Makeratory Resources / Production economics
Electricity cost guide
How much does electricity cost for a 3D printer?
Electricity is usually not the biggest cost in a desktop FDM print, but it is easy to estimate and useful when you want a complete machine-hour cost.
The basic electricity formula
Average watts ÷ 1,000 × print hours × electricity price per kWh = electricity cost.
If a printer averages 120 watts during a 10-hour job and electricity costs $0.16 per kWh, the estimate is 0.12 × 10 × $0.16 = about $0.19.
Use average power, not the power-supply label
The maximum wattage printed on a power supply is not the same as average consumption during a job. Bed heating, nozzle heating, chamber heating, motors, fans, and idle periods all change power draw. A plug-in energy meter can give you a much better real-world average for your printer and common materials.
Material and environment can change consumption
A high bed temperature, enclosed chamber, cold room, or long heat-up period may increase energy use. PLA jobs on an open printer may behave differently from ABS, ASA, or engineering materials that require sustained bed or chamber heat.
Why electricity alone is a weak pricing model
A long print may use only a modest amount of electricity while still tying up an expensive machine for many hours. Pricing only from power use ignores depreciation, maintenance, wear, failure risk, and the opportunity cost of printer capacity.
When a precise measurement matters
For occasional hobby prints, a rough average may be enough. For a small production shop running many printers for long hours, measuring actual consumption gives you better annual operating estimates and a cleaner machine-cost model.
Carry electricity into the complete product cost
Makeratory keeps printer time with filament, labor, failure allowance, fees, and margin so repeat products do not depend on rebuilding the same cost estimate for every job.
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