If you’re using 3D printing for prototypes, partes funcionais, ou produção em pequenos lotes, 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 para 5 RMB/gram for high-performance PEEK—shaped by material type, printing technology, and service choices. This guide breaks down core cost drivers, provides practical references, 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 | Custo por grama (RMB/grama) | Principais características | Aplicações típicas |
| PLA (Ácido polilático) | 0.01 ~ 0.05 | Ecológico, fácil de imprimir, baixo encolhimento | Hobby models, protótipos básicos, educational projects |
| Abs (Acrilonitrila-butadieno-estireno) | 0.03 ~ 0.10 | Alta resistência, good temperature resistance (até 90 ° C.), Mas propenso a deformação | Partes funcionais (Por exemplo, Casos de telefone, toy shells) |
| Petg (Glicol tereftalato de polietileno) | 0.05 ~ 0.15 | Alta tenacidade, Resistência química, seguro de comida | Medical accessories, peças de contato com alimentos (Por exemplo, Contêineres de armazenamento) |
| TPU (Poliuretano termoplástico) | 0.10 ~ 0.30 | High elasticity, resistente ao desgaste, flexível | Soft parts (Por exemplo, insoles, Aperte o telefone, robot grippers) |
| Espiar (Ether de poliéter cetona) | 1.0 ~ 5.0 | Ultra-high performance: resistente ao calor (até 250 ° C.), resistente à corrosão | Componentes industriais, peças aeroespaciais, implantes médicos |
| Specialized Plastics | 0.5 ~ 20 | Includes conductive PLA, PLA reforçado com fibra de carbono, and flame-retardant ABS | Conductive sensors, high-strength structural parts, gabinetes eletrônicos |
Exemplo: 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, trabalho, and other hidden expenses. Below is a breakdown of each factor:
(1) Tecnologia de impressão
Different technologies have varying equipment and operational costs, which add to the per-gram price:
| Tipo de tecnologia | Additional Cost Per Gram (RMB/grama) | Principais vantagens & Desvantagens | Melhor para |
| Fdm (Modelagem de deposição fundida) | 0.02 ~ 0.08 | Low equipment cost, easy to maintain; but lower precision | PLA/ABS/PETG prints, Projetos sensíveis ao custo |
| SLS (Sinterização seletiva a laser) | 0.2 ~ 0.8 | Nenhum apoio necessário, Altos detalhes; but expensive equipment | TPU/nylon prints, geometrias complexas |
| SLA/DLP (Light Curing) | 0.05 ~ 0.5 | Precisão ultra alta, superfícies suaves; but resin is costly | Peças de alto detalhamento (Por exemplo, joia, modelos dentários) |
Nota -chave: 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: Marcas premium como ColorFabb (Holanda) ou Taulman (EUA) cobrar 0,03–0,08 RMB/grama por PLA – 2–3x mais – devido ao controle de qualidade mais rigoroso e desempenho consistente.
(3) Trabalho & Service Fees
Se você terceirizar a impressão para um provedor de serviços (em vez de usar sua própria máquina), taxas de mão de obra e serviços podem representar 50%+ do custo total:
| Tipo de serviço | Additional Cost Per Gram (RMB/grama) | O que inclui |
| Serviço Básico | 0.05 ~ 0.20 | 3D impressão + pós-processamento básico (Por exemplo, removendo suportes) |
| Serviço Premium | 0.2 ~ 1.0 | Programação personalizada + pós-processamento fino (Por exemplo, lixar, polimento) + Inspeção de qualidade |
Exemplo: Uma peça ABS de 100g impressa com custos de serviço básico 0.08 (material) + 0.15 (serviço) = 0.23 RMB/grama (total 23 RMB). A mesma parte através de custos de serviço premium 0.08 + 0.5 = 0.58 RMB/grama (total 58 RMB).
(4) Requisitos de pós-processamento
Many plastic parts need post-processing to meet quality standards, and each step adds to the per-gram cost:
| Etapa de pós-processamento | Custo por grama (RMB/grama) | Propósito |
| Remoção de suporte | 0.01 ~ 0.05 | Remove excess material from the print |
| Lixamento/polimento | 0.05 ~ 0.20 | Smooth surface roughness (Por exemplo, from Ra 1.6μm to Ra 0.8μm) |
| Pintura/revestimento | 0.1 ~ 0.5 | Adicione a cor, protection, or a matte/glossy finish |
| Tratamento químico | 0.2 ~ 1.0 | Para ABS: vapor smoothing to eliminate layer lines |
Exemplo: A 150g ABS part needing sanding and painting costs 0.08 (material) + 0.1 (lixar) + 0.3 (pintura) = 0.48 RMB/grama (total 72 RMB).
(5) Volume do pedido & Quantidade mínima do pedido (MOQ)
Service providers often offer discounts for large batches, while small orders may incur a “minimum fee” that inflates the per-gram cost:
| Volume do pedido | Discount vs. Pequenos lotes | Exemplo: 100g ABS Part (Original Cost: 0.23 RMB/grama) |
| Pequeno lote (<100g) | 0% (May have MOQ fee) | 0.23 RMB/grama + 50 RMB MOQ fee (total 73 RMB for 100g) |
| Medium Batch (100g ~ 1kg) | 10 ~ 20% | 0.18 ~ 0.21 RMB/grama (total 18 ~ 21 RMB for 100g) |
| Lote grande (>1kg) | 20 ~ 40% | 0.14 ~ 0.18 RMB/grama (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:
| Cenário | Tipo de plástico | Tecnologia | Total Cost Per Gram (RMB/grama) | Exemplo (300g Part Total Cost) |
| Low-Cost Hobby (Self-Printed) | PLA | Fdm | 0.01 ~ 0.05 (material) + 0.02 ~ 0.08 (equipamento) = 0.03 ~ 0.13 | 9 ~ 39 RMB |
| Mid-Range Functional Part (Provedor de serviços) | Petg | Fdm | 0.05 ~ 0.15 (material) + 0.05 ~ 0.20 (serviço) + 0.05 ~ 0.20 (pós-processamento) = 0.15 ~ 0.55 | 45 ~ 165 RMB |
| High-End Industrial Part | Espiar | SLS | 1.0 ~ 5.0 (material) + 0.2 ~ 0.8 (tecnologia) + 0.2 ~ 1.0 (pós-processamento) = 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. Try these strategies:
(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 (Por exemplo, 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 exemplo, a 1kg PLA roll printed in-house costs 10–50 RMB vs. 50–150 RMB from a service—saving 80% ao longo do tempo.
(3) Optimize Print Design to Cut Waste
- Reduce infill: Use 10–20% infill for decorative parts (vs.. 50% Para partes funcionais) 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 exemplo, impressão 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
Na tecnologia Yigu, acreditamos matching material and technology to project needs is the key to cost-effective 3D printing. Many clients overspend by using high-cost materials (Por exemplo, Espiar) 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 partes funcionais, 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.
Perguntas frequentes
- Why is PEEK so much more expensive than PLA?
PEEK is an ultra-high-performance plastic designed for extreme conditions (Por exemplo, altas temperaturas, corrosão). 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 (Por exemplo, draft prototypes). No entanto, recycled plastic may have inconsistent quality (Por exemplo, 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.