What markup should I add to 3D prints?
A common markup for a 3D printing service is 2×–3× the material-plus-machine cost, or an hourly rate of about $10–$30 on top of materials. Markup has to cover failed prints, machine wear, design time and profit — not just filament.
Why is cost-plus alone not enough?
If you only charge material cost you lose money on every failed print, every hour of machine wear and all your setup time. Markup turns a hobby into a sustainable service.
Typical markup ranges
| Level | Typical markup |
|---|---|
| Hobby / at-cost for friends | 1.2×–1.5× |
| Semi-pro / marketplace seller | 2×–3× |
| Commercial / custom work | 3×–5× or hourly |
Hourly rate vs multiplier — which is better?
Multipliers are simple and work well for small, fast prints. For long or hands-on jobs an hourly rate ($10–$30/h of print or labour time) prices your time more fairly. Many makers use material × multiplier plus an hourly design/finishing charge.
Don't forget your failure rate
Even reliable printers fail on 5–15% of jobs. Bake that into the price by adding 10–20% to material and machine cost before applying markup — otherwise one failed 12-hour print wipes out the profit from several good ones.