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3D Printer Electricity Cost Calculator

Electricity is small per print but adds up across a print farm. Here's the exact power cost of any job.

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watts
Average watts while printing.
hours
$per kWh

Results update as you type — no button needed.

Result

  • Energy used (kWh)—
Electricity cost—

How much electricity does a 3D printer use?

A desktop FDM printer averages roughly 100–150 watts while printing — most of it the heated bed. Efficient machines run lower (a Bambu Lab P1P has been measured near 60 W on a PETG print); large, enclosed, or high-temperature printers draw more. Over a 6-hour print that's about 0.4–0.9 kWh — pennies to ~15 cents depending on your rate. Resin (MSLA) printers use less, since they have no heated bed. Representative average draw by type:

Printer typeAverage draw while printing
Efficient / compact FDM (e.g. Bambu P1-class)~60–120 W
Typical FDM with heated bed~100–150 W
Large-format / enclosed, high-temp~150–350 W
Resin MSLA~30–60 W

An initial bed/hotend heat-up spike can briefly hit 300–1000 W, but the printing average is what drives cost. A plug-in energy meter (e.g. a Kill A Watt) gives your exact figure.

How to calculate your print's electricity cost

Two steps: energy (kWh) = watts ÷ 1000 × print hours, then cost = energy × your rate per kWh. Example: a 120 W printer running 6 hours uses 0.72 kWh; at $0.17/kWh that's about $0.12. The calculator above does it instantly, and the 3D Print Cost Calculator rolls it into your full cost per print alongside material, machine wear, and labour.

Does 3D printing use a lot of electricity?

Not really — per print it's one of the smallest costs, usually pennies. A printer running 8 hours a day for a month at 120 W uses about 29 kWh — roughly $5 at $0.17/kWh, similar to leaving a couple of old bulbs on. It only becomes significant at print-farm scale. To trim it: lower the bed temperature where the material allows, enclose the printer to retain heat, and run during off-peak tariff hours.

How it's calculated

Energy (kWh) = watts ÷ 1000 × hours. Cost = energy × your rate per kWh.

Assumptions
  • Uses average power draw. Heated beds and enclosures spike usage; measure with a plug meter for precision.

FAQ

How many watts does a 3D printer use?
A typical desktop FDM printer averages ~70–150 W while printing, dominated by the heated bed and hotend. Large/enclosed or resin printers differ. A cheap plug-in energy meter gives an exact figure.
Does 3D printing use a lot of electricity?
No — per print it's usually pennies. A 120 W printer running 6 hours uses about 0.72 kWh. It only adds up at print-farm scale with many machines running continuously.
How much does it cost to run a 3D printer per month?
Printing about 8 hours a day at ~120 W is roughly 29 kWh per month — around $5 at $0.17/kWh. Scale by your own wattage, hours, and electricity rate.
How much electricity does a resin printer use?
Less than FDM — resin MSLA printers have no heated bed, so the UV LED array and LCD draw roughly 30–60 W on average.

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Disclaimer: These calculators are provided for guidance only and use representative material constants and published marketplace fee rates (as of June 2026). Real costs vary — always verify against your own figures before pricing or purchasing. PrintProfit is reader-supported and may earn a commission from links to recommended products, at no extra cost to you.