3D Printing Electricity Costs Explained

The formula

Electricity cost per print comes down to three numbers:

Wattage is how much power your printer draws from the wall while printing. Not the rated power on the specification sheet — the actual, measured draw during a typical print. These are different because the heaters cycle on and off, and stepper motors draw varying loads.

Print time is the total time the printer runs, including heating and any pauses. Use your slicer's estimated time as a baseline, but know that real times are often 5–15% longer once heating and initial calibration are included.

Energy rate is what your electricity provider charges per kilowatt-hour. In the UK, the average as of early 2026 is roughly £0.245/kWh. In the US, the national average is around $0.16/kWh, though it varies widely by state.

Real wattage numbers for popular printers

These figures are based on wall-meter readings during typical PLA prints (heated bed at 55–60 °C, hotend at 200–215 °C). Actual draw varies with ambient temperature, bed size, and print settings.

The range on each printer reflects the difference between a small print (less bed heating needed) and a large one that keeps the heater running constantly. Enclosed printers like the X1C hold heat better, so their heaters cycle less often — but they tend to draw more peak power.

Worked examples

Example 1: Small print on an Ender 3

Example 2: Large print on a Bambu Lab X1C

Example 3: Overnight resin print

Monthly running costs

Individual print costs are small, but they scale with usage. Here is what monthly electricity looks like for different levels of printer use, assuming an average draw of 130 W and the UK rate of £0.245/kWh:

For a hobbyist running 50 hours a month, electricity is negligible. For someone running multiple printers full-time at 500+ hours, it becomes a real cost — especially if you are running several machines.

How to measure your actual wattage

Specification sheets list maximum power draw, which is higher than average draw. The most accurate method is to use a plug-in energy meter (sometimes called a kill-a-watt meter). These cost £10–20 and plug in between the wall socket and your printer. They measure actual energy consumption in kWh over time.

Run a typical print with the meter attached, then read the total kWh used. Divide by the print time in hours to get your average kilowatt draw. This is the most reliable number for your specific printer, filament, and settings.

If you do not have a meter, use the estimates in the table above as a reasonable starting point. They are based on community-reported measurements and will be close enough for pricing purposes.

Variables that affect electricity cost

• Bed temperature: Higher bed temperatures (ABS at 100 °C vs PLA at 55 °C) draw significantly more power. Bed heating is often the largest single power consumer.
• Ambient temperature: Printing in a cold garage in winter means the heaters work harder. An enclosure reduces heat loss and can cut power consumption by 10–20%.
• Printer size: A 350 mm Voron with a large heated bed draws far more than a 220 mm Ender 3. Bed area is the primary factor.
• Print speed: Faster printers complete prints sooner, using less total energy — even if their instantaneous draw is higher. A Bambu Lab printing at 300 mm/s may use less total electricity than an Ender 3 at 50 mm/s for the same model.
• Idle power: Some printers draw 5–15 W even when idle (display, network, fans). If you leave a printer on 24/7, that is up to 10 kWh a month of idle draw. Turn printers off or use a smart plug when not in use.

Should you even bother tracking it?

For a single print, electricity is pennies. But pricing is about accounting for every cost, not just the large ones. If you sell 200 prints a month and each one uses an average of £0.25 in electricity, that is £50/month — £600/year — that comes directly out of your profit if you do not price for it.

More importantly, ignoring electricity sets a bad habit. If you skip one cost because it seems small, you start skipping others. Maintenance, packaging materials, platform fees — they all seem small individually but add up to a significant total. Price properly or do not price at all.