Worked example · Pricing

How to price a batch of 3D prints

A larger order spreads setup work across more parts. Finishing time, failed prints, and selling fees still count.

This is an illustrative example. Replace these figures with your own costs.

Start with three numbers

1. Setup cost per order. Include work you do once, such as preparing the file and confirming the specification.
2. Cost per successful part. Include material, machine time, power, expected retries, finishing, and packaging.
3. Fees and target margin. Allow for percentage fees and any fixed order fee.

A 100-part example

Suppose setup costs $40, each successful part costs $1.20, the order has a $0.30 fixed fee, and percentage fees are 3%. You want 30% of sales left after these stated costs and fees.

If you quote a two-decimal unit price, round up to $2.40. The total becomes $240.00. Percentage fees are $7.20, the fixed fee is $0.30, and $72.50 remains after the $160 cost. That is a 30.21% margin on this example’s costs.

The $1.20 unit cost is already per successful part, including expected retries. Add design, shipping, royalties, overhead, and other costs if they fall outside your estimate. This calculation does not establish the whole business’s net profit.

What if the customer orders 20 parts?

Setup is still $40. Production is now $24. The same formula gives a $95.97 total, or $4.7985 per part. Rounding up to $4.80 per part gives a $96.00 quote.

The smaller order uses much of the same setup work. Separate a setup charge in the quote if that makes the price clearer to the customer. Either way, check the total against your costs.

Check the cash and the schedule

Before accepting the order, check when you buy material, when the customer pays, and whether enough machine time is available. A profitable quote can still leave a cash gap or displace a more valuable job.

Estimate production costs and check your cash runway.