How Much Does 3D Printing Actually Cost in 2026?
Real numbers: printer cost, filament, electricity, maintenance, and failed prints. Total cost of ownership breakdown.
Bambu Lab A1 Mini
Entry-Level Cost Breakdown — Score: 9.2/10 — $199
Printer: $199. A 1kg spool of PLA: $15-25. Electricity per print: $0.05-0.15. A typical desk toy uses ~50g of filament = $1-1.25 in material. Over a year of moderate printing (~2 spools/month), total cost is roughly $600-800 including the printer.
Bambu Lab P1S
Mid-Range Cost Breakdown — Score: 9/10 — $599
Printer: $599. AMS unit: $169. Engineering filaments (ABS, PETG): $25-35/kg. Replacement nozzles: $5-15 every 3-6 months. HEPA filters: $20 every 6 months. Annual cost for serious hobbyists: $1200-1500 all-in.
Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra
Resin Cost Breakdown — Score: 8.2/10 — $284
Printer: $284. Resin: $30-50 per liter. A detailed miniature uses ~5-10ml of resin = $0.15-0.50 each. Wash + cure station: $100-150. IPA cleaning solution: $15/month. Gloves and supplies: $5/month. Annual cost: $600-900.
The Bottom Line
FDM printing costs $0.50-2 per typical print. Resin costs $0.15-1 per miniature. Electricity is negligible. The real cost is your time — learning, troubleshooting, and designing takes hours. Use our Cost Estimator tool at /tools/cost-estimator for your specific scenario.