Filament cost calculator
Enter what you paid for a spool and how much filament a print uses to see the cost per gram and per print.
Working it out…
How this is worked out
The price of the spool, with anything you paid to have it delivered, is spread over the grams on it. A print then costs that much for every gram it uses, including the grams that end up in supports, a brim or a purge tower.
Cost per gram = (spool price + shipping and tax) ÷ grams on the spool
Cost per kilogram = cost per gram × 1000
Filament used = grams in the print + supports, brim and purge
Cost per print = filament used × cost per gram
Prints per spool = grams on the spool ÷ filament used, rounded down
Assumptions
- The price, the shipping and the extra grams are examples to show how the tool works, not research, because no maker's current price could be checked on an official page. Enter your own.
- The grams on the spool are the filament only. Most spools are sold as 1000 g of filament, but check the label, because the spool itself adds weight.
- Failed prints are left out. The failed-print calculator adds them.
Questions sellers ask
How much does filament cost per gram?
Divide the price you paid by the grams of filament on the spool. A $20.00 spool with 1000 g on it costs $0.020 per gram, or $20.00 per kilogram. Those figures are examples; add any shipping and tax to the price first, because it is part of what the filament cost you.
How do I work out the filament cost of a 3D print?
Multiply the filament used by the cost per gram. Take the grams from your slicer, and add the supports, brim and purge, because you buy them too. A 45 g print with 5 g of supports and brim uses 50 g, which costs $1.00 at $0.020 per gram.
How many prints can I get from one spool?
Divide the grams on the spool by the filament each print uses, and round down. A 1000 g spool gives 20 prints that each use 50 g. The leftover filament at the end of a spool is easy to waste, so check what remains with the filament spool calculator.
Is it cheaper to buy filament in bigger spools?
Often, but compare the cost per gram, not the price. Enter each spool above and read the cost per gram: the spool that costs less per gram is cheaper, as long as you will print it before the filament takes up moisture or you need another color.