Pricing / 4 min read
How to Calculate Filament Cost for a 3D Print
Learn the simple formula for turning spool price and slicer grams into a reliable material cost estimate.
Sections3
CategoryPricing
Read time4 min read
FormatProduction focused
The basic formula
Filament cost is calculated by dividing spool price by spool weight, then multiplying by the grams used by the print. If a 1 kg spool costs 75 and a model uses 50 g, the material cost is 75 / 1000 * 50 = 3.75.
Add waste percentage
Real prints are not always perfect. Add 3-10% waste for purge material, supports, brims, calibration pieces, and failed prints. Multi-color AMS prints may need a higher allowance because purge waste can be significant.
Use slicer data
Use the filament grams shown in your slicer instead of guessing. Bambu Studio, PrusaSlicer, Cura, and OrcaSlicer all show estimated filament usage before printing.