How much electricity does 3D printing actually use?

Typical draw

FDM printers average 100-200 W while printing (heated bed cycling dominates); enclosed high-temp machines run 300-500 W; resin printers 50-100 W plus wash/cure stations. An 8-hour print at 150 W is 1.2 kWh - $0.12-0.35 in most countries.

Per part it is small - per year it is not

One printer running 2,000 hours a year at 150 W consumes 300 kWh - $40-90. A ten-printer farm pays real utility bills. Electricity belongs inside your all-in machine hourly rate, not forgotten.

The bigger electrical costs

Climate control for the print room, dehumidifiers for filament, and compressors often outdraw the printers themselves in professional setups.

Fold it in once

Set electricity inside the machine hourly cost in our calculator ($/kWh x average kW) and stop thinking about it per job - that is what all-in rates are for.