3DPrintCalcs
Resin Cost Calculator — Cost Per Print
Work out the resin cost per print based on volume used and bottle price.
How We Calculate This
Resin Cost Formulas
- Resin cost = Volume (ml) x (Bottle price / Bottle size)
- Electricity = (Wattage x Hours / 1000) x Rate per kWh
- Consumables (IPA + FEP) = Volume (ml) x IPA £/ml + Hours x FEP £/hr
- Failure buffer = (Resin + Electricity + Consumables) x Failure rate %
- Total = Resin + Electricity + Consumables + Failure buffer
The failure rate adds a buffer for wasted material from failed prints. This is especially important when pricing work for customers to ensure profitability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Standard resin costs approximately 2-4p per ml (£20-40 per litre). Premium resins (tough, flexible, castable) cost 4-8p per ml. Water-washable resin is typically 10-20% more expensive than standard.
Per volume, resin is typically 2-4x more expensive than FDM filament. However, resin prints are often smaller and more detailed. For miniatures and small detailed parts, the cost difference is often acceptable for the quality improvement.
Yes. A 5-10% failure rate is realistic for resin printing. Failed prints waste all the resin used plus the supports. Partially cured resin in the vat may also be wasted. Factor this into pricing for customer work.
Resin printers use 30-60W on average (much less than FDM printers at 150-300W). A 3-hour print at 50W costs about 4p at UK electricity rates. Electricity is a minor cost compared to resin.
Related Calculators
Resin Volume Calculator
Estimate how much resin a print will consume based on model volume and supports.
Exposure Time Calculator
Calculate layer exposure time based on resin type, layer height and UV power.
Resin Tank Calculator
Calculate how much resin to pour into your vat for a given print job.
Vat Life Calculator
Estimate how many print hours remain before your FEP film needs replacing.
UV Curing Calculator
Calculate post-cure time based on UV wavelength, power and part thickness.
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Last updated: February 2026
All calculations are estimates. Always verify settings with test prints before committing to final prints.