Transparent Pricing
How Your 3D Printing Quote Is Calculated
We do not publish a flat per-hour rate, because it would either hide the real cost drivers or overcharge you for parts that print fast. Instead, here is exactly what moves your number — so you can optimise it yourself.
The formula
Volume-based pricing generally beats per-hour pricing for small parts, because the fixed component of machine time dominates. It is also why nesting parts together and raising layer height are the two most effective levers on the final number.
What actually moves your price
Ranked by how much each factor typically changes the total.
Material volume
High impactWe compute the exact solid volume of your part and multiply by the material density to get filament mass, then price at our per-kilogram rate for that material. A 20 cm³ part in nylon consumes significantly more cost than the same volume in PLA.
Machine time
High impactPrint duration is estimated from geometry, layer height, infill and the material flow rate of the specific machine profile. Layer height has a near-linear effect: 0.1 mm layers take roughly twice as long as 0.2 mm for the same part.
Material choice
High impactEach material has its own cost per kilogram and its own print profile. Standard polymers such as PLA and PETG are cheapest; engineering grades like nylon and polycarbonate sit in the middle; composites such as carbon fibre reinforced filament are the most expensive per gram.
Infill density
High impactInfill fills the interior of your part. Below about 20% you can often save by going lower; above 40–60% you are adding cost and weight for very little additional strength in most geometries. Solid parts are only worth it for stiffness or liquid containment.
Quantity
High impactThe single largest lever. Setup time, first-layer calibration and plate preparation are largely fixed costs, so they amortise across the batch. Unit cost falls sharply at 5, 10 and 50+ pieces.
Process selection
Moderate impactFDM is generally cheaper; DLP resin costs more because resin is more expensive per volume and post-processing (washing and curing) adds labour. Choose DLP when you genuinely need the detail or tolerance, not by default.
Colour and finish
Moderate impactNatural and black filament is cheapest; specialty colours cost a small premium. Post-processing — sanding, filling, acetone vapour smoothing — is priced per part and shown in the quote before you commit.
Delivery speed
Moderate impactEconomy production is lowest cost because it uses standard queue priority. Express is charged at a premium because it moves your job to the front of the print floor. The difference is always visible in the quote before you order.
Worked example
How quantity changes the unit economics of a real order.
- Uploaded geometry
- A nylon bracket, 42 cm³ solid-equivalent volume, 3 parts nested on one plate
- Material
- Nylon PA12 — mid-range engineering polymer
- Layer height
- 0.2 mm standard
- Infill
- 40% gyroid
- Quantity
- 3 units on a shared plate
- Delivery
- Economy
- Result
- Each additional part costs less than the first, because setup is shared
Five ways to reduce your bill without hurting the part
- 1Order in quantity. Batch pricing is the single largest saving available.
- 2Nest parts onto one build plate so setup is shared across them.
- 3Use the coarsest layer height the part tolerates — 0.28 mm is invisible on a functional part.
- 4Drop infill above 40% unless the part is genuinely load-bearing.
- 5Pick the cheaper material that still meets your actual requirement, not the most expensive one you can justify.
Never reduce wall thickness or infill on a safety-critical or load-bearing part to save money. Tell us the application and we will tell you honestly where the cost can come out. See our material selection guide.
FDM vs DLP — cost and capability
| Factor | FDM | DLP resin |
|---|---|---|
| Relative cost | Lower | Higher |
| Tolerance | ±0.2 mm standard, ±0.1 mm fine | ±0.05 mm |
| Minimum feature size | ~0.4 mm (nozzle width) | ~0.1 mm |
| Surface finish | Visible layer lines | Smooth, no layer lines |
| Max part size | Large | Smaller build volume |
| Material range | Engineering polymers and composites | Standard, tough, flexible, castable resins |
| Best for | Functional, structural, large parts | Fine detail, cosmetic and tight fits |
Full comparison in FDM vs DLP 3D Printing.
Pricing questions, answered
How much does 3D printing cost in India?+
It depends entirely on your part. Cost is driven by material volume, machine time at your chosen layer height and infill, the material itself, and delivery speed. Because these vary so widely, we do not publish misleading per-hour rates — upload your file and the exact price appears in under two minutes.
Why is my quote different from a competitor quote?+
Almost always because of layer height and infill, or because the other quote was an estimate rather than a measurement. If both quotes specify the same material, layer height, infill and quantity, the prices should be close. We are happy to tell you which setting is driving your number.
Is the price I see the price I pay?+
Yes. The quote is calculated from your real geometry and our actual machine profiles. If our engineering review identifies something that materially changes the part — for example support that cannot be removed cleanly — we contact you and agree any change before production begins.
How long is a quote valid?+
Seven days from generation. After that, pricing may be revised to reflect current material costs and machine availability.
Do I pay a setup or tooling fee?+
No separate setup or tooling fee. Calibration and plate preparation are built into the quote, and nesting multiple parts onto one plate is what makes batch pricing attractive.
What are your payment terms?+
A 50% advance starts production and the balance is due before dispatch. Payments run through Razorpay, supporting UPI, cards and net banking. Terms are set out in our Terms & Conditions.
Are there shipping charges?+
Yes, and they depend on destination and the size and weight of the consignment. Delivery cost and time are calculated during checkout and shown before you pay, so there are no surprises on the invoice.
Do you offer volume discounts?+
Yes — volume pricing is applied automatically in the quote as quantity increases, so you can see the unit cost fall before you order. For genuinely large runs, contact us with your file for a confirmed bulk price.
Terms & Conditions · Refund Policy
Payment terms are 50% advance to start production, balance before dispatch. Quotes are valid for 7 days. Prices are exclusive of shipping, which is calculated for your destination at checkout.
See your actual price
Upload your file and watch the quote break down in real time — material, machine time, finishing and delivery, itemised.