Filament Cost Calculator
Calculate material cost per 3D print from model weight and filament price per kg.
Compare PLA, PETG, and ABS costs across spool prices for budget planning.
Calculating filament cost accurately helps you price prints, manage your spool inventory, and compare material costs across different filament types.
Core formula: Filament Cost = (Print Weight in grams ÷ Spool Weight in grams) × Spool Price
Or using length: Filament Cost = (Filament Length Used in meters ÷ Total Spool Length) × Spool Price
Weight-to-length conversion: Length (m) = Weight (g) ÷ (π × (Diameter/2)² × Density × 1000)
For 1.75mm PLA (density ≈ 1.24 g/cm³): 1 kg of filament ≈ 335 meters
For 1.75mm PETG (density ≈ 1.27 g/cm³): 1 kg of filament ≈ 327 meters
Worked example: A print uses 87 g of PLA. The 1 kg spool cost $22. Cost = (87 ÷ 1000) × $22 = $1.91 in filament
For a full cost estimate, add electricity: Electricity Cost = Printer Wattage (kW) × Print Hours × kWh Rate Example: 0.2 kW × 6 hours × $0.13/kWh = $0.16 Total material + power: $1.91 + $0.16 = $2.07
Common filament densities:
- PLA: 1.24 g/cm³ (~335 m/kg at 1.75mm)
- PETG: 1.27 g/cm³ (~327 m/kg at 1.75mm)
- ABS: 1.04 g/cm³ (~400 m/kg at 1.75mm)
- TPU: 1.21 g/cm³ (~343 m/kg at 1.75mm)
Typical cost ranges per kg:
- Budget PLA: $15–$20
- Quality PLA/PETG: $20–$30
- Engineering filaments (ASA, PC, Nylon): $30–$60
- Carbon fiber or specialty: $60–$120+