How much does your entire 3D printing project cost?
A single plate's filament cost is only part of a build. A helmet, display model or multi-part prop can involve several plates, failed attempts, assembly materials and finishing time.
BenchTare is a free 3D printing cost calculator and project tracker. Keep those entries together, compare slicer estimates with recorded values, and see which costs still need entering.
Start with every physical print run
Add the plates for your project manually or import a supported sliced Bambu Studio or OrcaSlicer file. Review the imported values before saving. File contents vary; missing prices need to be entered before the cost is complete.
Count support, purge and tower material when it is consumed. Keep a failed attempt and its replacement as separate runs. Updating the estimate for an existing plate is different from printing it again.
A worked example: a three-part display build
These are illustrative inputs in CHF, not a customer record or recommended tariff. Use your own material prices, electricity tariff and recorded consumption.
| Cost item | Calculation | CHF |
|---|---|---|
| Three successful print runs | 500 g total × CHF 20/kg ÷ 1,000 | 10.00 |
| Failed attempt | 50 g consumed × CHF 20/kg ÷ 1,000 | 1.00 |
| Estimated electricity | 12 hours across all runs × 0.15 kW × CHF 0.30/kWh | 0.54 |
| Assembly materials | Glue and fasteners | 3.00 |
| Hands-on labour | 45 minutes ÷ 60 × CHF 20/hour | 15.00 |
| Total with the selected inputs | 29.54 | |
The filament subtotal is CHF 11.00. Including estimated electricity and assembly materials gives CHF 14.54; valuing hands-on labour brings the total to CHF 29.54. The successful-run weights include any supports and purge material; the failed-run weight is what that attempt actually consumed.
This example excludes machine allowance, packaging, shipping, selling fees and profit. Add applicable costs separately. Production cost and selling price are different figures.
Keep estimates and recorded values distinct
Slicer time and weight are estimates. Record actual consumption and elapsed time when you know them. Until then, a total based partly on estimates remains provisional. Unknown cost is not the same as zero cost.
For electricity, use an estimate from time and average power, a measured whole-project kWh value, or a manual amount. A measured project figure replaces the estimate; it should not be added on top.
Use BenchTare for the whole build
Track plates and replacements, manage filament inventory, add materials and hands-on labour, and include an optional machine allowance. Download PDF or Excel reports to explain your figures, and a JSON backup to keep an editable copy.
Do I need an account?
No. Projects and imported files are processed in your browser. You can choose to remember projects on your device; download a backup for a separate copy. Reports are snapshots, not editable backups. The app uses cookie-free Cloudflare site analytics, which do not receive your project contents or imported files.
Can I try it without my own slicer file?
Yes. The interactive demo uses clearly labelled example projects. Explore its plates, costs and filament inventory before starting your own build.