The short answer
Price every job as cost × markup. Work out your true cost — filament, machine time, electricity and labour — then multiply by a markup that covers failed prints, overhead and profit. For small consumer prints a markup of 2× to 3× the material-and-time cost is a common starting point; engineering or low-volume parts often justify more. For example, a 22.6 g PETG bracket that costs about $8.16 to make (material + machine time + 15 minutes of labour) sells for about $20.40 at a 2.5× markup. Never quote a flat fee, price each model from its real weight and print time rather than a per-item rate, and always enforce a minimum order value (commonly $10–20) so tiny jobs still cover your handling time.
Cost is not price
These are two different numbers and confusing them is the most common pricing mistake. Cost is what the print takes out of your pocket. Price is what the customer pays. Your profit lives in the gap between them.
So pricing is a two-step job: first calculate the cost accurately, then decide the markup. This guide is about step two — the markup. If you're not yet confident in step one, read how to calculate 3D printing cost first, then come back.
The pricing formula
price = cost × markup (then check against your minimum)
Markup is the lever you control. It absorbs the things a raw cost calculation misses: the print that fails at 80%, the spool that jams, the time you spend answering emails, the wear on your machine, and — crucially — your profit. A markup of 1.0× means you work for free.
How much markup should you add?
There's no universal number, but these ranges are realistic starting points. Adjust for your market, your reliability and the complexity of the part.
- 2× cost — high-volume, simple, repeatable prints where failures are rare and you compete on price.
- 2.5–3× cost — typical for one-off consumer prints: a healthy default for most maker shops. This range is consistent with pricing guidance published by professional 3D printing bureaux and the maker community.
- 3×+ cost — complex geometry, heavy supports, fine-detail or functional parts, small batches, or anything that needs post-processing, fitting or finishing.
Split material and machine time
Don't price on weight alone or on time alone — each undercharges a different kind of print.
- Per-gram material rate. Filament weight × your price per gram. Set the per-gram price above what you pay for the spool so material itself carries some margin.
- Hourly machine rate. Print hours × a rate that covers electricity, maintenance, depreciation and your attention. Even an unattended printer isn't free.
A tall, hollow vase is cheap in grams but ties up the machine for hours — the hourly rate captures that. A small, dense, solid part is quick but material-heavy — the per-gram rate captures that. Together they track the real job.
A worked example
A customer uploads a 22.6 g PETG bracket with a 3.2-hour print time.
| Line | Maths | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Material | 22.6 g × $0.06/g | $1.36 |
| Machine time | 3.2 h × $1.50/h | $4.80 |
| Electricity + wear | included in hourly rate | — |
| Labour (setup + removal) | 15 min | $2.00 |
| Cost | $8.16 | |
| Price | $8.16 × 2.5 markup | $20.40 |
Quote ~$20. If your minimum order value is $15, this clears it; a 5 g keychain at the same rates wouldn't, which is exactly why the minimum exists.
Set a minimum order value
Every order carries fixed overhead — slicing, plating, removing supports, packing, and the admin around shipping — that a $2 print can never cover. A minimum order value of roughly $10–20 makes sure small jobs are still worth doing. It also nudges customers toward ordering several items at once.
Beyond cost-plus: value and the market
Cost-plus gives you a floor, not a ceiling. Two more forces shape the final number:
- Value to the customer. A replacement part that saves someone buying a whole appliance is worth far more than its grams. Don't leave that on the table.
- The market. Check what comparable services charge. If you're far below, you're probably underpricing; far above, you need to justify it with speed, quality or finish.
Common pricing mistakes
- Flat fees. A flat "$10 per print" overcharges tiny jobs and bankrupts you on big ones.
- Forgetting failed prints. If 1 in 10 prints fails, your markup has to carry that loss or you're slowly losing money.
- Not charging for your time. Slicing, plating and post-processing are labour. Price them.
- Quoting by hand, slowly. Manual quotes are inconsistent and arrive too late — the customer has often already bought elsewhere.
Let the price calculate itself
Filaquote reads the real weight and print time from each uploaded model and applies your per-gram rate, hourly rate, markup, volume tiers and minimum order value automatically — so every quote is consistent, instant and verified server-side before it becomes an order. No spreadsheet, no email tag.
Add to Shopify→FAQ
What is a fair price for a 3D print?
A fair price covers your true cost plus a margin that keeps you in business — commonly 2× to 3× the material-and-time cost for small jobs. There's no fixed rate: a 20 g desk toy might sell for $8–15, while an engineering part with supports and finishing can be many times that. Price from the real cost of the specific model, not a flat fee.
Should I charge per gram or per hour?
Use both. Charge per gram for material and per hour for machine time. Weight alone undercharges slow, tall or support-heavy prints; time alone undercharges dense, material-hungry ones. Combining them tracks the real cost of each job.
How do I price bulk or multiple copies?
Cost one unit, then use stepped volume pricing: full margin on small quantities, a lower per-unit margin as quantity rises, since setup and failure risk amortise across the batch. Keep your minimum order value in place regardless.