How much does 3D printing cost?

People often ask for a price per gram or per hour, but a print does not have one. Two parts of the same size can cost very differently because one is dense and quick to print and the other is hollow, fine and slow. That is why we price each file on its own: the quote calculator slices your model with the same settings we use, then calculates the price from the result.

We do not publish example prices in this article, because they would mislead more than help. Upload your model and the calculator gives you the real figure, usually within a few minutes.

The slicer reports how much filament your part needs, including walls, infill and any supports. That weight is multiplied by the price of the chosen material. A bigger part, a denser infill or more walls all mean more plastic. Different materials also have different prices per kilogram, so switching from one to another can move the price a little.

Time is the second large factor. The slicer estimates how long the printer will run, and the price includes the cost of using the machine for that time and the electricity it draws. Fine layers take longer than thick ones, tall parts take longer than flat ones, and detailed shapes take longer than simple blocks.

When your model needs supports, the calculator adds a separate support charge on top of the extra plastic and time they cause. Supports have to be removed by hand and can leave marks, so the charge reflects that finishing work.

Each order includes a setup cost for preparing the job. When you put several models in the same basket, the setup is counted once for the whole order and shared between them, not repeated for each file.

You can order from 1 to 100 copies. The material and print time grow with every copy, but larger quantities earn a quantity discount that applies in bands. The calculator shows when a discount applies.

Very small jobs are brought up to a minimum order value, so a tiny part cannot fall below what it takes for us to run the job at all. If your basket is above that value, it does not matter.

The price you see already includes an allowance for the occasional failed print and our work, and VAT is shown as included. The calculator shows one final price rather than a long list of internal items. Delivery is separate from the print price, and pickup in Valencia is free.

You choose the layer height, infill, number of walls and whether supports are used. Each one changes the weight, the time, or both:

• Thicker layers print faster and cost less, with more visible layer lines.
• Lower infill saves plastic and time; higher infill makes the part stronger.
• More walls add strength to the outside of the part.
• Supports set to automatic add what the shape needs; switching them off only works if the model prints without them.

• Make the part smaller where you can. Volume grows quickly with size.
• Hollow out or thin solid areas that do not need to be solid.
• Choose a thicker layer height and a lower infill for parts that are not structural.
• Redesign overhangs so that supports are not needed.
• Put related parts in one order, so setup is shared.
• Order the quantity you need in one go to benefit from discount bands.

Some jobs do not fit the instant calculator. A model larger than the 256 × 256 × 256 mm build volume, a file with several separate parts or a multi-colour model, or a file the slicer cannot process, is not given an instant price. The calculator says so, and you can send it as a request that we price by hand.

Imagine two parts that look alike on screen. One is a solid block printed with thick layers and low infill. The other is the same size, with thin layers, thick walls and an overhang that needs supports. The second uses more plastic, runs for many more hours and carries a support charge, so it costs noticeably more even though it looks the same size.

The reverse also happens: a tall, narrow part can look small but take a long time because the printer has to go up through many layers. This is why the weight and the time shown by the slicer, not the size alone, decide the price. It is also why we ask you to check the settings rather than guess.

If you are comparing us with another service, compare like with like: the same material, layer height, infill and quantity. A lower price with a coarser setting is not the same product. Check also whether VAT and delivery are included, or the comparison is not fair.

After you pick a file, you first see a quick labelled estimate worked out in your browser, and the calculated price from the slicer replaces it when slicing finishes. Only the calculated price counts. Changing the material or settings triggers a new slice, so you always see the price for exactly what you choose.