Most 3D printing shops charge less than what it actually costs to produce — not on purpose, but by forgetting the invisible variables. Here's the simple formula, with real examples.
30%
underquote on average
3×
quick rule on material
10%
average real waste
The fair price formula
Material
Weight × Price/g
+
Machine
Hours × Cost/h
+
Margin
Your real profit
What almost nobody counts
Electricity
A printer pulls 50-150 W. Small per hour, but adds up fast when you print all day.
Your time
Slicing, setup, postprocessing. Even your own time has a price — always charge for it.
Waste & fails
5-15% of parts fail. If you don't price it in, you eat the cost.
Depreciation
A printer lasts ~3,000 h. Divide its price by those hours and add it in.
Real examples
| Part | Weight | Material cost | Sale price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom keychain | 12 g | $0.24 | $5.00 |
| Headphone stand | 85 g | $1.70 | $15.00 |
| Geometric planter | 180 g | $3.60 | $28.00 |
The ×3 rule to start
Multiply material cost by 3. Covers energy, failures, and leaves a healthy margin to reinvest. It's a shortcut, not exact — but it works for the first months.
Mistakes that drain money
Charging only "per gram" and ignoring machine time
Giving away design work because "it's quick"
Charging the same for basic PLA and technical PETG
Charging your hour even when you're the operator
Adding 10-15% waste into every quote
Billing postprocessing (sanding, painting, assembly) separately
How much should I charge per gram of PLA?+
In LATAM the typical range is USD 0.08-0.15/g finished — including material, energy, time, and margin.
Hourly or per piece?+
Per piece for end customers. Hourly only for prototyping or B2B one-offs.
What margin is reasonable?+
40-80% on top of total cost, depending on complexity and perceived value.