Price of 3d printer filament

How much does 3D printing cost?

David Roberson21 September 2021

Guide

Once you understand how 3D printing works, it's important to talk money. A 3D printer should be a long-term asset for your organization that delivers value for years after you buy it. But how much does 3D printing cost?

This return on investment is a benefit that sets 3D printing apart from other solutions like outsourcing. But as with any long-term asset, it pays to be aware of all the associated costs that come with owning a 3D printer, and which expenses – including 3D printer material costs – you need to plan for into the future.

The list below should help you understand the costs involved, how they differ depending on the technology, and which are one-off or repeating. (Prices are indicative and subject to change – so we recommend doing your own research too.)

3D printer price

With products on the market for anyone from a home user to the R&D divisions of blue-chip companies, 3D printer prices vary a lot. Typically, FFF offers the greatest variation in price, from hobbyist machines costing a few hundred dollars to higher-performance desktop printers in the $2,000 to $6,000 range. Desktop SLA printers start from around $2,000 to $3,000, while an SLS printer typically costs $10,000 plus. Larger-scale industrial machines of any technology will cost significantly more.

Peripherals

These can add extra functionality, but also add extra expense your 3D printing costs. Post-processing peripherals are almost essential for SLA and SLS printers. For example, SLA prints will otherwise have to be manually washed in isopropyl alcohol and left in the sun to cure – so in practice, these printers often require purchase of post-processing stations unless that appeals to you! For FFF, peripherals can streamline workflows such as material handling, but are up to you depending on your needs.

Maintenance and service

Typically, this should only be the cost of replacing the odd consumable part over time. Check what support your seller includes as part of the price – they may offer installation and maintenance included. Some products also come with extended warranty options or an annual service plan. These plans can add certainty for some customers, but be sure to read the fine print in detail to understand the terms and exactly what support you get if something goes wrong.

Energy

For regular use for an Ultimaker 3D printer, we calculated this to be around $50 per year. But if you want a more precise figure, check the power consumption specs of a 3D printer and make a calculation based on your likely usage and local energy prices.

Materials

Think of material costs like gas for your car. While not considerable in isolation, over the long-term it will be one of the biggest running costs. For FFF 3D printing, 3D printer filament prices (for an everyday material like PLA or PETG) are around $20 to $50 per kilogram, or $60 to $120 for specialized engineering or support filaments. Entry-level SLA resins cost around $50 per liter, and most professional options cost around $150 to $400. SLS powder can cost around $100 to $200 per kilogram.

Software

Most professional level 3D printers come with some software included, usually so you can prepare your prints and manage printers. Many cheaper 3D printers don’t come with adequate software, but luckily our Ultimaker Cura software is compatible with hundreds of machines and free to download. And if you really want to scale 3D printing in your business unit or even entire organization, consider an enterprise software plan with added features like direct support, online training courses, and cloud storage for your parts and projects.

You can learn more in our total cost of ownership white paper – available to download for free.

A 3D printer is part of an ecosystem that includes peripherals, materials, and software – either from the manufacturer or third parties

Need more info on 3D printing?

Explore the wider world of this incredible technology by reading our answers to these common questions:

What is 3D printing?
What can you make with a 3D printer?
How to use a 3D printer?

3D Printer Filament | MatterHackers

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3D Printer Filament

At MatterHackers, we take pride in offering the largest selection of 3D printing filament available. From our affordable MH Build Series filament, to our professional-grade PRO Series filament, you can find any material, like PLA, ABS, NylonX, PETG, TPU, TPE, Flexibles, Polycarbonate, and more! Along with our industry-proven brand of filament, we also carry other top-notch materials from ColorFabb, Taulman3D, NinjaTek, Ultimaker, 3DFuel, and more.

3D Printer Filament Collections

All 3D Printer Filament

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3D Printer Filament Comparison Guide

3D Printer Filament

PLA Filament

The most common filament, PLA is a great go-to material for its ease of use.

Metal 3D Printing Filament

Print with real metal on your desktop 3D printer.

ABS Filament

ABS is a durable material perfect for projects that need strength.

PETG Filament

PETG is a strong, reliable material that is great for end-use parts.

Nylon Filament

Nylon and Nylon Composites for strong, functional 3D printed parts.

Quantum Dual-Color PLA

Mind-bending, dichromatic PLA that works on every printer

Support Filament

Dissolvable and breakaway support materials for dual extrusion 3D printing.

MH Build Series Filament

MH Build Series filament is designed and priced for every maker

MH Build Series PLA

An affordable, low-cost PLA filament intended for producing quality, 3D printed parts.

MH Build Series ABS

An affordable 3D printing filament meant for every maker with projects that require durable and temperature resistant parts.

MH Build Series PETG

An affordable, low-cost PETG filament intended for producing tough and sturdy 3D printed parts.

MH PVA Support Filament

MH PVA Support Filament is a dissolvable support material for dual extrusion parts.

PRO Series Filament

When reliability and consistency counts, be a PRO.

PRO Series PLA

PRO Series PLA is intended for producing professional, high quality, 3D printed parts.

PRO Series ABS

A formulation intended to help your prints stand out with a beautiful, glossy, opaque finish.

PRO Series PETG

Temperature resistance and fantastic visual performance with translucent colors

PRO Series Tough PLA

Strong like ABS and much easier to use - it's the best material for reliably printing functional prototypes.

PRO Series Flex

All the benefits of flexible filament together with improved strength over other flexible filaments

PRO Series Nylon

The strength and durability of Nylon now in vibrant colors.

PRO Series Ryno

Excellent at bridging and retraction to keep your parts clean with minimal post-processing.

NylonX

The durability of Nylon combined with the stiffness of carbon fiber

NylonG

Glass infused nylon for strong, functional prints

Carbon Fiber Reinforced PLA

Carbon Fiber reinforced PLA adds more strength and rigidity compared to regular PLA.

ColorFabb

With several varieties available, ColorFabb filament is consistent and reliable.

ColorFabb Fill Series

PLA filaments infused with wood, metal and glow-in-the-dark particles for eye-popping prints.

ColorFabb PLA/PHA Series

A unique 3D printing filament tougher and less brittle than just PLA.

MadeSolid

Affordable materials from MadeSolid - limited time only.

NinjaTek

High quality and industry-leading flexible materials.

PVA (Polyvinyl Alcohol)

Polyvinyl Alcohol, a water-soluble support material that dissolves away in a water bath to leave only your perfectly printed part.

Polymaker Filament

Browse all filament collections from Polymaker!

Polypropylene Filament

Polypropylene (PP) is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic filament used to produce durable and lightweight prototypes through Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF).

Proto-Pasta PLA Blends

PLA filaments blended with metal, wood and glow-in-the-dark materials for cool print effects.

Soft PLA

Soft PLA is a flexible material great for parts that need to bend to fit their environment.

PRO Series TPU

Strong yet bendable filament that has excellent layer to layer bonding.

Taulman 3D

High-strength nylons and engineering-grade materials for functional 3D printing.

Ultimaker ABS Filament

Get beautiful, glossy prints with Ultimaker ABS filament

Ultimaker CPE Filament

Get high impact strength and chemical resistance with Ultimaker CPE

Ultimaker Materials

High-grade filament for any 3D printer from Ultimaker

Ultimaker Nylon Filament

Get impact and abrasion resistance with Ultimaker Nylon filament

Ultimaker PLA Filament

Highly versatile, easy to print and available in a variety of colors.

Ultimaker Polycarbonate Filament

3D Print molds, tools, and functional Prototypes with Ultimaker PC

Ultimaker TPU Filament

Get qualities of rubber and plastic and resistance with Ultimaker TPU

Fillamentum

From ASA to exotic colors, Fillamentum provides a quality 3D printing experience.

3DXTech Filament

Explore advanced manufacturing filament from PEEK to ESD-safe materials.

Proto-Pasta

Metallic filament and unique composites make Proto-Pasta 3D filament stand out.

SpoolWorks

3D printing materials from the creators of the industry-leading All-metal v6 HotEnd.

PRO Series Breakaway Support Material

Provides fast, easy, and clean mechanical breakaway for 3D printed parts.

AprintaPro Filament

3D printing filament with great layer adhesion that produces excellent parts.

Kodak 3D Printing Filament

A wide range of 3D printing materials with a focus on color and quality.

eSUN

Consistent and reliable 3D printing filament for entry-level 3D printing.

BASF Ultrafuse 316L Metal 3D Printing Filament

Reliable metal manufacturing for industrial applications - right from your desktop 3D printer.

FiberForce Pantone (R) Certified PLA

Browse a selection of Pantone® certified colors.

Ultimaker Tough PLA Filament

The ease of PLA printing with the impact resistance and stiffness of ABS.

Kai Parthy Lay Series

Browse unique and experimental 3D printing materials.

DSM 3D Printing Filament

Engineering-grade, advanced 3D printing materials for industrial production.

Engineering Grade Filament

High-temperature and advanced materials used in several industrial applications.

MakerBot 3D Printing Filament

Rigorously tested for quality, and optimized for Method Printers.

Fillamentum ExtraFill Series

An excellent baseline PLA that prints amazingly well.

Fillamentum Extrafill ABS Filament

Premium ABS Filament with a wide variety of vibrant colors.

Fillamentum Crystal Clear Series

An incredible line of semi-transparent, colored materials.

Fillamentum FlexFill Series

Flexfill is rubbery and elastic, making it impact, oil and abrasion-resistant.

Fillamentum Vertigo Series

Vertigo PLA series reflect light and create awesome, eye-catching prints with flecks of gold, silver and blue.

Fillamentum PVC Vinyl Filament

Fillamentum ASA Series

A rugged weather-resistant material that is much more resistant to UV light.

Fillamentum TimberFill Series

Made from a PLA base with wood particulate, Timberfill gives you 3D prints that look like they were carved from wood.

Fillamentum CPE

Dow OBC 3D Printer Filament

Strength and Flexibility in One Easy-to-Print Material

Raise3D Filaments

Browse Raise 3D selection of 3D printing filaments

Kodak Nylon 3D Printing Filament

Kodak PLA+ 3D Printer Filament

Kodak Flex 98 3D Printing Filament

Kodak PLA Tough 3D Printer Filament

Kodak PETG 3D Printer Filament

Kodak ABS 3D Printing Filament

BASF Ultrafuse 3D Printer Filament

Industrial grade filament for technical and engineering level 3D printing.

BASF Advanced Specialty Materials

Sophisticated, advanced materials created by the world's leading chemical company.

Clearance Items - Materials

Filament and resins at reduced prices for great savings.

Metallic 3D Printing Filament

Browse real stainless steel metal filament and metal composites

Guides & Articles

How To Succeed When 3D Printing With PLA Filament

Discover the best practices for 3D printing with PLA filament - from finding the right temperature, to which surfaces to 3D print on, this step-by-step guide will help you succeed with 3D printing PLA.

How To Succeed When Printing With ABS

ABS filament is a versatile material that's a great option for when you need your 3D-printed parts to be strong and heat-resistant. Learn how to print this material like a Pro in this in-depth guide.

How to Succeed when 3D Printing with PETG Filament

This in-depth guide provides everything you need to succeed when printing with PETG filament. Embrace the fantastic properties of durable and easy to print, PETG filament!

How to Succeed with 3D Printing Metal on a Desktop 3D Printer

The time is here to explore easy and affordable metal 3D printing. 3D printing with real metal on a desktop 3D printer is now possible using Ultrafuse Metal 3D printing filament from BASF Forward AM.

How To Succeed When 3D Printing With Nylon

Learn how to 3D print Nylon like a pro. Nylon is a stronger and more durable alternative to PLA or ABS and easy to 3D print with using these Tips and Tricks.

How To Succeed When Printing With Flexible Filament

Let’s take a look at what makes flexible filaments easier to print and how you can add flexible filament to your 3D printing material toolbox.

How to Succeed with NylonX

NylonX has quickly become one of our favorite filaments for strong, durable, and ready-to-use parts. Here's an in-depth look at Nylon X, and some printing tips to get the most out of this great new material.

How to Succeed When 3D Printing with MH Build Resin

Make SLA resin 3D printing easier with this helpful detailed article on how to successfully fine-tune photopolymer resin to your 3D printer.

How To Succeed: 3D Printing with Nylon and Nylon Composites

Nylon and nylon composites perform exceptionally well in a variety of uses, it just takes a gentler touch to print it successfully.

How To Succeed When 3D Printing With ASA Filament

Follow this step-by-step guide to learn how to print with ASA, the perfect material for any outdoor projects.

What is 3D printing filament?

3D printing filament is a thermoplastic, or polymer, that melts when heated and is extruded through a nozzle layer by layer to create a three-dimensional object. After the filament is extruded, it cools and becomes the surface the next layer is deposited on top of.

3D printing filament is sold in spools ranging in weight from 0.5 kg to 10 kg. It comes in two diameters; 1.75mm and 2.85mm.

The most commonly used filaments are PLA and ABS. Both have advantages for different applications.

What types of filament are there?

Below is a chart showing the more common types of filament, along with their transition temperatures, bed temperatures, and ideal printing surfaces.

Filament	Common Transition Temps	Common Bed Temps	Printing Surface

PLA	205±15 °C	40±15 °C	Glass

ABS	230±10 °C	90±10 °C	Glass with ABS slurry or kapton tape

PETG	245±10 °C	60±10 °C	Blue painters tape or bed adhesive

Nylon	255±15 °C	70±10 °C	Garolite

ASA	250±10 °C	90±10 °C	Hairspray, bed adhesive

Polypropylene	250±15 °C	110±10 °C	Packing tape or polypropylene

TPU/TPE	230±10 °C	50±15 °C	Glass, painters tape

PCTPE	235±10 °C	70±10 °C	Glass with kapton tape or hairspray

Polycarbonate	290±20 °C	130±15 °C	Gluestick/hairspray

PVA Support	180±20 °C	45±10 °C	LayerLock PEI

Breakaway Support	210±10 °C	50±5 °C	LayerLock PEI

HIPS Support	230±10 °C	50±10 °C	Glass with kapton tape or hairspray

Flexible TPU plastic for printing on a 3D printer in Moscow: 1.

75 mm, weight 1 kg

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TPU plastic Description Parameters
for printing and
for post-processing Physical
mechanical characteristics

Material: TPU - thermoplastic polyurethane

Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is a modern polymer material based on polyesters. The elasticity of printed products is the main property that determines the use of this plastic.

Press parameters:

Print temperature: 175-190 ° C

Table temperature: 50 ° C

Table cover: clean glass, glue BF-2, glue for 3D printing

speed speed prints: 15-20 mm/s.

Cooling: is recommended to be printed using efficient, annular airflow.

Density: 1.25 g/cm3

Features of TPU plastic and handling:

Elasticity is the main property that determines the application.
High resistance to deformation in both compression and tension.
High strength, very soft. Shore hardness 75A
No smell when printed.
Excellent interlayer adhesion.
The print speed is slow.
Resistant to most solvents, fats, oils. Relative resistance to gasoline.
Machining is very difficult due to the specific properties of the plastic.
Wide operating temperature range.
Bar accuracy ± 0.05 mm (reduced geometry tolerance).
The FDM extruder head needs to be modified to eliminate gaps and cavities in the path of the bar from the feed gear to the hot zone of the print head. The use of bowden tube extruders is difficult due to the very low hardness of the material.
Machining of TPU plastic products is difficult.
Chemical treatment not applicable.

Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is a unique material, one of the most sought after polymeric materials. Operational and chemical properties have provided this material with a wide distribution in all industries with high requirements for the quality of materials.

Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) combines wear resistance, lightness and elasticity, the ability to not change its color during its use. The material is resistant to low temperatures. rupture and aggressive environments, adheres well to the surface, restores shape when deformed, is able to perfectly resist punctures, has slip resistance.

TPU plastic is the first flexible, Flex-plastic in the line of plastics produced by the Moscow FDplast plant. Possessing excellent structural and technological properties, thermoplastic polyurethane is used in various industries, ranging from winding power cables, use in the development of the design of the bottom of shoes, the manufacture of protective accessories for electronic devices, and ending with a decorative overlay in the car interior.

Information on the properties of plastics and printing requirements can be found in the booklet "Flex for 3D printing FDplast".

Plastic storage

3D printing plastic must be stored in a dry place. Moisture and dampness greatly affect the filament, as a result, the plastic deteriorates, it becomes impossible to print from such plastic. There are no problems with the storage of plastic, it is practically not affected by the normal humidity of the ambient air. However, in order to obtain an ideal printing result, it is advisable to store the filament in a dry place, with silica gel.

3D Printing Tips

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Presentation. Plastic for 3D printing FDplast

Booklet. Plastic for 3D printing FDplast

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