This is how much electricity a 3D printer actually uses per hour

If you have recently acquired a 3D printer or are considering purchasing one, its power consumption is often a major concern. This becomes even more important if you’re dealing with prints that take five to ten hours or more. Since 3D printing is a relatively new technology and its widespread adoption is even newer, many are unsure of exactly how much electricity a 3D printer consumes. But as surprising as it may seem, running a 3D printer for hours on end won’t burn a hole in your pocket.

On average, a home 3D printer costs between one and ten cents per hour in electricity. Of course, several factors come into play, including the 3D printer you’re using, filament type, average operating temperature, and whether you’re using energy-saving techniques. But even a 10-hour print run from a printer that consumes an average of 120 watts of power over that time costs about 22 cents ($0.216) if you take the cost of electricity at 18 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh), a typical price in the United States. The electricity cost to run this printer 10 hours a day for an entire month would be $6.48 ($0.216 times 30 days). This is only a fraction of the cost of the printer or what you’ll spend on filament.

So if electricity consumption was stopping you from getting a 3D printer, that probably shouldn’t be the case anymore. Remember that 3D printers have much lower power consumption than a microwave or heater. These common household appliances typically operate between 1,200 and 1,500 watts.

Let’s understand how the hourly cost of electricity for a 3D printer or any electrical device is calculated. It’s a simple formula. You divide the average wattage (W) rating by 1,000, then multiply it by your area’s electricity rate, usually expressed in kilowatt hours or kWh. Take for example Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) printers, which have an average power consumption of 60 to 150 W. Even if we were to calculate based on the upper limit (150 W), the total electricity cost per hour comes to $0.027 (150/1000 x $0.18) using the average kWh cost in the United States (approximately). You can also use a smart plug for a more accurate reading of how much power your specific printer actually uses. You can then use this number in the formula explained previously to find out the cost.

Different factors affect the power consumption of a 3D printer. The most important thing is size, because a larger 3D printer will have a larger bed and maintaining its temperature will consume more electricity. Keep in mind that the heated bed and the hot end of your 3D printer are the two most energy-consuming components. The printer bed must maintain an optimal temperature to prevent warping, and the hot end is responsible for melting the filament.

Your choice of filament matters too. For example, PLA, or polylactic acid, prints at a lower nozzle temperature (190-220 degrees Celsius) than ABS or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (220-250 degrees Celsius), thereby reducing electricity consumption. Additionally, you don’t necessarily need a heated bed for PLA, and even if you do, 50 to 60 degrees Celsius is the recommended range. On the other hand, you need a bed temperature of 80 to 110 degrees Celsius with ABS, which further increases power consumption.

Although 3D printers are already quite energy efficient, if you use them overnight or have multiple printers, there are smart ways to minimize their energy consumption even further. The simplest option is to adjust the print settings. For example, you can lower the temperature of the hot part and the heated bed. Of course, this must stay within the filament’s rated range, but even a small change can make a difference in power consumption in the long run. Switching to PLA, which requires lower temperatures, also helps. And if possible, use a case for your 3D printer. It will trap heat, reducing the amount of energy needed to maintain optimal temperatures in the heated bed.

You also need to optimize your printing strategy. For example, consolidating multiple smaller prints into a single job can reduce heating cycles, resulting in energy savings. Along the same lines, you can reduce the fill settings. With a lower infill percentage, models will print faster, saving you money on each print. Remember that the location and regular maintenance of your 3D printer are also important.

That said, it’s important to realize that electricity costs are only a fraction of the expenses associated with 3D printing. The biggest investment is the 3D printer itself, followed by filament costs, power consumption, regular maintenance and finally nozzle replacement.