3DPrintCalcs
Hourly Rate Calculator — 3D Printing Services
Work out your effective hourly rate for 3D printing services.
How We Calculate This
Formula
- Cost per hour = Material + Electricity + Wear + Labour + Overhead
- Charge per hour = Cost per hour x (1 + Markup %)
- Profit per hour = Charge - Cost
This gives your break-even hourly cost and the rate you should charge after applying your markup. Markup is added on top of cost — it is not the same as profit margin. A 30% markup yields a 23.1% gross margin (margin % = markup % / (1 + markup %)), so if you have a target margin in mind, convert it first.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
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.
No. Markup is added on top of your cost (charge = cost x (1 + markup%)), while margin is the share of the selling price you keep (margin% = profit / charge). They are not interchangeable: a 30% markup gives you only a 23.1% gross margin, because margin% = markup% / (1 + markup%). This calculator works in markup terms, so a 30% markup on a £7.81/hr cost charges £10.15/hr and keeps £2.34/hr (23.1% of revenue). If you want a true 30% margin instead, you would need roughly a 42.9% markup.
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Last updated: February 2026
All calculations are estimates. Always verify settings with test prints before committing to final prints.