PLA — cost and pricing guide
PLA is the cheapest and easiest FDM material - stiff, printable on any machine, but soft above 55°C.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Material price | $18-25/kg |
| Density | 1.24 g/cm³ |
| Process | FDM 3D Printing |
| Typical uses | prototypes, visual models, jigs, low-stress parts |
What drives the real part cost
Material price is only one input. The full per-part cost adds machine time at your all-in hourly rate, hands-on labor, a failure or scrap allowance, and your margin. On most PLA parts, machine time and labor outweigh the material itself — which is why per-kg price comparisons alone mislead.
Pro tip
A 100 g PLA part uses about $2-2.50 of filament - machine time and labor, not material, dominate its real cost.
Price a PLA part in seconds — upload your file to the FDM 3D Printing calculator, set your material price at $18-25 and your rates, and get a defensible quote with a market comparison.
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