Business Quote Calculator
Create professional, profitable quotes for your 3D printing services.
How This Tool Works
Stop guessing prices. This calculator builds a quote from the ground up: Material Cost + Machine Time + Labor + Profit Markup. It even adds a "Failure Risk" buffer because we all know prints fail sometimes.
- Formula:
(Material + (Hours x Rate) + Labor) x (1 + Markup) - The Logic: You aren't just selling plastic; you are selling machine time and expertise. This tool ensures you get paid for all three.
- Risk Buffer: A 10% buffer means if 1 in 10 prints fails, you've already paid for the wasted time and plastic.
How to Use
- Material Cost: Use our Filament Calculator to get the exact plastic cost.
- Machine Rate: How much is your printer worth per hour? (Usually $1 - $5).
- Labor: How long did you spend slicing and removing supports? Don't work for free!
- Markup: Standard retail markup is 30% - 100%.
Example Quote
Job: 10-hour Cosplay Prop.
• Material: $2.50
• Machine Time (10h @ $2/hr): $20.00
• Labor (15min): $5.00
• Markup (20%): $5.50
• Final Quote: $33.00
Why This Estimates Value
Many hobbyists undercharge by only looking at plastic cost. By factoring in machine time and labor, you ensure your business is actually sustainable.
Limitations & Disclaimer
This is for estimation only.
• It doesn't calculate sales tax or shipping.
• It doesn't account for file design fees (charge that separately!).
FAQs
For a standard hobby printer (Ender 3/Prusa), $1.00 - $3.00 per hour covers electricity and wear. For commercial machines, it can be $5.00+.
We recommend 10-15%. If you print difficult materials (ABS/Nylon), bump it to 20%. This ensures you don't lose money when a print fails and you have to restart.
No, this is an estimator tool for your internal calculations. You should check your local tax laws regarding sales tax and business licensing.