FDM filament
Quote from slicer grams. A 1 kg spool is 1,000 g, so $24/kg is $0.024/g before purge and failed starts.
Material quote benchmarks
Price a print jobFilament and resin cost benchmarks
Compare planning ranges for filament, resin, waste factors, and unit conversions before quoting paid 3D printing jobs.
Planning ranges by material
These are quote-planning ranges, not live prices. Replace them with your actual landed spool or bottle cost before sending a customer number.
MaterialUnitCost rangeQuote note
MaterialPLA filamentUnitper gCost range$0.016-$0.040Quote noteCommon quote baseline for decorative, cosplay, prototype, and low-heat Etsy parts.
MaterialPETG filamentUnitper gCost range$0.022-$0.050Quote noteUseful for tougher functional parts where supports, stringing, and slower print time can raise quote risk.
MaterialABS / ASA filamentUnitper gCost range$0.023-$0.055Quote notePlanning preset for heat-resistant parts; include enclosure tuning and failed-print allowance.
MaterialTPU flexible filamentUnitper gCost range$0.030-$0.075Quote noteHigher-risk flexible material preset for slow print speeds, difficult supports, and handling time.
MaterialStandard resinUnitper mlCost range$0.025-$0.060Quote noteGeneral resin baseline for miniatures, small batches, and detailed decorative parts.
MaterialABS-like resinUnitper mlCost range$0.032-$0.080Quote noteTougher resin preset for customer parts that need more post-processing and support cleanup.
MaterialEngineering resinUnitper mlCost range$0.065-$0.180Quote notePremium resin planning range for specialized properties; confirm your actual bottle cost before quoting.
Conversions and waste
Keep unit math explainable
Resin prints
Quote from slicer milliliters. A 1 L bottle is 1,000 ml, so $35/L is $0.035/ml before vat loss and supports.
Density checks
Use the unit your slicer reports. Gram-to-volume conversions vary by material density and are too rough for paid quotes.
5% to 10%
Simple PLA or PETG repeat parts
Short support paths, stable profiles, and known bed adhesion.
10% to 18%
Tall FDM parts, TPU, ABS, or ASA
Slower setup, warping risk, purge towers, and support cleanup.
10% to 16%
Standard resin miniatures
Supports, vat residue, gloves, towels, and occasional failed plates.
15% to 25%
Engineering resin or tight tolerances
Premium material, calibration pieces, fragile supports, and reprint exposure.
material input = slicer amount x actual unit cost x (1 + waste factor)
FAQs
Should I use the cheapest spool price in my calculator?
No. Use the landed replacement cost for material you would actually reorder, then add waste for purge, supports, failed starts, and calibration pieces.
How often should I update material costs?
Update presets when a repeat SKU changes material, supplier, spool size, resin bottle size, color, or support strategy. For custom jobs, check the current shop cost before sending the quote.
Do supports count as billable material?
Yes. If the slicer includes supports, rafts, brims, purge, or resin supports in the material estimate, include that amount and still keep a reject-rate buffer for failures.
Use these ranges inside a full quote.
Material is only one input; protect labor, machine time, fees, and failures too.