3D Printer Electricity Cost
Pick your printer (or type its wattage), the print length and your tariff. You get the kWh, the cost of this print, and what running it daily would cost per month.
How it's calculated
kWh = average watts × hours / 1000 cost = kWh × price per kWh
- Average draw while printing matters, not the power supply rating. A 350 W supply on an Ender 3 typically averages 100–120 W printing PLA because the bed cycles on and off.
- Enclosed printers with heated chambers and high bed temperatures (ABS, ASA, PC) draw noticeably more — often 150–250 W averaged.
- Tariffs are national residential averages for 2026; replace with the figure from your bill for an exact answer.
Questions people ask
How much electricity does a 3D printer use per hour?
Most desktop FDM printers average 50–150 W while printing PLA, which is 0.05–0.15 kWh per hour — about $0.01–$0.03 per hour at US rates.
How much does it cost to run a 3D printer 24/7?
At 100 W average and $0.17/kWh: 2.4 kWh per day, about $0.41 per day or $12 per month.
Does a 3D printer use a lot of electricity?
No. A 10-hour print on a typical printer uses about 1 kWh — less than a single load in a tumble dryer.