The Ultimate 3D Printing Quote Calculator Formula (2026)

By Admin | Jan 2026

Stop guessing. If you run a 3D printing service, you need a repeatable quote formula. This guide shows you how to price materials, electricity, depreciation, and labor, then apply markup tiers for different client types.

Basic Service Cost Calculator Formula

Start with your true production cost, then add markup:

• Material Cost: Weight (g) × price per g.
• Electricity: (Watts/1000) × hours × rate.
• Depreciation: Time × machine wear (e.g., $0.10/hour).
• Labor: Slicing, setup, post-processing, cleaning supports.

Quote = (Material + Electricity + Depreciation + Labor) × Markup

Cost per Hour vs. Cost per Gram

• Per hour is better for slow, high-detail prints where time dominates.
• Per gram is better for bulky, simple parts where material dominates.
• Hybrid approach: Calculate base cost with both time + weight, then choose the higher of the two as your starting quote.

Commercial Pricing Tiers (Client Estimates)

• Friends & Family: Cost + 10% (covers consumables).
• Standard Client: Cost × 2.5 (covers overhead + margin).
• Rush Order: Cost × 4.0 (overtime, priority queue).

FAQ: Quoting 3D Printing Services

• Should I include failed prints? Yes, bake a scrap/failure factor (5-10%) into material estimates.
• How to price multi-color or dual-extrusion jobs? Add setup labor + potential purge/waste filament.
• What about shipping? Quote shipping separately but include platform/payment fees if using Etsy.