{
  "slug": "3d-print-cost-resin",
  "title": "3D Print Cost Calculator (Resin/SLA)",
  "heading": "Resin 3D Print Cost Calculator",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/3d-print-cost-resin",
  "summary": "Resin volume, wash/cure consumables, and machine cost per part.",
  "description": "Resin printing has a different cost structure than FDM: resin is priced and consumed by volume (mL) rather than weight, and there are recurring consumable costs FDM doesn't have — IPA or alternative solvent for washing, and the resin vat film (FEP or nFEP) that degrades and needs periodic replacement. This calculator prices resin by volume used, adds a per-print consumables allowance for wash solvent and amortized vat film/resin tank wear, adds machine time cost, and applies markup. Resin costs $35-90 per liter for standard tough/durable resins and $60-150+ for specialty (flexible, castable, dental) resins, so material cost per part is often higher than FDM even though resin parts tend to be smaller. Post-processing (wash, cure, support removal) also typically takes longer per part than FDM, so labor minutes matter more here.",
  "formula": "Material Cost = (mL Used ÷ 1000) × Price per L. Total = (Material + Consumables + Machine Time + Labor) × (1 + Markup).",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=3d-print-cost-resin",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "mlUsed",
      "label": "Resin used",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 45,
      "unit": "mL",
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "resinPricePerL",
      "label": "Resin price",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 55,
      "unit": "$/L",
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "consumables",
      "label": "Wash/vat film consumables per print",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 0.6,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "printHours",
      "label": "Print time",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 2.5,
      "unit": "hrs",
      "min": 0.1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "machineRate",
      "label": "Machine hourly rate",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 1.6,
      "unit": "$/hr",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "laborMin",
      "label": "Wash/cure/support labor",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 15,
      "unit": "min",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "laborRate",
      "label": "Labor rate",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 25,
      "unit": "$/hr",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "markup",
      "label": "Markup",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 70,
      "unit": "%",
      "min": 0,
      "max": 500
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "price",
      "label": "Suggested price",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "rawCost",
      "label": "Total raw cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "material",
      "label": "Resin material cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "laborCost",
      "label": "Labor cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Resin used: 45 mL",
      "Resin price: 55 $/L",
      "Wash/vat film consumables per print: 0.6 $",
      "Print time: 2.5 hrs",
      "Machine hourly rate: 1.6 $/hr",
      "Wash/cure/support labor: 15 min",
      "Labor rate: 25 $/hr",
      "Markup: 70 %"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Suggested price: $22.65",
      "Total raw cost: $13.33",
      "Resin material cost: $2.48",
      "Labor cost: $6.25"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter resin used (mL).",
      "Enter resin price ($/L).",
      "Enter wash/vat film consumables per print ($).",
      "Enter print time (hrs).",
      "Enter machine hourly rate ($/hr).",
      "Enter wash/cure/support labor (min).",
      "Enter labor rate ($/hr).",
      "Enter markup (%).",
      "Read your suggested price on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "mlUsed": 25,
        "resinPricePerL": 33,
        "consumables": 0.36,
        "printHours": 1.5,
        "machineRate": 0.96,
        "laborMin": 9,
        "laborRate": 15,
        "markup": 40
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "mlUsed": 45,
        "resinPricePerL": 55,
        "consumables": 0.6,
        "printHours": 2.5,
        "machineRate": 1.6,
        "laborMin": 15,
        "laborRate": 25,
        "markup": 70
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "mlUsed": 70,
        "resinPricePerL": 88,
        "consumables": 0.96,
        "printHours": 4,
        "machineRate": 2.5600000000000005,
        "laborMin": 24,
        "laborRate": 40,
        "markup": 110
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "How do I estimate resin volume for a model without slicing it?",
      "a": "Slicer software gives an exact volume estimate before printing — always use that rather than guessing. As a rough rule of thumb, small miniatures use 2-10 mL, medium functional parts 20-60 mL, and larger prints can exceed 150-300 mL depending on infill/hollowing settings."
    },
    {
      "q": "Why is resin more expensive per part despite smaller volumes?",
      "a": "Resin itself costs 2-4x more per unit volume than filament on an equivalent-volume basis, plus you have recurring wash solvent and vat film costs that FDM doesn't. Labor is also higher since resin parts need washing, UV curing, and more careful support removal to avoid marring the smoother surface finish."
    },
    {
      "q": "How often should I amortize vat film replacement?",
      "a": "FEP film typically lasts 20-80 prints depending on resin type and print frequency of failures/scraping. Divide a film's replacement cost by expected print count between replacements and that's your per-print film amortization — this calculator lets you fold that into the consumables field directly."
    },
    {
      "q": "Does resin type change the cost significantly?",
      "a": "Yes — standard resins run $35-50/L, tough/durable engineering resins $60-90/L, and specialty resins (flexible, dental, castable) $80-150+/L. Always price with your actual resin's per-liter cost, not a generic estimate."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/3d-print-cost-filament",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/3d-print-time-estimate"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — 3D Print Cost Calculator (Resin/SLA) (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/3d-print-cost-resin)"
}