If you’re using 3D printing for prototypes, partes funcionales, o producción de lotes pequeños, understanding the cost per gram of 3D printing plastic is essential for budgeting. The cost isn’t fixed—it ranges from 0.01 RMB/gram for basic PLA a 5 RMB/gram for high-performance PEEK—shaped by material type, printing technology, and service choices. This guide breaks down core cost drivers, proporciona referencias prácticas, shares cost-saving tips, and answers common questions to help you make informed decisions.
1. Cost Per Gram of Common 3D Printing Plastics
Different plastics have distinct properties and price points, directly impacting the total cost of your 3D prints. Below is a detailed breakdown of the most widely used materials:
| Tipo de plástico | Costo por gramo (RMB/gramo) | Características clave | Aplicaciones típicas |
| Estampado (Ácido poliláctico) | 0.01 ~ 0.05 | Ecológico, fácil de imprimir, baja contracción | Hobby models, Prototipos básicos, educational projects |
| Abdominales (Acrilonitrilo-butadieno-estireno) | 0.03 ~ 0.10 | Alta fuerza, good temperature resistance (hasta 90 ° C), Pero propenso a la deformación | Partes funcionales (P.EJ., fundas telefónicas, toy shells) |
| Petg (Glicol de tereftalato de polietileno) | 0.05 ~ 0.15 | Alta dureza, resistencia química, aficionado a la comida | Medical accessories, piezas de contacto con alimentos (P.EJ., contenedores de almacenamiento) |
| TPU (Poliuretano termoplástico) | 0.10 ~ 0.30 | High elasticity, resistente al desgaste, flexible | Soft parts (P.EJ., insoles, agarres de teléfonos, robot grippers) |
| OJEADA (Cetona de éter poliéter) | 1.0 ~ 5.0 | Ultra-high performance: a prueba de calor (hasta 250 ° C), resistente a la corrosión | Componentes industriales, piezas aeroespaciales, implantes médicos |
| Specialized Plastics | 0.5 ~ 20 | Includes conductive PLA, PLA reforzado con fibra de carbono, and flame-retardant ABS | Conductive sensors, high-strength structural parts, recintos electrónicos |
Ejemplo: A 200g PLA prototype costs 2–10 RMB in material alone. The same-sized PEEK part costs 200–1,000 RMB—100–100x more—due to its industrial-grade performance.
2. 5 Core Factors That Impact the Total Cost Per Gram
The cost per gram of 3D printing plastic isn’t just about the material itself—it also depends on printing technology, mano de obra, and other hidden expenses. Below is a breakdown of each factor:
(1) Tecnología de impresión
Different technologies have varying equipment and operational costs, which add to the per-gram price:
| Tipo de tecnología | Additional Cost Per Gram (RMB/gramo) | Ventajas clave & Desventajas | Mejor para |
| MDF (Modelado de deposición fusionada) | 0.02 ~ 0.08 | Low equipment cost, easy to maintain; but lower precision | PLA/ABS/PETG prints, proyectos sensibles a los costos |
| SLSS (Sinterización láser selectiva) | 0.2 ~ 0.8 | No se necesitan soportes, detalle; but expensive equipment | TPU/nylon prints, geometrías complejas |
| SLA/DLP (Fotopolimerización) | 0.05 ~ 0.5 | Ultra alta precisión, superficies suaves; but resin is costly | Piezas de alta detonancia (P.EJ., joyas, modelos dentales) |
Nota clave: FDM is the most cost-effective for plastic prints—adding just 0.02–0.08 RMB/gram to the material cost—while SLS can double or triple the total per-gram cost.
(2) Brand & Quality of Materials
Material brand and quality significantly affect the price. Imported, high-quality materials often cost more than domestic, standard options:
- Domestic Materials: PLA from brands like eSUN or Creality costs 0.01–0.03 RMB/gram—affordable for most users.
- Imported Materials: Premium brands like ColorFabb (Países Bajos) or Taulman (EE.UU) charge 0.03–0.08 RMB/gram for PLA—2–3x more—due to stricter quality control and consistent performance.
(3) Mano de obra & Service Fees
If you outsource printing to a service provider (instead of using your own machine), labor and service fees can account for 50%+ of the total cost:
| Service Type | Additional Cost Per Gram (RMB/gramo) | What It Includes |
| Basic Service | 0.05 ~ 0.20 | 3D impresión + basic post-processing (P.EJ., removing supports) |
| Premium Service | 0.2 ~ 1.0 | Custom programming + fine post-processing (P.EJ., lijado, pulido) + inspección de calidad |
Ejemplo: A 100g ABS part printed via basic service costs 0.08 (material) + 0.15 (servicio) = 0.23 RMB/gramo (total 23 RMB). The same part via premium service costs 0.08 + 0.5 = 0.58 RMB/gramo (total 58 RMB).
(4) Requisitos de postprocesamiento
Many plastic parts need post-processing to meet quality standards, and each step adds to the per-gram cost:
| Paso postprocesado | Costo por gramo (RMB/gramo) | Objetivo |
| Eliminación de soporte | 0.01 ~ 0.05 | Remove excess material from the print |
| Lijado/pulido | 0.05 ~ 0.20 | Smooth surface roughness (P.EJ., from Ra 1.6μm to Ra 0.8μm) |
| Pintura/revestimiento | 0.1 ~ 0.5 | Agregar color, protection, or a matte/glossy finish |
| Tratamiento químico | 0.2 ~ 1.0 | Para ABS: vapor smoothing to eliminate layer lines |
Ejemplo: A 150g ABS part needing sanding and painting costs 0.08 (material) + 0.1 (lijado) + 0.3 (cuadro) = 0.48 RMB/gramo (total 72 RMB).
(5) Volumen de pedido & Cantidad mínima de pedido (Moq)
Service providers often offer discounts for large batches, while small orders may incur a “minimum fee” that inflates the per-gram cost:
| Volumen de pedido | Discount vs. Lotes pequeños | Ejemplo: 100g ABS Part (Original Cost: 0.23 RMB/gramo) |
| Lote pequeño (<100gramo) | 0% (May have MOQ fee) | 0.23 RMB/gramo + 50 RMB MOQ fee (total 73 RMB for 100g) |
| Medium Batch (100g ~ 1kg) | 10 ~ 20% | 0.18 ~ 0.21 RMB/gramo (total 18 ~ 21 RMB for 100g) |
| Lote grande (>1kilos) | 20 ~ 40% | 0.14 ~ 0.18 RMB/gramo (total 14 ~ 18 RMB for 100g) |
3. Total Cost Per Gram: Scenario-Based Breakdown
To see how all these factors come together, below are three common printing scenarios—from low-cost hobbies to high-end industrial parts:
| Guión | Tipo de plástico | Tecnología | Total Cost Per Gram (RMB/gramo) | Ejemplo (300g Part Total Cost) |
| Low-Cost Hobby (Self-Printed) | Estampado | MDF | 0.01 ~ 0.05 (material) + 0.02 ~ 0.08 (equipo) = 0.03 ~ 0.13 | 9 ~ 39 RMB |
| Mid-Range Functional Part (Proveedor de servicios) | Petg | MDF | 0.05 ~ 0.15 (material) + 0.05 ~ 0.20 (servicio) + 0.05 ~ 0.20 (postprocesamiento) = 0.15 ~ 0.55 | 45 ~ 165 RMB |
| High-End Industrial Part | OJEADA | SLSS | 1.0 ~ 5.0 (material) + 0.2 ~ 0.8 (tecnología) + 0.2 ~ 1.0 (postprocesamiento) = 1.4 ~ 6.8 | 420 ~ 2,040 RMB |
4. 4 Practical Tips to Reduce the Cost Per Gram
You don’t have to compromise on quality to save money. Prueba estas estrategias:
(1) Choose the Right Material for Your Needs
- Use PLA for non-functional prototypes instead of ABS or PETG—saves 30–80% on material costs.
- Reserve PEEK or specialized plastics only for parts that need their unique properties (P.EJ., heat resistance for industrial use).
(2) Print In-House for Small Batches
If you print regularly, investing in a basic FDM printer (1,000–5,000 RMB) eliminates service fees. Por ejemplo, a 1kg PLA roll printed in-house costs 10–50 RMB vs. 50–150 RMB from a service—saving 80% con el tiempo.
(3) Optimize Print Design to Cut Waste
- Reduce infill: Use 10–20% infill for decorative parts (VS. 50% para piezas funcionales) to cut material use by 30–80%.
- Avoid unnecessary supports: Design self-supporting angles (≥45° for most plastics) to reduce post-processing time and material waste.
(4) Batch Print to Get Discounts
Group small orders into a single batch to qualify for service provider discounts. Por ejemplo, impresión 5 small PLA parts (total 300g) at once costs 0.03–0.13 RMB/gram vs. 0.03–0.13 + MOQ fees for individual prints.
Yigu Technology’s Perspective on 3D Printing Plastic Costs
En la tecnología yigu, creemos matching material and technology to project needs es la clave para una impresión 3D rentable. Many clients overspend by using high-cost materials (P.EJ., OJEADA) for simple prototypes or outsourcing small prints that could be done in-house. Our team helps clients select the right plastic: for basic prototypes, we recommend PLA (0.01–0.05 RMB/gram) with FDM technology; para piezas funcionales, Petg (0.05–0.15 RMB/gram) balances cost and performance. We also offer batch printing discounts (20–40% for >1kg orders) and optimize designs to reduce waste by 30–50%. Our goal is to help clients get high-quality 3D prints at the lowest possible cost per gram.
Preguntas frecuentes
- Why is PEEK so much more expensive than PLA?
PEEK is an ultra-high-performance plastic designed for extreme conditions (P.EJ., altas temperaturas, corrosión). Its production process is complex and requires specialized raw materials, making it 200–500x more expensive than PLA. It’s only used for critical applications like aerospace or medical implants where cheaper plastics can’t meet performance needs.
- Can I use recycled 3D printing plastic to save money?
Yes—recycled PLA or ABS costs 0.005–0.03 RMB/gram (50–50% cheaper than new material) and works well for non-critical projects (P.EJ., draft prototypes). Sin embargo, recycled plastic may have inconsistent quality (P.EJ., varying diameter for filaments) that can cause print defects, so it’s not recommended for functional parts.
- How much does post-processing add to the total cost per gram?
Post-processing typically adds 0.01–1.0 RMB/gram, depending on the steps. Basic support removal adds just 0.01–0.05 RMB/gram, while complex steps like chemical treatment for ABS can add 0.2–1.0 RMB/gram. For most mid-range parts, post-processing accounts for 10–30% of the total cost per gram.