The Ultimate Guide to Pricing 3D Prints

By Admin | Jan 5, 2026

Pricing on Etsy is a math problem, not a guess. Between filament, electricity, depreciation, and Etsy's layered fees, a $25 listing can easily net under $10 if you miss the details. Use this guide as a checklist before you hit publish.

Step 1: Know your cost floor

Calculate your true production cost including filament, electricity, and machine wear. If you haven't measured electricity, assume 0.15 kWh/hour at your local rate. Depreciation is a hidden killer—add at least $0.10/hour per printer.

Step 2: Apply Etsy fees correctly

• Listing fee: $0.20 per listing.
• Transaction fee: 6.5% of item price + shipping.
• Payment processing: ~3% + $0.25 fixed.

Fees are charged on the shipping you collect. If you undercharge for shipping, you pay extra fees and lose margin.

Step 3: Price for profit, not just coverage

Take your total cost (materials + electricity + depreciation) and add the Etsy fees. Add your target profit margin (commonly 30-50%). Round to a clean price that still covers the fee math.

Step 4: Set shipping that doesn't burn you

Weigh the packed item and add a buffer for labels/boxes. Use calculated shipping if possible. If you offer “free shipping,” bake that into the item price before applying fees.