What do 3D printing services charge per hour?

UK-based 3D printing services typically charge £3-15 per print hour depending on the technology. FDM is cheapest, SLA/resin is mid-range, and SLS/industrial printers command the highest rates.

Should I charge for design time?

Yes. Design, slicing, and post-processing time should be billed separately or factored into your hourly rate. Many services charge a setup fee plus per-hour printing.

How do I calculate labour cost?

Include time for print setup, monitoring, removal, post-processing and packing. Even if the printer runs unattended, there is always some hands-on time per print job.

3DPrintCalcs

Hourly Rate Calculator — 3D Printing Services

Work out your effective hourly rate for 3D printing services.

Material Cost

Electricity Cost

Machine Wear

Labour Cost

Overhead

Rent, insurance, software, etc.

Profit Margin

How We Calculate This

Formula

Cost per hour = Material + Electricity + Wear + Labour + Overhead
Charge per hour = Cost per hour x (1 + Profit margin %)
Profit per hour = Charge - Cost

This gives your break-even hourly cost and the rate you should charge to achieve your target profit margin.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Calculators

Print Cost Calculator

Calculate total print cost including material, electricity and machine wear.

Electricity Cost Calculator

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

Time vs Quality Calculator

Compare print time at different layer heights and speed settings.

Batch Printing Calculator

Calculate time and cost savings from printing multiple parts in one batch.

Material Waste Calculator

Estimate wasted material from failed prints, supports and purge lines.

Last updated: February 2026

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