How Much Electricity Does a 3D Printer Actually Use?

The Hidden Cost Most People Ignore

Electricity is the second biggest running cost after filament. Yet most sellers never measure it. Let's fix that.

Real Wattage Numbers

We measured power consumption for popular printers:

• Ender 3 / Ender 3 V2: 120-150W average during printing
• Prusa i3 MK4: 100-130W average
• Bambu Lab P1S: 150-200W average (faster print = higher draw)
• Bambu Lab X1C: 180-250W average
• Voron 2.4: 200-350W average (depends on heated chamber)

How to Calculate Your Cost

The formula is simple:

Cost = (Wattage / 1000) × Hours × Price per kWh

Example: A 6-hour print on an Ender 3 (130W average) at €0.20/kWh:

(130 / 1000) × 6 × 0.20 = €0.156

That's just 16 cents. But over 1000 prints per year, that's €156 in electricity alone.

Electricity Prices by Country

Prices vary massively across Europe:

• Portugal: €0.15-0.20/kWh
• Germany: €0.30-0.40/kWh
• France: €0.20-0.25/kWh
• Spain: €0.15-0.25/kWh

In Germany, the same print costs twice as much in electricity compared to Portugal. Factor this into your pricing.

Tips to Reduce Electricity Cost

1. Print during off-peak hours
2. Use an enclosure to reduce heat loss
3. Print at higher layer heights when possible
4. Turn off the printer when not in use
5. Consider your printer's standby consumption

Use our calculator to see exactly how electricity affects your per-print cost.