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, $4.22 per month, and $50.62 per year at the US average residential rate of 19.3¢/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 19.3¢/kWh.
| Usage | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 h/day | 0.36 kWh | $0.07 | $2.11 | $25.31 |
| 6 h/day | 0.72 kWh | $0.14 | $4.22 | $50.62 |
| 9 h/day | 1.08 kWh | $0.21 | $6.33 | $75.92 |
| 12 h/day | 1.44 kWh | $0.28 | $8.44 | $101.23 |
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 | $1.76 |
| Typical | 120 W | 0.72 kWh | $0.14 | $4.22 |
| High-draw model | 400 W | 2.40 kWh | $0.46 | $14.07 |
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 | 16.4¢ | $0.12 | $3.59 | $43.10 |
| Alaska | 28.8¢ | $0.21 | $6.32 | $75.77 |
| Arizona | 15.4¢ | $0.11 | $3.37 | $40.42 |
| Arkansas | 14.3¢ | $0.10 | $3.14 | $37.66 |
| California | 33.6¢ | $0.24 | $7.37 | $88.33 |
| Colorado | 17.0¢ | $0.12 | $3.73 | $44.68 |
| Connecticut | 24.2¢ | $0.17 | $5.30 | $63.49 |
| Delaware | 18.5¢ | $0.13 | $4.05 | $48.57 |
| District of Columbia | 25.2¢ | $0.18 | $5.53 | $66.25 |
| Florida | 15.0¢ | $0.11 | $3.29 | $39.50 |
| Georgia | 16.3¢ | $0.12 | $3.57 | $42.76 |
| Hawaii | 48.0¢ | $0.35 | $10.52 | $126.14 |
| Idaho | 13.7¢ | $0.10 | $3.01 | $36.08 |
| Illinois | 19.2¢ | $0.14 | $4.21 | $50.51 |
| Indiana | 16.7¢ | $0.12 | $3.67 | $43.97 |
| Iowa | 16.0¢ | $0.12 | $3.50 | $42.02 |
| Kansas | 15.3¢ | $0.11 | $3.35 | $40.13 |
| Kentucky | 13.8¢ | $0.10 | $3.03 | $36.29 |
| Louisiana | 12.7¢ | $0.09 | $2.79 | $33.43 |
| Maine | 32.4¢ | $0.23 | $7.10 | $85.17 |
| Maryland | 21.4¢ | $0.15 | $4.69 | $56.27 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5¢ | $0.22 | $6.68 | $80.13 |
| Michigan | 23.1¢ | $0.17 | $5.05 | $60.58 |
| Minnesota | 17.4¢ | $0.13 | $3.82 | $45.86 |
| Mississippi | 14.5¢ | $0.10 | $3.19 | $38.21 |
| Missouri | 16.1¢ | $0.12 | $3.53 | $42.28 |
| Montana | 15.0¢ | $0.11 | $3.29 | $39.39 |
| Nebraska | 13.8¢ | $0.10 | $3.02 | $36.21 |
| Nevada | 12.8¢ | $0.09 | $2.80 | $33.56 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6¢ | $0.19 | $5.83 | $69.90 |
| New Jersey | 25.2¢ | $0.18 | $5.52 | $66.20 |
| New Mexico | 16.1¢ | $0.12 | $3.53 | $42.28 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $0.22 | $6.55 | $78.58 |
| North Carolina | 15.2¢ | $0.11 | $3.32 | $39.84 |
| North Dakota | 13.4¢ | $0.10 | $2.94 | $35.24 |
| Ohio | 19.4¢ | $0.14 | $4.26 | $51.11 |
| Oklahoma | 14.3¢ | $0.10 | $3.15 | $37.71 |
| Oregon | 16.0¢ | $0.11 | $3.50 | $41.97 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7¢ | $0.16 | $4.76 | $57.08 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3¢ | $0.20 | $6.20 | $74.35 |
| South Carolina | 15.5¢ | $0.11 | $3.39 | $40.66 |
| South Dakota | 15.4¢ | $0.11 | $3.37 | $40.39 |
| Tennessee | 13.7¢ | $0.10 | $3.00 | $36.03 |
| Texas | 15.9¢ | $0.11 | $3.48 | $41.73 |
| Utah | 13.1¢ | $0.09 | $2.88 | $34.48 |
| Vermont | 23.8¢ | $0.17 | $5.21 | $62.41 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $0.13 | $3.85 | $46.12 |
| Washington | 14.7¢ | $0.11 | $3.22 | $38.66 |
| West Virginia | 15.8¢ | $0.11 | $3.46 | $41.47 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1¢ | $0.14 | $4.18 | $50.09 |
| Wyoming | 14.4¢ | $0.10 | $3.15 | $37.74 |
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 19.3¢/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 19.3¢/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.