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3D printer electricity cost calculator
Enter your printer's average power, the print time and your electricity price to see the energy use and cost of a print, per hour and per month.
Electricity cost per hour by printer type
| Printer type | Avg power | Per hour | $0.12/kWh | $0.18/kWh | $0.35/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level bed slinger | 120 W | 0.12 kWh | $0.01 | $0.02 | $0.04 |
| Fast bed slinger | 100 W | 0.10 kWh | $0.01 | $0.02 | $0.03 |
| Enclosed CoreXY | 140 W | 0.14 kWh | $0.02 | $0.03 | $0.05 |
| Large-format FDM | 250 W | 0.25 kWh | $0.03 | $0.05 | $0.09 |
| Resin MSLA | 60 W | 0.06 kWh | $0.01 | $0.01 | $0.02 |
Average power, not the power supply rating
A printer's power supply is rated for its peak — usually while the bed heats up. Once at temperature, the heaters pulse to hold it, so the average is far lower. The figures above are typical averages while printing PLA; hotter materials, enclosures with chamber heaters and cold rooms raise them. For an exact number, measure one print with a plug-in energy meter and divide the kWh by the hours.
Electricity is usually the smallest part of a print's cost. See the full picture — material, machine wear, labor and failures — in the 3D print cost calculator, and read how much electricity a 3D printer uses.