The average price of a 3D printer today is about $2,500. This cost will vary depending on the type of 3D printer you get — that is to say the type of technology it uses, filament and size. More high-end 3D printers can cost as much as $10,000. When considering the price of 3D printers, you should also consider how it will be used. Commercial-use 3D printers or ones used for Schools can run up to $100,000 or more.
Table of Contents
- Average cost of 3d Printers
- Cost of 3D Printers from Different Stores
- Cost by Use-Case
- 3D Printing Filament Cost
Topics
How Much Do Different 3D Printers Cost?
We surveyed over 200 different 3D printers from a variety of online stores. On the lower-end of the spectrum, we found some 3D printers for as little as $200-$300. High-end 3D printers, however, could cost you as much as $10,000. Below you’ll find a breakdown of prices based on a few different factors, including printer type and manufacturing country.
| Type | Average Price |
| DLP | 3059 |
| DLP-SLA | 1799 |
| FDM/LDM | 5833 |
| FFF | 2180 |
| FFF / CFF | 4999 |
| Laser Stereolithography | 5000 |
| LDM | 850 |
| Plastic Jet Printing | 1999 |
| Plastic Jet Printing (PJP) | 1569 |
| SDM | 1800 |
| SLA | 2948 |
| Sliding separation | 8490 |
| Made In | Average 3D Printer Price |
| Argentina | $2,776 |
| Australia | $1,013 |
| Barcelona | $1,999 |
| Belgium | $1,905 |
| Brazil | $1,876 |
| Canada | $1,641 |
| China | $1,383 |
| Cyprus | $4,183 |
| Czech Republic | $2,041 |
| Finland | $2,026 |
| France | $1,711 |
| Germany | $1,724 |
| Hungary | $670 |
| India | $799 |
| Israel | $2,689 |
| Italian | $1,770 |
| Italy | $3,508 |
| Japan | $1,120 |
| Korea | $800 |
| Korean | $1,560 |
| Lebanon | $1,980 |
| Malaysia | $2,228 |
| Netherlands | $3,073 |
| New Zealand | $1,304 |
| Poland | $2,097 |
| Portugal | $3,058 |
| Singapore | $663 |
| South Korea | $699 |
| Spain | $2,325 |
| Switzerland | $4,891 |
| Taiwan | $2,140 |
| UK | $2,226 |
| USA | $2,828 |
Know that you will also pay more for a 3D printer if it comes pre-assembled. The average price of these units is around $2,700. On the other hand, DYI 3D printers that require some work on your part, go for an average of $1,500. Building your own kit can take up to 8 hours, as there are hundreds of pieces. However, one benefit you gain from assembling your printer is that you will become very familiar with it. This, in turn, will make repairs easier and chances are you won’t have to bring your printer to a shop — which would increase repair costs. Just be careful not to break anything when assembling it!
Note that there are more states that 3D printers come in. Some, for example, come in what has been called a “90%”-state, which requires some assembly. All these factors will influence your final price. Generally speaking, the more work you have to do to get the printer working, the cheaper it will be because the manufacturer is saving on labor costs.
Which Shops Have The Best Prices on 3D Printers?
In looking at prices of printers across a number of different stores, we also began to notice differences between the shops. In our cost analysis, we excluded shops that sold just one printer.
| Shop | Average of Price |
| Makex | $604 |
| Printrbot | $749 |
| RepRapPro | $767 |
| Mbot-3D | $786 |
| Solidoodle | $799 |
| mUVe 3D LLC | $1,199 |
| Deezmaker | $1,232 |
| Tinkerine Studio | $1,399 |
| Sharebot | $1,643 |
| 3D Systems | $2,164 |
| VAGLER | $2,228 |
| Eckertech | $2,479 |
| Hyrel 3D | $2,737 |
| Airwolf 3D | $2,935 |
| Omni3d | $3,606 |
| RAISE3D | $3,699 |
| Makerbot | $3,820 |
| WASP | $4,588 |
| InDimension3 | $5,236 |
| Leapfrog | $5,301 |
| Asiga | $8,490 |
Cost of 3D Printers for Different Use Cases
When shopping for a 3D printer, most people have a specific use in mind — or at least they should. Before committing to a purchase, decide how you plan to use it. Are you just an enthusiast of the technology and want to mess around? Are you a cosplayer who wants to create outfits using the printer? Are you an educator who wants to use the 3D printer in a classroom setting? All these will be factors in how much you may pay and what kind of printer you require.
User | Popular Choice | Cost
_
Beginner|Da Vinci Mini Wireless 3D Printer|$179.95
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Intermediate|Ultimaker 3 3D Printer|$3,495.00
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Industrial|Fortus 250mc|$45,000
Cost of 3d Printing FIlament
The cost of the 3D printer is just one part of the equation. Another important one is the cost of the filament. You can think of this as the “ink” of 3-d printers. This will be an ongoing cost that will determine the lifetime price of your printer. The more you print, the more filament you’ll use. 3DInsider surveyed costs for different types of filaments which you can find below:
| Filament Type | Uses | Average Price |
| Generic PLA & ABS | PLA and ABS are the two most popular filaments in 3D printing. They can be used to make almost anything. | $25/Kg |
| Specialty PLA & ABS | Specialty PLA and ABS are fused with other elements to change their function. For instance, they can be infused with wood, metal, ceramics, and more. These can give the finished product a glow in the dark feature, make it magnetic, or even make it electrically conductive. | $56.5/Kg |
| ASA Filament | ASA is popular for outdoor use as it is more weather resistant than ABS. | $37.5/Kg |
| PETG Filament | PETG is extremely strong and has low shrinkage, making it perfect for people looking for something stronger than ABS. | $35/Kg |
| Nylon Filament | People looking for thin and flexible filament love nylon. | $95/Kg |
| Flexible Filaments | TPU is perfect for people looking for a squishy and highly scratch resistant material. | $35/Kg |
| Polycarbonate Filament | Polycarbonate is another extremely strong filament. | $95/Kg |
Source: 3DInsider.com