SLS vs MJF: which nylon process costs less?
Short answer: MJF typically prints faster and refreshes more powder, making it slightly cheaper per part at volume; SLS machines are more common, keeping service pricing competitive. For most parts the difference is 10-25%.
Cost comparison at a glance
| SLS | MJF | |
|---|---|---|
| One-off part | $20-60 | $20-50 |
| Batch of 100 (per part) | $10-25 | $8-20 |
| Production volume (per part) | $8-15 | $5-12 |
| Typical lead time | 3-6 days | 3-6 days |
| Tolerance | ±0.2 mm | ±0.2 mm |
| Materials | PA12, PA11, glass-filled nylon, TPU | PA12, PA11, glass-filled PA12 |
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 SLS when…
- wider material menu (PA11, TPU, composites)
- established supplier base
- slightly better fine-feature crispness in some builds
- gray/white parts acceptable
Choose MJF when…
- higher throughput and lower unit cost at volume
- better mechanical isotropy in Z
- faster cooling and turnaround
- dark gray/black parts are fine
Price your part in seconds with the free SLS cost calculator — upload your file, quantities and machine time are estimated automatically.
Open the SLS cost calculator →Price your part in seconds with the free MJF cost calculator — upload your file, quantities and machine time are estimated automatically.
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