Electricity Cost Calculator
Estimate electricity cost from average power, print time and your rate per kWh.
How this works
Average power in watts × hours gives energy in watt-hours. Divide by 1,000 to get kilowatt-hours, then multiply by the applicable price per kWh. Use the same measurement period for average power and duration.
All numbers in the examples below are illustrative assumptions. Printer and regional presets help you start an estimate; they are not measured guarantees or current tariffs. Replace them with your own average draw and utility rate for a more useful result.
The formula in detail
cost = (watts / 1000) × hours × rate_per_kWh
Example: an assumed 110 W average over twelve hours at $0.18/kWh. These are not measurements for a specific printer or a national-average rate.
- Energy used: (110 ÷ 1,000) × 12 = 1.32 kWh
- Cost: 1.32 × $0.18 = $0.2376, rounded to $0.24
Compare that result with the material cost of the same job. There is no fixed relationship between electricity and filament cost: print duration, material use and your tariff can all change it.
Choose a representative average wattage
A plug-in energy meter can measure a complete job, including warmup and temperature maintenance. If it reports total kWh, divide that by the measured hours and multiply by 1,000 to get average watts. Do not substitute the power-supply rating or a brief heating peak.
| Assumed average draw | Energy over 10 hours | Cost at $0.18/kWh |
|---|---|---|
| 50 W | 0.5 kWh | $0.09 |
| 100 W | 1 kWh | $0.18 |
| 200 W | 2 kWh | $0.36 |
These rows show how the formula responds to different inputs, not what a named printer should draw. Bed temperature, ambient conditions, fans and chamber heating can change the average. Measure a representative job again when your setup or material changes substantially.
Use the rate on your tariff
Look for usage charges per kWh, including any applicable per-kWh delivery charge. A fixed monthly connection fee does not increase just because one more print runs, so it is not automatically part of this marginal electricity-cost calculation.
If the rate changes by time of day, calculate the hours in each period separately and add the costs. This calculator does not model demand charges or tariff tiers. Keep the entered rate and displayed currency consistent; the currency selector does not convert amounts.
Example monthly print schedules
Assume a constant 110 W printing average and $0.18/kWh for all printing hours. Idle time and separate accessories are excluded.
- 20 hours/month = 2.2 kWh = $0.40
- 60 hours/month = 6.6 kWh = $1.19
- 200 hours/month = 22 kWh = $3.96
- 720 hours (continuous printing for 30 days) = 79.2 kWh = $14.26
These are arithmetic scenarios, not typical household bills or a prediction of printer uptime. Use the number of hours you actually expect to print. For several machines, calculate each machine's average draw and schedule, then add the results.
Account for the whole setup
A separately powered dryer, extraction fan or chamber heater can add energy use. Include it in the measurement or calculate it separately, but do not count it twice. For a print's complete cost, add material, machine wear, failures and hands-on time in the print pricing calculator.
Frequently asked
- How much electricity does a 3D printer actually use?
- It depends on the printer, material, temperatures and job duration. As an example, an average 100 W over ten hours uses 1 kWh. At an assumed $0.18/kWh that costs $0.18. Use a measured average for your job; the printer presets are reference estimates, not guaranteed measurements.
- Is idle draw included?
- Idle time is not added automatically. The result covers only the watts and hours entered. To include time between prints, calculate measured idle watts times idle hours separately and add that cost, avoiding any period already counted in the print measurement.
- What about bed heating?
- Heating and temperature maintenance change the power draw during a job. For a whole-job estimate, measure energy from startup through the end of the job and use its average power over the same duration. A rated maximum or a single reading during warmup is not that average. The presets do not model heating phases separately.
- Which electricity rate should I enter?
- Use the per-kWh usage charges that apply to your tariff and printing time, including applicable per-kWh delivery charges. Regional presets are editable reference estimates, not current quotes for your address. For time-of-use rates, calculate each period separately. Use one currency throughout; changing the currency display does not perform an exchange-rate conversion.
- Should I turn my printer off between prints?
- Measure the idle draw to see the cost for your schedule. For example, 10 W over twelve idle hours uses 0.12 kWh; at an assumed $0.18/kWh that is $0.0216, about two cents. More idle hours or a higher rate increase that amount. This cost calculation does not establish a printer-lifespan benefit.