3D Printing Budget (Commercial) Calculator
Estimate the commercial cost of a 3D print and calculate a quoted price based on materials, machine time, labor, overhead, and target profit margin.
Overview
Use this commercial 3D printing budget calculator to estimate what a print job costs to produce and what to charge. It combines material consumption, print time, machine costs, labor, other direct expenses, overhead, and your target profit margin.
How it works
The calculator first estimates material cost by converting grams to kilograms and multiplying by the material price. It then adds machine time, labor, and other direct costs. Your selected overhead percentage is applied to those direct costs to estimate the total production cost. Finally, it divides total production cost by one minus the target margin to calculate a sale price that produces the selected gross margin.
How to use this calculator
- 1Enter the estimated material used for the job in grams.
- 2Add your material purchase cost per kilogram.
- 3Enter the expected print time and your machine cost per hour.
- 4Add hands-on labor time and the fully loaded labor rate.
- 5Include any job-specific direct costs and choose an overhead allocation.
- 6Set your target profit margin and review the production cost and recommended quote.
Example Calculation
Material used
250
Material price per kg
$25
Print time
12
Machine cost per hour
$4
Labor time
1.5
Labor cost per hour
$30
Other direct costs
$10
Overhead allocation
15%
Target profit margin
30%
Total production cost
$125.64
For this job, estimated production cost is about 126.79. A quote of about 181.13 is needed to provide a 30% gross profit margin, for estimated gross profit of 54.34.
Frequently asked questions
What should I include in a 3D printing machine hourly rate?
Include the equipment costs you want to recover, such as depreciation, maintenance, electricity, software, replacement parts, and expected downtime. Avoid counting the same cost again in overhead.
What is the difference between markup and profit margin?
Profit margin is profit divided by the sale price. Markup is profit divided by cost. This calculator uses target profit margin, so a 30% margin is not the same as adding a 30% markup.
Should failed prints be included in the quote?
Yes. You can reflect expected failures and reprints by increasing material use, machine rate, labor time, other direct costs, or overhead based on your typical failure experience.
Does the calculator include shipping and taxes?
It does not add taxes or shipping automatically. Include packaging or shipping supplies in other direct costs, and add delivery charges or applicable taxes separately when preparing a customer quote.
Can I use this calculator for resin, SLS, and FDM printing?
Yes. Enter the amount and purchase cost of the material used, then adjust machine, labor, and other direct costs to match the printing process and finishing work.
Why is the recommended quote higher than the production cost?
The quote includes the profit needed to meet your selected margin. It also accounts for the overhead percentage you entered, which helps recover business costs beyond the job's direct expenses.
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Assumptions and warnings
Assumptions
- Material use is entered for one finished part or the full job being priced.
- The machine hourly rate already reflects the equipment costs you choose to recover, such as power, maintenance, and depreciation.
- Overhead is calculated as a percentage of direct production costs.
- The recommended quote uses gross margin, calculated as profit divided by sale price.
- Results are estimates and do not include sales tax, payment processing charges, delivery charges, or costs not entered.
Warnings
- This calculator provides a business estimate only and is not financial or pricing advice.
- Review actual failure rates, reprints, contractual requirements, taxes, and market conditions before finalizing a commercial quote.