Your printer isn't free just because you've already paid for it: every hour of use brings it closer to the day it needs replacing. If you don't charge for that wear, one day you'll pay for the new machine out of your own pocket. Here's the simple formula to spread its cost across the hours it works.
Wear per hour (maintenance per hour is added afterwards)
How it's calculated, step by step
Step 1: price minus residual value
What you paid, minus what you think you could sell the machine for at the end. If you don't plan to sell it, use zero: it's the most prudent assumption.
Step 2: estimate its useful life in hours
There's no single official number. It depends on the model, usage, and care. Pick a prudent figure and adjust it with your real experience.
Step 3: add maintenance
Nozzles, belts, fans, print bed, tubes. Divide what you spend on spare parts per year by the hours you print per year.
Examples with assumptions (not official figures)
The prices and useful-life hours in the table are round assumptions to show the math, not manufacturer data. Replace every number with your own.
Wear cost per hour on three example machines (USD, assumptions)
| Example machine | Wear per hour | Maintenance per hour | Total per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry: 300 USD, 4,000 h useful life | 300 ÷ 4,000 = 0.075 | 30 ÷ 1,000 h = 0.03 | ≈ 0.11 USD |
| Mid-range: 500 USD, 5,000 h useful life | 500 ÷ 5,000 = 0.10 | 40 ÷ 1,000 h = 0.04 | 0.14 USD |
| Enclosed multicolor: 1,200 USD, 8,000 h | 1,200 ÷ 8,000 = 0.15 | 60 ÷ 1,200 h = 0.05 | 0.20 USD |
It looks small per hour, which is why almost nobody charges it. But with the mid-range example machine running 300 hours a month, that's about 42 USD a month (0.14 × 300) that someone has to pay. If you don't charge it on each part, you're the one paying it.
Useful life is an estimate, adjust it
If a machine lasts longer than you assumed, your real cost per hour drops. If it breaks sooner, it rises. Review your estimate every year against what actually happened.
Common mistakes
Frequently asked questions
How many hours does a 3D printer last?+
Should I include wear in the price of every part?+
What if I paid off my printer years ago?+
How do I calculate cost per hour for several printers?+
Save each printer's cost per hour
In MiNegocio3D you register each printer once and wear is added automatically to all your quotes. From 17 USD a month, with a 7-day free trial, no card required, and a 30-day guarantee.