SLA vs PolyJet: high-detail printing cost comparison
Short answer: SLA is significantly cheaper - PolyJet resins cost 3-6x more per kg and support material is also jetted and thrown away. Choose PolyJet only for multi-material or multi-color parts in one build.
Cost comparison at a glance
| SLA / Resin | PolyJet | |
|---|---|---|
| One-off part | $15-40 | $30-80 |
| Batch of 100 (per part) | $8-20 | $20-50 |
| Production volume (per part) | $6-15 | $15-40 |
| Typical lead time | 1-3 days | 2-4 days |
| Tolerance | ±0.1 mm | ±0.1 mm |
| Materials | standard, tough, flexible, castable resins | rigid, rubber-like and multi-material resins |
These are indicative service-market ranges for a palm-sized part — your own costs depend on your machines, rates and region. Both calculators below let you price the same part both ways with your numbers and see the crossover for yourself.
Choose SLA / Resin when…
- single-material detailed parts
- cost matters
- castable and dental workflows
- larger high-detail parts
Choose PolyJet when…
- multi-material or overmolded-look prototypes
- rubber-like + rigid in one part
- full-color concept models
- ultra-thin walls with soluble support
Price your part in seconds with the free SLA / Resin cost calculator — upload your file, quantities and machine time are estimated automatically.
Open the SLA / Resin cost calculator →Price your part in seconds with the free PolyJet cost calculator — upload your file, quantities and machine time are estimated automatically.
Open the PolyJet cost calculator →Put AI-powered instant quoting on your own website
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