Resin 3D Print Cost Calculator
Enter the resin volume from your slicer and what you pay for resin. The calculator adds waste, cleaning supplies, consumables and failed prints to give the cost of one finished resin print.
The formula
Worked example. 30 ml of a resin that costs 30 per litre, with 10% waste, is 0.99; with 2 hours at 60 W, 0.50 of consumables and a 10% failure rate the print costs 1.68.
How to use it
- Copy the resin volume in ml from your slicer (Chitubox, Lychee or your printer's own slicer). Make sure supports are included in that number.
- Enter the bottle price and size. Add a waste allowance for resin left on the build plate, in the vat and in supports you cut off; 5–15% is typical.
- Enter the print time, your printer's power draw and your electricity price.
- Enter a per-print cost for cleaning and consumables: isopropyl alcohol or wash fluid, gloves, paper towels, and wear on the FEP film and LCD screen.
Questions
Why is the failure rate so important for resin printing?
A failed resin print wastes all the resin that was already cured, and resin prints fail more often than FDM when supports, exposure or temperature are off. Tracking your real failure rate for a month gives a much more honest cost.
How do I estimate consumables per print?
Add up what you spend in a month on IPA or wash fluid, gloves, paper towels, FEP film and a share of the LCD screen's replacement cost, then divide by the number of prints you made that month.
Does the slicer volume include supports?
Most slicers report the combined volume of model and supports once supports are generated. Read the number after adding supports, not before; on small miniatures supports can add 10–30%.