How much does 3D printer filament cost?
A standard 1kg spool of PLA filament runs $15–$30 in the US in 2026, depending on brand. Budget PLA starts around $15 (Sunlu, Elegoo, Overture), mid-tier sits at $19–$25 (Bambu Lab, Hatchbox, PolyMaker), and premium brands like Prusament and MatterHackers Pro run $29–$37.
On a per-gram basis, that works out to about $0.015 to $0.040 per gram for PLA. PETG and ABS run $2–$5 more per spool on average. Specialty filaments — carbon fiber PLA, TPU, wood-fill, silk — typically cost $30–$50 per kg, or roughly $0.030 to $0.060 per gram.
The formula behind this calculator
Filament cost math is three divisions and a multiplication. Every calculator uses the same formula — the differences are in how accurate the brand presets are and whether waste factors are handled:
Cost per gram = Spool Price ÷ Spool Weight
Cost of print = Grams Used × Cost per gram
With waste = Cost of print × (1 + Waste Factor)
Example: Bambu PLA Basic ($19.99 / 1000g), 45g print, 3% waste
Cost per gram = $19.99 ÷ 1000 = $0.020
Cost of print = 45 × $0.020 = $0.90
With waste = $0.90 × 1.03 = $0.93Why cost-per-gram matters more than sticker price
Two spools can look similarly priced and be wildly different values. A $17 Sunlu spool at 1000g is $0.017/g. A $22 PolyTerra spool at 1000g is $0.022/g. That's a 29% price difference per gram — meaningful when you're printing dozens of parts. Always compare per-gram, not sticker.
Watch out for sub-1kg spools marketed as "full size." Some manufacturers sell 750g or 850g spools at 1kg-spool prices. Prusament ASA, for example, ships as 850g — at $34.99 that's $0.041/g, not $0.035/g.
Multi-color prints waste a lot more than you think
If you're printing on a Bambu Lab AMS, Prusa XL multi-tool, or any system with tool changes, the purge tower eats filament fast. A 4-color AMS print frequently wastes 30–60% of total filament to purge — meaning a print that uses 20g of model filament actually consumes 50g from your spools. Use the waste factor slider above to account for this.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate 3D printer filament cost?
Divide the spool price by the spool weight in grams to get cost per gram, then multiply by the grams
used for your print. Formula: Cost = (Spool Price ÷ Spool Weight) × Grams Used.
Example: a $20 Bambu Lab PLA spool (1000g) costs $0.02/gram. A print using 45g costs $0.90.
How much does it cost per gram of filament?
Budget PLA runs $0.015–$0.020 per gram (Sunlu, Elegoo, Overture). Mid-tier PLA runs $0.020–$0.025 per gram (Bambu, Hatchbox, PolyMaker). Premium PLA runs $0.030–$0.040 per gram (Prusament, MatterHackers Pro). Specialty filaments like carbon fiber PLA or TPU run $0.030–$0.060 per gram.
How many prints can you get from 1kg of filament?
It depends entirely on the size of each print. For small prints (10–30g each) like figurines, cable clips, or key organizers, a 1kg spool gives you 30–100 prints. For medium prints (50–150g each) like phone stands, organizers, or small tools, expect 6–20 prints. For large functional parts (300g+), you might get just 2–3 prints per spool.
Does filament go to waste during a print?
A small amount always does — typically 2–8% depending on supports, purge lines, and print failures. Bambu Lab multi-color prints waste more (often 30–60%) due to the tool change purge. The calculator above has an optional waste factor you can apply to get a more realistic cost.
What's the cheapest 3D printer filament that's still good?
Sunlu PLA+ and Elegoo PLA are the reliable budget picks — both under $16/kg, both widely reviewed as "fine for everyday printing" by experienced makers. For very slightly more money, Overture PLA ($18–19/kg) and MatterHackers Build Series ($19/kg) are step-ups in consistency. Under-$15 no-name brands are a coin flip — usually OK but occasional jamming and diameter variance.