How Much Electricity Does a 3D Printer Use? A Complete 2025 Guide
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As 3D printing becomes common in workshops, offices, and homes, it makes sense to think about running costs. With energy prices in 2025 being an important part of any budget, you're smart to ask about the ongoing expense. You've bought the printer and the plastic filament, but what about the hidden cost on your electricity bill? Is your new machine going to use tons of power or is it actually quite efficient?
This guide gives you a clear, simple answer. We will explain the power use for different printers and materials, show you exactly how to figure out your costs, compare the usage to other home appliances, and give you useful tips to save money.
Key Takeaways
* Average Use: Most hobby FDM 3D printers use 50-150 watts while printing, which is similar to a high-end desktop computer.
* Cost Per Hour: This equals roughly $0.01 - $0.03 per hour, based on an average US electricity rate of $0.17 per kWh.
* Biggest Factor: The heated bed uses the most power by far.
* It's Manageable: For most users, the cost of filament or resin will be much higher than the cost of electricity.
Typical Power Use
The short answer is that 3D printers generally don't use major amounts of power. However, the exact amount depends heavily on the type of printer and what you're printing.
For Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) printers, the most common type for hobbyists, power usage changes in phases:
- Idle/Standby: 5-15 Watts. In this state, the printer is on, but the heaters and motors are not active. This is similar to a phone charger plugged into the wall.
- Pre-heating: 200-300+ Watts. This is when the printer uses the most power. The printer draws maximum power to get the heated bed and the nozzle up to the right temperatures. This phase is short, usually lasting only a few minutes.
- Active Printing (PLA): 50-100 Watts. Once temperatures stay steady, the printer uses much less power. For materials like PLA that don't need a high-temperature bed, use is quite low.
- Active Printing (ABS/PETG): 100-150+ Watts. Materials that need higher bed and nozzle temperatures will naturally use more energy to keep that heat throughout the print.
For Resin (SLA/DLP/LCD) printers, the story is different. These machines are generally more energy-efficient because they do not rely on high-temperature heating parts.
- Average Use: 30-70 Watts. The power is used mainly to run the UV light source, the small motor for the Z-axis, and the control board.
To put this in perspective, an 8-hour print on a typical FDM printer using 100 watts uses 0.8 kWh of energy. This is the same as running a 60W old-style light bulb for over 13 hours or watching a large LED TV for about 5 hours.
Figuring Out Your Exact Cost
While general numbers are helpful, calculating your specific cost is more useful. Generic answers don't account for your specific machine, material, and local electricity rates. Here is how to determine your actual cost in three simple steps.
Step 1: Find Wattage
The most important variable is your printer's average power use in watts (W). You have two main ways to find this.
- Option A (Best Method): Use a plug-in power meter, often called a watt meter. This device sits between your printer's power cord and the wall outlet, giving you a precise, real-time reading of the energy being used. It accurately captures the initial peak during pre-heating and the average use during the print.
- Option B (Good Estimate): Check the power supply unit (PSU) on your printer. It will have a label showing its maximum power rating (e.g., 24V 15A, 350W). It's important to understand this is the maximum power the PSU can deliver, not the average usage. A printer's typical active use is usually only 30-50% of this maximum rating.
Step 2: Estimate Print Time
Your slicer software is your best friend here. Before you even start a print, programs like Cura, PrusaSlicer, or others will provide a detailed estimate of the total print time in hours. For tracking monthly costs, you can keep a simple log of your total printing hours.
Step 3: Find Electricity Rate
Your electricity bill is measured and charged in kilowatt-hours (kWh). A kilowatt-hour is the energy used by using 1,000 watts for one hour. You can find your specific rate on your monthly utility bill, usually listed as "cents per kWh" or "$ per kWh".
If you can't find your bill, a quick online search for "[Your City/State] average electricity rate 2025" will provide a reliable estimate. Be aware that some utility providers offer time-of-use rates, where electricity is cheaper during off-peak hours (like late at night).
The Formula & Example
With these three pieces of information, you can calculate the cost of any print.
The Formula:
(Printer Wattage / 1000) x Print Hours x Cost per kWh = Total Print Cost
Worked Example:
Let's run the numbers for a common scenario.
- Printer Average Wattage: 120 W (Printing a material like PETG)
- Print Duration: 10 hours
- Electricity Rate: $0.17 per kWh (A 2025 national average)
Calculation:
(120 W / 1000) x 10 hours x $0.17/kWh = $0.204
Conclusion: In this realistic scenario, a 10-hour print costs just over 20 cents.
Key Power Factors
Understanding what parts of the printer use the most energy allows you to make smarter, more efficient printing choices.
The Heated Bed
The heated bed is the clear #1 energy user on an FDM printer. It can be responsible for 60-70% of the total power draw during a print. The large surface area requires a significant amount of energy to heat up and maintain its temperature. The difference between maintaining a 60°C bed for PLA and a 100°C bed for ABS is substantial and directly impacts how much electricity does a 3d printer use.
Hot End & Material
Your choice of material directly affects the energy used by the hot end. The nozzle needs to be hot enough to melt the plastic, and different materials have very different melting points. Printing PLA at 200°C uses less energy than printing PETG at 240°C or ABS at 260°C. While the hot end uses less power than the bed, these higher temperatures add to the overall use.
Printer Type
As discussed earlier, the technology of the printer itself is a major factor. FDM printers use resistive heating elements, which use a lot of power. Resin printers use UV light, which is far more efficient. On the far end of the spectrum, industrial printers, such as Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) machines, are in a different league entirely, using powerful lasers and large heated chambers that use many times more power than a desktop unit.
Ambient Temp & Enclosures
Where you place your printer matters. A printer running in a cold garage or basement has to work constantly to fight the ambient cold and maintain its bed and nozzle temperatures. The heating elements will turn on more frequently, increasing energy use. An enclosure is a simple and effective solution. It traps waste heat from the printer, creating a stable, warm environment that reduces the energy needed to maintain target temperatures, while also improving print quality for materials like ABS.
Other Components
Other components like stepper motors, the main controller board, the LCD screen, and cooling fans all add to power use. However, their impact is minor. These components together might draw 10-20 watts, a small fraction compared to the 100+ watts a heated bed can demand.
Comparison to Appliances
Context is everything. Seeing how much electricity does a 3d printer use compared to other common household items can be eye-opening. Most people are surprised to learn how efficient they are.
| Appliance | Typical Power (Watts) | Estimated Cost per Hour (at $0.17/kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| 3D Printer (FDM, printing PLA) | 75 W | ~$0.013 |
| 3D Printer (FDM, printing ABS) | 120 W | ~$0.02 |
| LED Light Bulb | 10 W | < $0.01 |
| Large LED TV | 150 W | ~$0.026 |
| Gaming PC (under load) | 450 W | ~$0.077 |
| Refrigerator (compressor running) | 150-200 W | ~$0.026 - $0.034 |
| Microwave Oven | 1200 W | ~$0.20 |
| Hair Dryer | 1500 W | ~$0.26 |
10 Tips to Save Energy
While the cost is already low, practicing efficiency is always a good habit. These ten tips can help you reduce your 3D printer's electricity bill.
- Print with PLA: Whenever your project allows, use PLA. It requires the lowest nozzle and bed temperatures of any common filament, making it the most energy-efficient choice.
- Turn Off the Heated Bed: For small PLA prints with a large surface area on the build plate, try printing on a cold bed. Using a brim or raft can help with sticking, and skipping the bed heat will greatly cut power use.
- Use a Printer Enclosure: An enclosure is one of the best efficiency upgrades you can make. It traps heat, which means the heated bed and hot end don't have to work as hard, especially when printing high-temp materials.
- Lower Nozzle/Bed Temperatures: Don't just use default temperature settings. Print a "temperature tower" test model to find the lowest possible temperature that still provides excellent print quality and layer bonding. Dropping the temperature by even 5-10°C makes a difference on long prints.
- Batch Prints: The pre-heating phase uses a burst of high power. It is more energy-efficient to run one long 20-hour print with multiple parts than to run two separate 10-hour prints, as you only have to go through the pre-heating cycle once.
- Optimize Print Settings: Slicer settings can reduce print time, which in turn reduces energy use. Use features like "lightning" infill, which provides support with minimal material, or adaptive layer heights to speed up non-critical sections of a model.
- Insulate Your Heated Bed: A simple sheet of cork or a purpose-made silicone insulation mat placed underneath the heated bed can work wonders. It prevents heat from radiating downwards and directs it up towards your print, reducing heat loss and energy waste.
- Power Down After Printing: Many printers use 5-15W in an idle state. While small, this "vampire drain" adds up over time. Turn the machine off at the switch or use a smart plug to automatically power it down after a print is complete.
- Choose an Efficient Printer: If you are considering a future upgrade, pay attention to the power supply rating and features. If your use case is mainly small, detailed models, a resin printer is naturally more energy-efficient.
- Print During Off-Peak Hours: Check if your utility provider has a time-of-use plan. If so, running long prints overnight when electricity rates are lowest can lead to significant savings.
The Bigger Picture: Cost Context
It's important to put the cost of electricity within the broader scope of 3D printing expenses. Let's do a quick comparison.
A standard 1kg spool of quality PLA filament costs around $20 in 2025. How much electricity would it take to print that entire spool?
A 1kg spool can provide roughly 100-130 hours of continuous printing for average-sized models. Using our earlier example of a print costing about $0.02 per hour:
100 hours x $0.02/hour = $2.00 in electricity
The conclusion is clear: the filament cost ($20) is ten times higher than the electricity cost ($2) to use it. This shows that your financial focus is better spent on avoiding failed prints and saving filament rather than worrying too much about the power bill.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do 3D printers use a lot of electricity when idle?
A: No, an idle 3D printer only uses about 5-15 watts. This is a very small amount, but over weeks and months, it can add up. It is best practice to turn the printer off completely when you know you won't be using it for an extended period.
Q: Is it safe to leave a 3D printer running unattended?
A: While modern printers have important safety features like thermal runaway protection, which prevents the heaters from getting dangerously hot, a 3D printer is still a machine that creates high temperatures. The risk is low but not zero. Always ensure the printer is in a well-ventilated area, clear of any flammable materials. Using a smoke detector nearby and a smart plug for remote shutdown capabilities are highly recommended safety measures.
Q: How does a larger printer affect electricity use?
A: The main driver of increased use in a larger printer is its bigger build plate. A larger heated bed requires a more powerful heating element and uses significantly more energy to reach and maintain its temperature compared to a smaller one. The motors and other components may be slightly larger, but the bed is the key difference.
Q: Does print speed affect power use?
A: Indirectly, yes. Printing faster often requires a higher hot end temperature to melt the filament quickly enough to keep up with the extrusion rate. This increases power use. However, the print finishes sooner, reducing the overall time the printer is running. The net effect on total energy use is usually small, but a power meter is the only way to know the real-world impact for your specific setup.
Conclusion: Balancing Cost and Creativity
After a detailed analysis, the verdict is in: a 3D printer's electricity usage is surprisingly modest. For most users in 2025, the cost is a minor part of the hobby, often comparable to running a computer and far less than power-hungry appliances like a microwave or hair dryer.
The cost of electricity should not be a barrier to entry or a source of major concern. It is much smaller than the cost of materials, maintenance, and the printer itself.
By understanding the key factors that drive use and applying a few simple, energy-saving tips, you can easily manage the running costs of your machine. This frees you to focus on what truly matters: transforming your digital designs into physical reality and bringing your creative ideas to life.