How much electricity does a 3D printer use?

A typical FDM printer draws 100-250W during printing. Heated beds use the most power (50-150W). A 6-hour print at 200W costs about 34p at UK electricity rates of around 28p/kWh.

Does the heated bed affect electricity cost much?

Yes, the heated bed is usually the largest power draw. Printing PLA at 60°C uses significantly less power than ABS at 100°C. Insulating your bed can reduce power consumption by 20-30%.

How do I measure my printer actual wattage?

Use a plug-in energy monitor (available for under £15). It will show real-time wattage and total kWh consumed. Actual power varies during a print as heaters cycle on and off.

3DPrintCalcs

Electricity Cost Calculator — Power Usage per Print

Estimate the electricity cost of a print based on wattage and duration.

Printer Wattage

Average power draw during printing

Print Time

Electricity Rate

Check your energy bill

Prints per Month

How We Calculate This

Formula

Energy (kWh) = Wattage x Print time (hours) / 1000
Cost per print = kWh x Electricity rate
Monthly cost = Cost per print x Prints per month
Yearly cost = Monthly cost x 12

This is an estimate based on average power draw. Actual consumption varies as heaters cycle. For precise figures, use an energy monitor plug.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Always verify settings with test prints before committing to final prints.