Anycubic Photon Mono 4 Resin 3D Printer
A resin 3d printer, a detail-focused choice for miniatures and detailed models.
How Much Does 3D Printing Cost? (Filament, Resin, Electricity)
3D printing is cheaper to run than many expect, but the costs add up across materials, electricity and parts. This guide breaks down the real running costs of 3D printing at home in the UK.
The short answer
Beyond the printer itself, the main costs are materials (filament or resin), electricity, and the occasional replacement part. Filament is cheap per print for typical models, electricity is modest, and parts like nozzles or a resin screen wear slowly. For most hobby use, 3D printing is inexpensive to run - the bigger investment is the printer and your time.
Filament and resin
FDM filament (PLA, PETG) is sold by the spool and works out cheap per model, since most prints use only a fraction of a roll. Resin is bottled and similarly affordable per print, but you also buy washing and curing consumables and use gloves. Material is the main ongoing cost, but for typical models it is small per item.
Electricity
A 3D printer uses relatively little power for most of a print, drawing more while heating up. Long prints over many hours add up modestly, but per-print electricity is usually a minor cost compared with the printer and materials. Running costs are far lower than many appliances, so power is rarely a reason not to print.
Parts and maintenance
Printers have consumable and wearing parts: FDM nozzles, build surfaces and belts wear slowly; resin printers have a screen and FEP film that need occasional replacement. None is expensive individually, but factor them in over time. Good maintenance keeps print quality up and avoids failed prints, which themselves waste material.
Failed prints and hidden costs
Early on, failed prints waste some material and time as you learn settings - budget for a few. Resin adds the cost of gloves, wash fluid and curing. Multi-colour printing purges filament at each colour change, using more material. These are real but modest costs; awareness helps you avoid surprises and keep printing economical.
Keeping costs down
- Tune your slicer settings to cut failed prints.
- Use sensible infill rather than solid prints where strength is not needed.
- Buy filament and resin in good value quantities.
- Maintain the printer to avoid quality issues and waste.
- Right-size prints rather than over-scaling models.
Our top picks
#1
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Elegoo Mercury XS Bundle With Separate Washing and Curing
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Elegoo EU-EHJ-3DL-S4U Saturn 4 Ultra Resin 3D Printer
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#4 
Creality Ender 5 Max 3D Printer
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Frequently asked questions
How much does 3D printing cost?
Beyond the printer, the main costs are filament or resin, electricity and the occasional wearing part. For typical hobby use it is inexpensive to run - most prints use only a fraction of a spool, and electricity is modest.
Is 3D printing expensive to run?
Not especially - filament and resin are cheap per print, electricity is low, and parts wear slowly. The bigger costs are the printer itself and your time. Failed prints while learning add a little waste early on.
How much does filament cost per print?
Usually only a small fraction of a spool for typical models, so most prints cost very little in material. Larger or solid prints use more, and you can reduce cost with sensible infill rather than printing fully solid.
Bottom line
Our top pick is the Anycubic Photon Mono 4 Resin 3D Printer (our score 9.5/10) - A resin 3d printer, a detail-focused choice for miniatures and detailed models..