Why does filament need dry storage?

Many filaments (especially Nylon, PETG and TPU) are hygroscopic — they absorb moisture from the air. Wet filament causes popping, stringing, poor surface quality and weak layer adhesion.

How much desiccant do I need per spool?

Roughly 20-40g of silica gel per spool in a sealed container. Our calculator uses 10g per litre of container volume, which gives adequate protection for most climates.

Can I reuse silica gel desiccant?

Yes. Colour-indicating silica gel turns from orange to green when saturated. Regenerate it by heating at 120C for 2-3 hours in an oven. You can reuse it indefinitely.

What container should I use?

Large airtight plastic storage boxes with clip-on lids work well. IKEA SAMLA or Really Useful Boxes are popular choices. Add a hygrometer to monitor humidity.

3DPrintCalcs

Filament Storage Calculator — Desiccant & Container Sizing

Calculate desiccant requirements and storage container sizes for your filament collection.

Number of Spools

Spool Diameter

Outer diameter of spool

Spool Width

How We Calculate This

Calculation Method

Spool volume = pi x (diameter/2)^2 x width
Container volume = Total spool volume x 1.3 (30% extra for spacing and access)
Desiccant = 10g per litre of container volume
Shelf length = Spool count x (width + 1cm gap)

Frequently Asked Questions

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Estimate how many prints you can get from one spool of filament.

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Calculate cross-sectional area and volume per metre for any filament diameter.

Last updated: February 2026

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