Print Time Estimator
A planning estimate for “about how long?” before you slice. Enter the model volume (or paste it from the STL analyzer), layer height, realistic speed and infill.
How it's calculated
printed volume = volume × (shell fraction + infill × (1 − shell fraction)) flow = min(line width × layer height × speed, hotend max flow) time ≈ printed volume / flow × (1 + travel overhead) + layers × layer time
- Print time is dominated by how much plastic must be extruded and how fast the hotend can melt it, not by the printer's headline speed.
- The hotend flow cap is why “600 mm/s” printers print thick layers slower than advertised: a stock Bambu A1 melts about 24 mm³/s.
- Overhead covers acceleration, travel and retraction — 30–40% is typical on a modern CoreXY, more on an older bed-slinger.
Questions people ask
How long does a 3D print take?
Small parts (a 20 mm cube) take 10–30 minutes; a phone stand 1–3 hours; a full-plate helmet 20–40 hours. Layer height and infill change these by 2–3×.
Why does my slicer say a different time?
The slicer simulates every move with your acceleration settings and knows your exact walls, infill pattern and supports. Use this estimator to compare scenarios, and the slicer for the final figure.