How much does it cost to run a 3D printer?
A 3D printer drawing 120 watts, used 6 hours a day, uses about 0.72 kWh per day and costs about $0.14 per day, $4.25 per month, and $51.01 per year at the US average residential rate of 19.4¢/kWh. Enter your own wattage, hours, and state below for an exact figure.
Estimates only — based on typical wattages and average state rates, not your actual bill.
What drives the cost
A 3D printer's draw is dominated by the heated bed, not the motors or hotend. Power spikes during initial heat-up and then settles substantially lower for the rest of the print. Long prints at moderate draw make total cost depend far more on hours than on peak wattage — and enclosed or high-temperature printers sit at the top of the range.
Cost at different daily usage
Same 3D printer at 120 watts, run for different amounts of time, at 19.4¢/kWh.
| Usage | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 h/day | 0.36 kWh | $0.07 | $2.13 | $25.50 |
| 6 h/day | 0.72 kWh | $0.14 | $4.25 | $51.01 |
| 9 h/day | 1.08 kWh | $0.21 | $6.38 | $76.51 |
| 12 h/day | 1.44 kWh | $0.28 | $8.51 | $102.02 |
Cost by model power draw
Not all models are equal. At 6 h/day, here is what the range costs.
| Model | Power | kWh/day | Per day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-draw model | 50 W | 0.30 kWh | $0.06 | $1.77 |
| Typical | 120 W | 0.72 kWh | $0.14 | $4.25 |
| High-draw model | 400 W | 2.40 kWh | $0.47 | $14.18 |
Cost by state
A 3D printer at 120 W for 6 h/day, priced at each state's average residential rate.
| State | Rate | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.8¢ | $0.12 | $3.68 | $44.07 |
| Alaska | 28.2¢ | $0.20 | $6.19 | $74.19 |
| Arizona | 15.2¢ | $0.11 | $3.34 | $40.02 |
| Arkansas | 14.4¢ | $0.10 | $3.15 | $37.74 |
| California | 33.2¢ | $0.24 | $7.29 | $87.38 |
| Colorado | 16.2¢ | $0.12 | $3.54 | $42.47 |
| Connecticut | 27.4¢ | $0.20 | $6.00 | $71.93 |
| Delaware | 19.4¢ | $0.14 | $4.25 | $50.93 |
| District of Columbia | 25.4¢ | $0.18 | $5.57 | $66.75 |
| Florida | 15.2¢ | $0.11 | $3.32 | $39.87 |
| Georgia | 15.8¢ | $0.11 | $3.47 | $41.63 |
| Hawaii | 52.0¢ | $0.37 | $11.40 | $136.66 |
| Idaho | 12.3¢ | $0.09 | $2.71 | $32.46 |
| Illinois | 23.9¢ | $0.17 | $5.23 | $62.68 |
| Indiana | 18.1¢ | $0.13 | $3.98 | $47.70 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.10 | $3.10 | $37.16 |
| Kansas | 15.1¢ | $0.11 | $3.32 | $39.76 |
| Kentucky | 15.0¢ | $0.11 | $3.28 | $39.37 |
| Louisiana | 14.2¢ | $0.10 | $3.10 | $37.19 |
| Maine | 28.6¢ | $0.21 | $6.27 | $75.24 |
| Maryland | 21.8¢ | $0.16 | $4.77 | $57.21 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8¢ | $0.21 | $6.32 | $75.74 |
| Michigan | 22.0¢ | $0.16 | $4.82 | $57.84 |
| Minnesota | 16.9¢ | $0.12 | $3.71 | $44.54 |
| Mississippi | 16.2¢ | $0.12 | $3.54 | $42.47 |
| Missouri | 13.7¢ | $0.10 | $3.00 | $35.95 |
| Montana | 14.7¢ | $0.11 | $3.22 | $38.55 |
| Nebraska | 13.6¢ | $0.10 | $2.98 | $35.71 |
| Nevada | 13.6¢ | $0.10 | $2.98 | $35.74 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3¢ | $0.20 | $5.99 | $71.82 |
| New Jersey | 23.3¢ | $0.17 | $5.10 | $61.15 |
| New Mexico | 14.1¢ | $0.10 | $3.09 | $37.11 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $0.22 | $6.56 | $78.66 |
| North Carolina | 15.1¢ | $0.11 | $3.31 | $39.66 |
| North Dakota | 13.6¢ | $0.10 | $2.98 | $35.77 |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $0.14 | $4.28 | $51.30 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4¢ | $0.10 | $2.93 | $35.16 |
| Oregon | 16.3¢ | $0.12 | $3.57 | $42.76 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6¢ | $0.16 | $4.72 | $56.63 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5¢ | $0.21 | $6.46 | $77.42 |
| South Carolina | 16.2¢ | $0.12 | $3.55 | $42.52 |
| South Dakota | 15.7¢ | $0.11 | $3.45 | $41.34 |
| Tennessee | 14.5¢ | $0.10 | $3.17 | $38.03 |
| Texas | 16.4¢ | $0.12 | $3.60 | $43.20 |
| Utah | 13.0¢ | $0.09 | $2.84 | $34.06 |
| Vermont | 24.9¢ | $0.18 | $5.46 | $65.41 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $0.13 | $3.86 | $46.28 |
| Washington | 14.9¢ | $0.11 | $3.28 | $39.29 |
| West Virginia | 16.8¢ | $0.12 | $3.68 | $44.15 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7¢ | $0.14 | $4.33 | $51.88 |
| Wyoming | 14.8¢ | $0.11 | $3.24 | $38.89 |
How to cut the cost
- Use an enclosure so the heated bed works less to hold temperature on long prints.
- Print at the lowest bed temperature your filament tolerates.
- Batch small parts into one print rather than repeatedly heating up from cold.
- Enable auto-shutdown after a print so it doesn't idle hot overnight.
Compare with related appliances
Monthly cost at typical usage and 19.4¢/kWh.
Questions
How much electricity does a 3D printer use?
Typically 100-150 watts averaged over a print, most of it the heated bed. A 10-hour print uses roughly 1-1.5 kWh — usually well under 25 cents.
How do you calculate what a 3D printer costs to run?
Multiply its wattage by the hours it runs per day, divide by 1,000 to get kilowatt-hours, then multiply by your electricity rate. For a 3D printer: 120 W × 6 h ÷ 1,000 = 0.72 kWh per day, which at 19.4¢/kWh is $0.14 per day.
How many watts does a 3D printer use?
Typically 120 watts, with most models falling between 50 and 400 watts. The label on the appliance or its power supply gives the figure for your specific unit.