Hours printing per week

Grams per hour~10-15 g/h in PLA, 0.2 mm layers.

Filament (R$/kg)PLA: R$ 97-125 on Mercado Livre.

Electricity rate (R$/kWh)Bill total ÷ kWh.

Average power (W)Filled in by the printer.

Share of prints in multicolorA multicolor part uses ~20% more filament because of purging.

Failed printsSellers set aside ~15%. At the start it's more.

Per month

FilamentElectricityWear

Hours per month

Filament used

Filament (with failures and purge)

Electricity

Wear (nozzle, PTFE tube, plate)

Cost per printed hour

Wear: ~R$ 0.20 per hour (a R$ 55-100 nozzle every 500-1000 h, PTFE tube, plate). An estimate, not measured. It does not include the price of the printer; that goes in the cost-per-part calculator. Prices are in Brazilian reais (R$).