If you’re using 3D printing for prototypes, функциональные части, или небольшая партия производства, 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 к 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:
| Пластиковый тип | Стоимость за грамм (юаней/грамм) | Ключевые характеристики | Типичные приложения |
| Плата (Полилактановая кислота) | 0.01 ~ 0.05 | Экологически чистый, легко печатать, низкая усадка | Модели для хобби, Основные прототипы, educational projects |
| АБС (Акрилонитрил-бутадиен-стирол) | 0.03 ~ 0.10 | Высокая сила, good temperature resistance (до 90 ° C.), Но склонно к деформации | Функциональные части (НАПРИМЕР., Телефонные чехлы, toy shells) |
| Петг (Полиэтилентерефталатный гликоль) | 0.05 ~ 0.15 | Высокая прочность, химическая устойчивость, Food-Safe | Medical accessories, Продовольственные детали (НАПРИМЕР., контейнеры для хранения) |
| ТПУ (Термопластичный полиуретан) | 0.10 ~ 0.30 | High elasticity, износостойкий, гибкий | Soft parts (НАПРИМЕР., insoles, Телефон, robot grippers) |
| Заглядывать (Полиэфирный эфирный кетон) | 1.0 ~ 5.0 | Ultra-high performance: теплостойкий (до 250 ° C.), коррозионная устойчивость | Промышленные компоненты, аэрокосмические части, Медицинские имплантаты |
| Specialized Plastics | 0.5 ~ 20 | Includes conductive PLA, Углеродное волокно-армирование PLA, and flame-retardant ABS | Conductive sensors, high-strength structural parts, Электронные корпуса |
Пример: 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, труд, and other hidden expenses. Below is a breakdown of each factor:
(1) Технология печати
Different technologies have varying equipment and operational costs, which add to the per-gram price:
| Технологический тип | Additional Cost Per Gram (юаней/грамм) | Ключевые преимущества & Недостатки | Лучше всего для |
| ФДМ (Моделирование сплавленного осаждения) | 0.02 ~ 0.08 | Low equipment cost, easy to maintain; but lower precision | PLA/ABS/PETG prints, Проекты чувствительных к стоимости |
| СЛС (Селективное лазерное спекание) | 0.2 ~ 0.8 | Не требуется поддержки, Высокие детали; but expensive equipment | TPU/nylon prints, сложная геометрия |
| SLA/DLP (Light Curing) | 0.05 ~ 0.5 | Ультра-высокая точность, плавные поверхности; but resin is costly | Запчасти с высоким содержанием (НАПРИМЕР., ювелирные изделия, стоматологические модели) |
Ключевая нота: 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 (Нидерланды) or Taulman (США) charge 0.03–0.08 RMB/gram for PLA—2–3x more—due to stricter quality control and consistent performance.
(3) Труд & 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 (юаней/грамм) | What It Includes |
| Basic Service | 0.05 ~ 0.20 | 3D Печать + basic post-processing (НАПРИМЕР., removing supports) |
| Premium Service | 0.2 ~ 1.0 | Custom programming + fine post-processing (НАПРИМЕР., шлифование, полировка) + качественная проверка |
Пример: A 100g ABS part printed via basic service costs 0.08 (материал) + 0.15 (услуга) = 0.23 юаней/грамм (общий 23 юаней). The same part via premium service costs 0.08 + 0.5 = 0.58 юаней/грамм (общий 58 юаней).
(4) Требования к постобработке
Many plastic parts need post-processing to meet quality standards, and each step adds to the per-gram cost:
| Поступ-обработка шага | Стоимость за грамм (юаней/грамм) | Цель |
| Поддержка удаления | 0.01 ~ 0.05 | Remove excess material from the print |
| Шлифование/полировка | 0.05 ~ 0.20 | Smooth surface roughness (НАПРИМЕР., from Ra 1.6μm to Ra 0.8μm) |
| Живопись/покрытие | 0.1 ~ 0.5 | Добавить цвет, protection, or a matte/glossy finish |
| Химическая обработка | 0.2 ~ 1.0 | Для пресса: vapor smoothing to eliminate layer lines |
Пример: A 150g ABS part needing sanding and painting costs 0.08 (материал) + 0.1 (шлифование) + 0.3 (рисование) = 0.48 юаней/грамм (общий 72 юаней).
(5) Заказать объем & Минимальное количество заказа (Могил)
Service providers often offer discounts for large batches, while small orders may incur a “minimum fee” that inflates the per-gram cost:
| Заказать объем | Discount vs. Маленькие партии | Пример: 100g ABS Part (Original Cost: 0.23 юаней/грамм) |
| Небольшая партия (<100глин) | 0% (May have MOQ fee) | 0.23 юаней/грамм + 50 RMB MOQ fee (общий 73 RMB for 100g) |
| Средняя партия (100g ~ 1kg) | 10 ~ 20% | 0.18 ~ 0.21 юаней/грамм (общий 18 ~ 21 RMB for 100g) |
| Большая партия (>1кг) | 20 ~ 40% | 0.14 ~ 0.18 юаней/грамм (общий 14 ~ 18 RMB for 100g) |
3. Total Cost Per Gram: Разбивка по сценариям
To see how all these factors come together, below are three common printing scenarios—from low-cost hobbies to high-end industrial parts:
| Сценарий | Пластиковый тип | Технология | Total Cost Per Gram (юаней/грамм) | Пример (300g Part Total Cost) |
| Low-Cost Hobby (Self-Printed) | Плата | ФДМ | 0.01 ~ 0.05 (материал) + 0.02 ~ 0.08 (оборудование) = 0.03 ~ 0.13 | 9 ~ 39 юаней |
| Mid-Range Functional Part (Service Provider) | Петг | ФДМ | 0.05 ~ 0.15 (материал) + 0.05 ~ 0.20 (услуга) + 0.05 ~ 0.20 (пост-обработка) = 0.15 ~ 0.55 | 45 ~ 165 юаней |
| High-End Industrial Part | Заглядывать | СЛС | 1.0 ~ 5.0 (материал) + 0.2 ~ 0.8 (технология) + 0.2 ~ 1.0 (пост-обработка) = 1.4 ~ 6.8 | 420 ~ 2,040 юаней |
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 (НАПРИМЕР., 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. Например, a 1kg PLA roll printed in-house costs 10–50 RMB vs. 50–150 RMB from a service—saving 80% через некоторое время.
(3) Optimize Print Design to Cut Waste
- Reduce infill: Use 10–20% infill for decorative parts (против. 50% Для функциональных частей) 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. Например, печать 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
В Yigu Technology, Мы верим matching material and technology to project needs is the key to cost-effective 3D printing. Many clients overspend by using high-cost materials (НАПРИМЕР., Заглядывать) 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; Для функциональных частей, Петг (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.
Часто задаваемые вопросы
- Why is PEEK so much more expensive than PLA?
PEEK is an ultra-high-performance plastic designed for extreme conditions (НАПРИМЕР., высокая температура, коррозия). 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 (НАПРИМЕР., draft prototypes). Однако, recycled plastic may have inconsistent quality (НАПРИМЕР., 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.