Pricing · 2026
What affects the cost of 3D printing
Why does a 3D printed part cost what it does?
What weighs most isn't the plastic but the work: preparing the file, starting the print, removing supports, washing, curing and touching up. In a 28 mm resin miniature, labour is 80% of the cost and material 1%; in a small FDM part, labour reaches 90%. That's why the unit price drops so much when you order several at once: a single miniature costs €8–€23, and in a batch of 10 it's about €5.73 each. Material only really counts in large parts (27% in a 20 cm figure). Painting and design are extra.
The factors, from most to least weight
Breakdown from the Fabrishare calculator engine, the same one behind every guide price on the site.
| Factor | How much it weighs | What pushes it up | What brings it down |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | 55%–90% of the cost | Many different parts, tricky supports, hand finishing | Ordering several identical parts at once |
| Quantity | Changes the unit price most | Ordering one at a time | Batches: set-up is shared |
| Material | 1% in a miniature, 27% in a 20 cm figure | Large solid parts, engineering resins | Hollowing in resin, less infill in FDM |
| Machine time | Little on price, a lot on lead time | Height in resin, grams in FDM | Orienting the part well |
| Consumables and failures | A fixed share per print | Parts that often fail | A good file, no walls that are too thin |
| Finish | On top of printing | Sanding, priming, hand painting | Ordering it raw or primed |
| Design | On top of printing | Modelling from photos or a sketch | Arriving with the STL file |
Each factor, explained
1. Labour
Every print carries fixed work: checking and preparing the file, adding supports, starting the machine and, at the end, removing supports, washing and curing resin or cleaning a filament part. The calculator values it at €15 an hour: half an hour per resin print and a quarter of an hour in FDM, plus a few minutes for each extra part.
That work costs the same for one part as for a full build plate. It explains almost everything else.
2. Quantity
Ordering several parts at once shares the set-up. A small FDM part costs about €10; in a run of 100, about €3.65 each. A single miniature costs €8–€23; ten in the same order, about €57 in total.
3. Size and material
In small parts material barely counts. In large ones it does: in a 20 cm resin figure it's already 27% of the cost, and in FDM the price depends mainly on grams. Hollowing a resin figure or lowering the infill of an FDM part that carries no load makes it cheaper.
4. Machine time
In resin, time depends on height, not on how many parts are on the plate. The same part at 10 cm tall takes about 2 hours and at 20 cm about 4 hours, but the price hardly changes: about €25 versus €25. Machine time weighs more on lead time than on price.
5. Who prints it
The calculator's ranges go from what a hobbyist would charge to what a professional workshop charges: the same cost multiplied by ×1.5 to ×4. That's why offers for the same part can differ: compare them on price, lead time and past work.
6. What's extra
Painting, modelling from photos or a sketch, VAT and shipping aren't in the guide prices. Each maker quotes them in their offer.
How to make a 3D print cheaper
What works
- Ordering several parts in the same project, even different ones.
- Arriving with the file ready, in STL or 3MF, with real dimensions.
- Hollowing large figures in resin; less infill in FDM if the part carries no load.
- Ordering it raw or primed if you'll paint it yourself.
- Choosing the right technology: FDM for functional and large parts, resin only where you need detail.
What doesn't save money
- Switching to a cheaper plastic on a small part: material is a tiny share.
- Ordering parts one by one in separate projects.
- Asking for the shortest lead time if you don't need it: it limits the offers you get.
Reference prices
Fabrishare calculator estimates, excluding VAT and shipping.
| Item | Technology | Range | Typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 mm miniature | Resin | €8 – €23 | — |
| Batch of 10 × 28 mm miniatures | Resin | €34 – €92 | €57 |
| 75 mm bust | Resin | €15 – €40 | €25 |
| 20 cm figure | Resin | €21 – €55 | €34 |
| Small spare part (bracket, clip) | FDM | €6 – €17 | €10 |
| Medium case or cover | FDM | €7 – €19 | €12 |
| Run of 100 small parts | FDM | €219 – €585 | €365 |
How to find out the price of your part
- 1Upload your file to the calculator and see a guide price instantly.
- 2Post the project for free with quantity, finish and deadline.
- 3Get offers from makers within 24–48 hours and choose by price, lead time or past work.
FAQ about 3D printing prices
What makes 3D printing expensive?
Labour: preparing, starting and post-processing each print. In a resin miniature it's 80% of the cost; material is 1%.
Why is printing a single part so expensive?
Because preparing and finishing a print takes almost the same work for one part as for many. A small FDM part costs about €10, but in a run of 100 it drops to about €3.65 each.
Is 3D printing priced per gram?
Only partly. Material counts in large filament parts, but in small parts it weighs little: you mainly pay for the work. That's why a per-gram price is misleading for miniatures and small parts.
Does a taller part cost more?
In resin, machine time rises with height but the price barely does: the same part at 10 and 20 cm costs about €25 and €25. It does rise if it also has more volume.
Is painting included?
No. Guide prices are for printing; hand painting is quoted separately by level and size.
Why do makers' offers differ?
Each maker sets their own price: a hobbyist charges less than a professional workshop, and the calculator reflects that range (cost ×1.5 to ×4). Compare price, lead time and past work.