Pricing 3D printing services is both an art and a science. You need to cover your costs, earn a fair return on your time and equipment, and remain competitive in your local market. Here's how to think about it.
The Cost Components
Every 3D print has several cost components:
Material cost. This is straightforward — weigh the finished part (including supports and failed prints) and multiply by your per-gram filament cost. A typical spool of PLA costs around $20-25 for 1kg, so roughly $0.02-0.025 per gram.
Machine time. Your printer has a cost per hour that includes electricity, wear on components (nozzles, belts, bearings), and depreciation of the machine itself. For a typical consumer printer, estimate $0.50-1.50 per hour.
Your time. Slicing, preparing the printer, removing supports, quality checking, and communicating with the customer all take time. Don't undervalue this.
Overhead. Electricity, workspace, adhesives, tools, replacement parts, and software subscriptions all add up.
A Simple Pricing Formula
A good starting formula: (Material Cost × 3) + (Print Time in Hours × $3-5) + Setup Fee ($5-10)
The 3x markup on materials covers waste from failed prints, support material, and material degradation. The hourly rate covers machine wear and electricity. The setup fee covers your time to prepare and finalize the job.
Triangle Market Rates
Based on what we see across the 3D Tri community, typical rates in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area are:
Standard PLA prints: $0.10-0.20 per gram (finished part weight), complex prints with supports: $0.15-0.30 per gram, resin prints: $0.20-0.50 per gram depending on resin type, and rush orders: 1.5-2x standard pricing.
Remember, these are guidelines. If you offer exceptional quality, specialized materials, or design services, you can and should charge more.
Tips for the Triangle Market
The Triangle is a unique market — highly educated, tech-savvy, and willing to pay for quality. Don't race to the bottom on pricing. Instead, compete on reliability and service. Respond quickly to inquiries, deliver on time, and produce clean prints. A reputation for quality will bring you far more business than being the cheapest option.