electronics · 120W typical

Running a 3d printer (fdm) costs about $0.71/month.

That's the typical 3d printer (fdm) at 120W, run 2 hours a day at the US-average rate of 16.5¢/kWh. Change any of those and the number moves — use the calculator below to see yours.

Estimated cost

$0.71/month

$0.02 per day$8.67 per year4.32 kWh monthly

Wattage

Hours / day

Your rate

A 3d printer (fdm) draws full power only while the thermostat/compressor is running — about 1.2 effective hours at 120W across your 2-hour window.

How you use it

Cost shifts with how long it's on.

The same 3d printer (fdm) can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.

hobbyist prints

$0.71

per month

multi-hour prints a few times a week

2 hrs/day·$8.67/yr

heavy prototyping

$3.56

per month

continuous use by maker

10 hrs/day·$43.36/yr

Where you live

$1.29 spread between the cheapest and priciest states.

Same appliance, same hours of use, different zip code — the monthly cost varies this much.

State	Rate	Monthly	Yearly
Hawaii	41.2¢	$1.78	$21.65
California	31.4¢	$1.36	$16.50
Massachusetts	30.8¢	$1.33	$16.19
Connecticut	28.7¢	$1.24	$15.08
Rhode Island	27.9¢	$1.21	$14.66
New Hampshire	24.6¢	$1.06	$12.93
Alaska	24.3¢	$1.05	$12.77
New York	22.3¢	$0.96	$11.72
Maine	22.1¢	$0.95	$11.62
Vermont	21.5¢	$0.93	$11.30
Michigan	19.3¢	$0.83	$10.14
New Jersey	19.1¢	$0.83	$10.04
Maryland	18.4¢	$0.79	$9.67
Pennsylvania	18.1¢	$0.78	$9.51
District of Columbia	17.8¢	$0.77	$9.36
Wisconsin	17.4¢	$0.75	$9.15
Delaware	17.2¢	$0.74	$9.04
Illinois	16.9¢	$0.73	$8.88
Ohio	16.6¢	$0.72	$8.72
Nevada	16.3¢	$0.70	$8.57
Indiana	15.8¢	$0.68	$8.30
Virginia	15.7¢	$0.68	$8.25
Minnesota	15.6¢	$0.67	$8.20
Colorado	15.4¢	$0.67	$8.09
Alabama	15.2¢	$0.66	$7.99
West Virginia	15.2¢	$0.66	$7.99
Florida	15.1¢	$0.65	$7.94
New Mexico	14.8¢	$0.64	$7.78
Texas	14.8¢	$0.64	$7.78
Arizona	14.7¢	$0.64	$7.73
South Carolina	14.7¢	$0.64	$7.73
Kansas	14.6¢	$0.63	$7.67
Georgia	14.2¢	$0.61	$7.46
Iowa	14.1¢	$0.61	$7.41
North Carolina	13.9¢	$0.60	$7.31
Missouri	13.6¢	$0.59	$7.15
Oregon	13.4¢	$0.58	$7.04
Tennessee	13.3¢	$0.57	$6.99
Kentucky	13.2¢	$0.57	$6.94
Mississippi	13.1¢	$0.57	$6.89
Oklahoma	13.1¢	$0.57	$6.89
South Dakota	12.7¢	$0.55	$6.68
Montana	12.4¢	$0.54	$6.52
Nebraska	12.2¢	$0.53	$6.41
Arkansas	12.1¢	$0.52	$6.36
Washington	12.1¢	$0.52	$6.36
Louisiana	11.9¢	$0.51	$6.25
Wyoming	11.6¢	$0.50	$6.10
North Dakota	11.5¢	$0.50	$6.04
Utah	11.4¢	$0.49	$5.99
Idaho	11.3¢	$0.49	$5.94

Efficient vs. inefficient

A $19.51/year difference across the wattage range.

Swapping a high-draw model for an efficient one pays for itself. Here's what that looks like annually at typical usage.

Most efficient

80W

$0.48 per month

$5.78 per year

Typical

120W

$0.71 per month

$8.67 per year

High draw

350W

$2.08 per month

$25.29 per year

When it hits hardest

year-round peak

Heavier winter/indoor project time.

Ways to cut the cost

1
Enable automatic shutdown after print completes
Avoids hours of post-print idle watts
2
Use enclosure to retain bed and chamber heat
Cuts heater runtime 30-40%
3
Lower bed temp for PLA (60°C instead of 75°C)
Cuts bed watts 20-30%

Real-world wattages

Pulled from actual spec sheets.

Brand	Model	Watts
Bambu Lab	P1P	130W
Prusa	MK4	120W
Creality	Ender 3 S1	270W

Picks that actually move the needle

Three products worth comparing if you're thinking about upgrading or supplementing what you have.

Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy, we may earn a small commission — it never changes the price you pay, and we only recommend picks we would stand behind.

Kill A Watt P3 P4460 Meter

Essential for 3D printer project costs

$28-35

3D Printer Enclosure (heat retention)

Retains bed heat — cuts heater runtime 30-40%

$60-90

Silicone Heated Bed Mat

Thermal mass smooths bed heat cycling

$25-40