How many prints do you need to sell to make your 3D printer “free” (well, pay for itself) – selling on 3Dhubs?
I was surprised with the results and the data used will vary depending on your location, cost of production, and other factors.
THE CHART
So, what’s going on here?
Okay so here is what I did.
I made a list of some of the most common 3D Printers available (yes, I know I missed some…) I collected data on the following factors;
- Total Build Volume in cm cubed
- Average price for 3D Printer online (tax and shipping excluded)
- Material, running cost, and setup costs to print a Large 10CM Marvin 3D Model.
I then ran Marvin_10cm.stl through our cost calulator with the following assumptions;
- Average 1.75mm PLA Cost $20USD
- Layer Height 0.2mm
- Infill Percentage: 10%
- No Raft, No Supports
Our cost calculator then estimated an approximate cost of $1.57
So I then proceeded to add some dollars for the 3D Printer Setup, Maintenance, Energy Usage, and Time.
I estimated a $6.93 total cost for a large Marvin 10cm
Next, I went on to 3DHubs.com and picked 20 of the most affordable hubs prices they would charge to print this model.
Now this will vary per hub and location but where we are located it averaged approx. $40.92.
So $44.04-$6.93=$37.116 profit…
Not too shabby eh! So the above chart is an example of how many Marvin_10cm.STL models one would need to print and sell in order to pay off the price of the printer.
This is just an example and I didn’t want to get all complicated with build plate size, dual extruder, or whatever…
3d Printers and how long it’ll take to pay them off
So here is how the printers stacked up in terms of an ROI standpoint for consumers. This is in order from quickest payback to longest payback duration.
#1 ANET A6
Build Volume: 220x220x230
Total Volume CM3 = 11132
Est Price of Printer $213.33
$/CM3 = $0.019
Number of Marvins to Sell: 6
#2 XYZprinting da Vinci miniMaker
Build Volume: 150x150x150
Total Volume CM3 = 3375
Est Price of Printer $201.67
$/CM3 = $0.060
Number of Marvins to Sell: 6
#3 Monoprice Select Mini
Build Volume: 150x150x150
Total Volume CM3 = 1728
Est Price of Printer $220.00
$/CM3 = $0.127
Number of Marvins to Sell: 6
#4 ANET A8
Build Volume: 220x220x230
Total Volume CM3 = 11132
Est Price of Printer $219.99
$/CM3 = $0.020
Number of Marvins to Sell: 7
#5 ANET A10
Build Volume: 220x270x300
Total Volume CM3 = 17820
Est Price of Printer $299.99
$/CM3 = $0.017
Number of Marvins to Sell: 9
#6 Wanhao Duplicator i3
Build Volume: 200x200x180
Total Volume CM3 = 7200
Est Price of Printer $299.99
$/CM3 = $0.042
Number of Marvins to Sell: 9
#7 Monoprice Maker Select V2
Build Volume: 203x203x117
Total Volume CM3 = 7294
Est Price of Printer $329.99
$/CM3 = $0.045
Number of Marvins to Sell: 9
#8 XYZprinting da Vinci Jr. 1.0
Build Volume: 150x150x150
Total Volume CM3 = 3375
Est Price of Printer $299.99
$/CM3 = $0.089
Number of Marvins to Sell: 9
#9 New Matter MOD-t
Build Volume: 150x100x125
Total Volume CM3 = 1875
Est Price of Printer $299.00
$/CM3 = $0.159
Number of Marvins to Sell: 9
#10 QIDI X-One
Build Volume: 150x150x150
Total Volume CM3 = 3375
Est Price of Printer $399.00
$/CM3 = $0.118
Number of Marvins to Sell: 11
#11 XYZprinting da Vinci 1.0 AiO
Build Volume: 198x198x190
Total Volume CM3 = 7449
Est Price of Printer $499.97
$/CM3 = $0.067
Number of Marvins to Sell: 14
#12 Dagoma NEVA
Build Volume: 125x125x203
Total Volume CM3 = 3172
Est Price of Printer $499.00
$/CM3 = $0.157
Number of Marvins to Sell: 14
#13 FlashForge Finder
Build Volume: 140x140x140
Total Volume CM3 = 2744
Est Price of Printer $499.00
$/CM3 = $0.182
Number of Marvins to Sell: 14
#14 Creality CR-10
Build Volume: 300x300x400
Total Volume CM3 = 36000!
Est Price of Printer $548.00
$/CM3 = $0.015
Number of Marvins to Sell: 15
#15 Printrbot Simple Metal
Build Volume: 150x150x150
Total Volume CM3 = 3375
Est Price of Printer $576.84
$/CM3 = $0.171
Number of Marvins to Sell: 16
#16 QIDI TECH 1
Build Volume: 225x150x150
Total Volume CM3 = 5063
Est Price of Printer $649.00
$/CM3 = $0.128
Number of Marvins to Sell: 18
#17 Prusa Research i3 MK2S Kit
Build Volume: 250x210x200
Total Volume CM3 = 10500
Est Price of Printer $699.00
$/CM3 = $0.067
Number of Marvins to Sell: 19
#18 Monoprice Ultimate
Build Volume: 200x200x175
Total Volume CM3 = 7000
Est Price of Printer $699.99
$/CM3 = $0.100
Number of Marvins to Sell: 19
#19 Wanhao Duplicator 4S
Build Volume: 225x145x150
Total Volume CM3 = 4894
Est Price of Printer $675.00
$/CM3 = $0.138
Number of Marvins to Sell: 19
#20 Dremel DigiLab 3D20
Build Volume: 228x150x140
Total Volume CM3 = 4788
Est Price of Printer $798.35
$/CM3 = $0.167
Number of Marvins to Sell: 22
#21 FlashForge Creator Pro
Build Volume: 225x145x150
Total Volume CM3 = 4894
Est Price of Printer $899.00
$/CM3 = $0.184
Number of Marvins to Sell: 25
#22 CEL Robox
Build Volume: 210x150x100
Total Volume CM3 = 3150
Est Price of Printer $999.00
$/CM3 = $0.317
Number of Marvins to Sell: 27
#23 Dremel DigiLab 3D40
Build Volume: 254x152x170
Total Volume CM3 = 6563
Est Price of Printer $999.00
$/CM3 = $0.163
Number of Marvins to Sell: 29
#24 CraftUnique CraftBot PLUS
Build Volume: 250x200x200
Total Volume CM3 = 10000
Est Price of Printer $1099.00
$/CM3 = $0.110
Number of Marvins to Sell: 30
#25 Ultimaker 2 Go
Build Volume: 119x119x115
Total Volume CM3 = 1629
Est Price of Printer $1199.00
$/CM3 = $0.736
Number of Marvins to Sell: 33
#25 LulzBot Mini
Build Volume: 152x152x158
Total Volume CM3 = 3650
Est Price of Printer $1250.00
$/CM3 = $0.342
Number of Marvins to Sell: 34
#26 MakerBot Replicator Mini+
Build Volume: 101x127x127
Total Volume CM3 = 1629
Est Price of Printer $1299.00
$/CM3 = $0.797
Number of Marvins to Sell: 35
#27 ROBO 3D Robo R2
Build Volume: 203x203x254
Total Volume CM3 = 10467
Est Price of Printer $1499.99
$/CM3 = $0.143
Number of Marvins to Sell: 41
#28 Makergear M2
Build Volume: 254x203x203
Total Volume CM3 = 10467
Est Price of Printer $1825.00
$/CM3 = $0.174
Number of Marvins to Sell: 50
#29 Zortrax M200 Pro
Build Volume: 200x200x180
Total Volume CM3 = 7200
Est Price of Printer $1750.00
$/CM3 = $0.257
Number of Marvins to Sell: 50
#30 Raise 3D N1
Build Volume: 205x205x205
Total Volume CM3 = 8615
Est Price of Printer $1999.00
$/CM3 = $0.232
Number of Marvins to Sell: 54
#31 MakerBot Replicator 2X
Build Volume: 246x152x155
Total Volume CM3 = 5796
Est Price of Printer $2499.00
$/CM3 = $0.431
Number of Marvins to Sell: 68
#32 Gcreate gMax 1.5
Build Volume: 406x406x305
Total Volume CM3 = 50275!
Est Price of Printer $2495.00
$/CM3 = $0.050
Number of Marvins to Sell: 68
#33 LulzBot TAZ 6
Build Volume: 280x280x250
Total Volume CM3 = 16900
Est Price of Printer $2500.00
$/CM3 = $0.128
Number of Marvins to Sell: 68
#34 Ultimaker 2+
Build Volume: 223x223x205
Total Volume CM3 = 10194
Est Price of Printer $2499.00
$/CM3 = $0.245
Number of Marvins to Sell: 68
#35 MakerBot Replicator+
Build Volume: 295x195x165
Total Volume CM3 = 9492
Est Price of Printer $2499.00
$/CM3 = $0.263
Number of Marvins to Sell: 68
#36 BCN3D Sigma
Build Volume: 210x297x210
Total Volume CM3 = 13098
Est Price of Printer $2540.00
$/CM3 = $0.194
Number of Marvins to Sell: 69
#37 Raise 3D N2
Build Volume: 305x305x305
Total Volume CM3 = 28373!
Est Price of Printer $2799.00
$/CM3 = $0.099
Number of Marvins to Sell: 76
#38 Gcreate gMax 1.5 XT
Build Volume: 305x305x305
Total Volume CM3 = 28373!
Est Price of Printer $2799.00
$/CM3 = $0.099
Number of Marvins to Sell: 76
#39 Ultimaker 3
Build Volume: 215x215x200
Total Volume CM3 = 9245
Est Price of Printer $3495.00
$/CM3 = $0.378
Number of Marvins to Sell: 95
#40 Ultimaker 2 Extended
Build Volume: 223x223x305
Total Volume CM3 = 15167!
Est Price of Printer $3653.82
$/CM3 = $0.241
Number of Marvins to Sell: 99
#41 Raise 3D N2 Plus
Build Volume: 305x305x610
Total Volume CM3 = 56745!
Est Price of Printer $3899.00
$/CM3 = $0.069
Number of Marvins to Sell: 106
#42 Ultimaker 3 Extended
Build Volume: 215x215x300
Total Volume CM3 = 13868
Est Price of Printer $4295
$/CM3 = $0.310
Number of Marvins to Sell: 116
#43 MakerBot Replicator Z18
Build Volume: 300x305x457
Total Volume CM3 = 41816!
Est Price of Printer $6499.00
$/CM3 = $0.155
Number of Marvins to Sell: 176
In conclusion
Okay, that was a pretty list, if you’re reading this thanks for scrolling the whole page!
So what’s important here?
The thing to look at is the $/CM3 and How many Marvins. Looking at these numbers will tell you if the printer’s features are really worth the price you’re going to pay and how long it will take to give you a return on your investment.
There is no wrong answer, it really all depends on your need for the 3D Printer and the features it offers.
I hope you have found this list helpful and this helps you choose your next 3D Printer.
Feel free to leave us a comment and share this on Social Media.
Check out our blog post on the Best 3D Printing Tools and Hardware Everyone Should Own
Interesting article, but the real question – where can we find someone (let alone 6 or 176 someones) who would pay $40 for a 10cm Marvin?
Ha ha ha thanks Bob, glad you liked the article. The 10cm Marvin was used as an example and was averaged on 3dhubs from 20 local hubs. I was also surprised how much hubs charged for the 10cm sized print. This just goes to show consumers can make good profit printing larger size prints. Thanks for the feedback stay tuned for more…
Maybe if you were to charge a little less per “Marvin”, and made a few more, you would probably have a “ROI time frame” that is a lot faster. Which would then allow you to purchase an additional printer, and hopefully start to doubling you sales. Just a thought.
Hi Jim,
We agree with you and we are working on an accurate cost and profit calculator we are hoping to add to the blog soon.
It seems the larger the print size on 3dhubs the higher the profit margins are. There is more intensive for a large build volume for those looking to turn their 3D Printer into a revenue machine.