Margin isn't what's left at month-end — it's what you charge above the real cost of each part. Here's the formula, benchmarks by product type, and a ready-to-use calculator.
40-60%
healthy minimum margin
70%+
ideal for unique pieces
<20%
trouble signal
Margin formula
Sale price
What you charge
→
− Total cost
Material + machine + time
→
÷ Sale price
= margin %
Benchmarks by product type
| Part type | Typical margin | Ideal margin |
|---|---|---|
| Keychains / souvenirs | 30-50% | 60% |
| Functional parts | 40-60% | 70% |
| B2B prototypes | 60-80% | 80% |
| Jewelry / art | 70-90% | 85% |
| Industrial spares | 80-120% | 100% |
Margin isn't charged, it's designed
Raise prices by cutting costs, not by raising tags. Tune infill, batch jobs, automate postprocessing. Customer pays the same, you earn more.
Margin-killing mistakes
Charging new customers the same as recurring ones
Not reviewing your margin every 3 months
Cutting prices for volume without recalculating
Having a minimum margin below which you decline jobs
Raising prices every 6 months for inflation at least
Charging rush jobs and custom design as extras
Calculate your real margin now
MiNegocio3D saves every quote with its real margin, alerts you when you drop below the minimum, and projects profitability per client. From $17 USD/mo with a 30-day guarantee.
What's the difference between margin and markup?+
Margin is % over sale price. Markup is % over cost. A 100% markup is only 50% margin.
What's the lowest margin worth taking?+
Nothing below 30%. Any surprise (failure, shipping, fees) wipes you out under that.
How do I raise prices without losing customers?+
Small steps (5-10% every 6 months), give notice, and raise new-client pricing first. Recurring clients accept adjustments when service is good.
