Technical Guide
How to Price a 3D Print From Slicer Weight and Time
Use slicer weight, print time, material price, electricity, labor, failure allowance, and markup to build a manual 3D print cost estimate.
What This Helps You Do
Turn slicer weight and runtime into a quote-ready cost estimate without uploading a model file.
This is a manual-input workflow. It does not use live prices, uploaded model files, accounts, saved quotes, or external APIs.
Steps
- Open your slicer and copy the print weight and estimated print time.
- Enter your own material price per kilogram and electricity rate.
- Add machine cost, labor time, labor rate, failure allowance, and markup only when they apply to your pricing workflow.
- Review the cost breakdown before moving the result into a customer quote.
Example Inputs
| Material price | $24/kg |
|---|---|
| Print weight | 100 g |
| Print time | 6 hours |
| Power and electricity | 120 W at $0.16/kWh |
| Labor | 0.25 h at $20/h |
| Failure and markup | 10% failure, 30% markup |
Example Outputs
| Material cost | $2.40 |
|---|---|
| Electricity cost | $0.12 |
| Labor cost | $5.00 |
| Suggested quote | $10.75 |
Formula
Material cost = material price per kg / 1000 x print weight. Electricity = watts / 1000 x print hours x electricity rate. Quote price applies failure allowance and markup after the base cost.
Checklist
- Use slicer weight and time instead of uploading STL, 3MF, or G-code files.
- Keep all currency inputs in the same currency.
- Move tax, shipping, packaging, or customer terms into the quote generator if needed.
FAQ
Is this a general 3D printing article?
No. This guide is tied to a calculator or template and includes concrete inputs, outputs, and a formula.
Does this guide use live prices or uploaded model files?
No. Use your own slicer values, prices, and shop assumptions. PrintCostCalc does not upload models or fetch live prices.