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3D Printing Quantity Calculator

Estimate the filament volume, weight, length, and material cost needed for a 3D print.

Your Details

Overview

Use this 3D Printing Quantity Calculator to estimate the filament weight, length, volume, and material cost for a print. Enter your model's solid volume, an estimated material fill level, waste allowance, filament density, diameter, and price per kilogram.

How it works

The calculator starts with the model's solid volume and applies your estimated material fill percentage. It then adds the selected waste allowance. That material volume is multiplied by filament density to estimate weight. To estimate filament length, the volume is divided by the cross-sectional area of the selected filament diameter. Material cost is calculated from the estimated weight and price per kilogram.

How to use this calculator

  1. 1Enter the solid volume reported by your CAD program or slicer.
  2. 2Set an estimated material fill percentage based on your infill, walls, and support needs.
  3. 3Add a waste allowance for brims, purging, supports, and setup losses.
  4. 4Enter your filament density and diameter.
  5. 5Add the price per kilogram and review the estimated material requirement and cost.

Example Calculation

Model solid volume

100

Estimated material fill

20%

Waste allowance

10%

Filament density

1.24

Filament diameter

1.75

Filament price per kg

$25

Estimated filament required

27.3 g

A 100 cm³ model estimated at 20% material fill with 10% waste uses about 27.3 g of 1.75 mm PLA, roughly 9.1 m of filament, costing about $0.68 in material.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find my model's solid volume?

Many CAD programs and slicers display a model volume in cubic millimetres or cubic centimetres. Convert cubic millimetres to cubic centimetres by dividing by 1,000.

Can I use infill percentage as the material fill value?

Yes, but it is a rough estimate. Infill alone does not include perimeters, top and bottom layers, supports, brims, or purge material, so increase the value or waste allowance where needed.

What density should I use for PLA filament?

PLA is commonly around 1.24 g/cm³, but use the value on the manufacturer data sheet when available. Other materials can have noticeably different densities.

Why does filament diameter affect the estimated length?

A thicker filament has a larger cross-sectional area, so each metre contains more material. The estimated weight is unchanged, but the required length changes.

Does this calculator include support material?

Not separately. Include expected supports by increasing the estimated material fill or the waste allowance.

Why can the slicer estimate differ from this result?

A slicer calculates the exact toolpaths, shell count, layer height, infill pattern, support geometry, and purge behaviour. This calculator is intended for an early planning estimate.

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Assumptions and warnings

Assumptions

  • The model volume is the volume of a completely solid version of the part.
  • Estimated material fill is used as a simplified proxy for infill, walls, top layers, and supports.
  • Filament density is uniform and matches the value entered.
  • The cost estimate includes filament only, not electricity, printer wear, labour, shipping, or failed prints.

Warnings

  • This calculator provides an estimate only; slicer settings, wall thickness, supports, and printer calibration can materially change actual filament use.
  • Check your slicer's filament estimate before starting a long or high-value print.