3D printing costs
with price examples.
Unit prices for two typical parts in FDM, SLA, SLS, MJF and metal: approx. CHF 12–77 in plastic and approx. CHF 128–258 in metal, incl. VAT. Plus what drives the price and how to lower it.
- Plastic examples: approx. CHF 12–77
- Metal examples: approx. CHF 128–258
- From 1 part, no tooling costs
- Price in seconds after upload
3D printing prices for two example parts.
A hand-sized 3D printed plastic part costs approx. CHF 12–77 per piece at Swiss3D, depending on the process; the same part in metal costs approx. CHF 128–258, incl. VAT. FDM is the lowest-cost process, followed by SLA; SLS and MJF cost more. At 10 pieces, the price per part in these examples drops by 17–50%.
The figures are guide prices from the Swiss3D online quoting tool, as of November 2026, for two typical parts: a flat mounting plate and a hollow electronics housing. The binding price is the one the online quoting tool shows after you upload your file.
Mounting plate
80 × 50 × 5 mm with 4 holes
| Process and material | 1 piece | Per piece at 10 |
|---|---|---|
| FDMPLA | approx. CHF 12 | approx. CHF 6 |
| SLAStandard Resin | approx. CHF 21 | approx. CHF 16 |
| SLSPA12 dark grey | approx. CHF 27 | approx. CHF 18 |
| MJFPA12 black | approx. CHF 35 | approx. CHF 26 |
| MetalAluminium AlSi10Mg | approx. CHF 128 | – |
| MetalStainless steel 316L | approx. CHF 174 | approx. CHF 131 |
Electronics housing
100 × 70 × 40 mm, 2 mm wall
| Process and material | 1 piece | Per piece at 10 |
|---|---|---|
| FDMPLA | approx. CHF 22 | approx. CHF 14 |
| SLAStandard Resin | approx. CHF 29 | approx. CHF 22 |
| SLSPA12 dark grey | approx. CHF 77 | approx. CHF 64 |
| MJFPA12 black | approx. CHF 58 | approx. CHF 44 |
| MetalAluminium AlSi10Mg | approx. CHF 199 | – |
| MetalStainless steel 316L | approx. CHF 258 | approx. CHF 194 |
Two things stand out. In these examples the process matters more than the shape: the mounting plate costs approx. CHF 12 in PLA and approx. CHF 174 in stainless steel. And the ranking can flip: for the flat plate SLS is cheaper than MJF, for the taller housing MJF is cheaper. So compare several processes for your part in the online quoting tool.
Unit prices in CHF, incl. VAT (8.1%), excl. shipping, rounded to whole francs; collected on 6 November 2026 in the Swiss3D online quoting tool. No guide price for aluminium at 10 pieces.
Last updated: November 2026
What determines the 3D printing price.
The online quoting tool reads these factors from your file and your selection. Knowing them lets you influence the price while you design.
All materials in the Material Finder
Volume
The more material a part contains, the more it costs. A solid block costs much more than a hollow housing with the same bounding box. FDM prints the interior with an infill pattern; in the other processes the part is fully solid.Bounding box and build height
The bounding box is the smallest box around the part and determines how much space it takes up in the build volume. The build height sets the number of layers and therefore the print time. A tall, slender part often costs more than a flat one of the same volume.Support structures
FDM, SLA and metal need supports under overhangs. They cost material, print time and manual work to remove. SLS and MJF print without supports because the powder holds the part.Material
PLA is the lowest-cost material. Engineering plastics such as PA12, high-performance plastics such as PEEK and metals cost more. Choose the material by the requirements for strength, temperature and surface.Quantity
Fixed tasks such as file checking and setup are spread across all parts. In the examples, an FDM housing costs approx. CHF 14 per part at 10 pieces instead of approx. CHF 22.Post-processing
Coatings, painting, vapor smoothing or threaded inserts raise the price. Depending on the process, you select them directly in the online quoting tool and see the price immediately.Lead time
For some materials, such as PLA and SLS PA12, express is available and shortens the lead time. You see price and delivery date before you order.
3D printing processes compared by cost.
Which process is cheapest depends on the purpose. Prices refer to the example parts above, 1 piece each.
FDM 3D printing
Lowest cost in both examples: mounting plate approx. CHF 12, housing approx. CHF 22. Right for prototypes, jigs and functional parts where visible layer lines do not matter.SLA 3D printing
Mounting plate approx. CHF 21, housing approx. CHF 29. Smooth surface and fine detail for visual models, fit tests and small, detailed parts.SLS 3D printing
Mounting plate approx. CHF 27, housing approx. CHF 77. Durable PA12 parts without support structures, including internal features. At 10 pieces the plate drops to approx. CHF 18 per part.MJF 3D printing
Mounting plate approx. CHF 35, housing approx. CHF 58. Also PA12 without supports, with a fine, even surface. Cheaper than SLS for the taller housing.Metal 3D printing
Aluminium AlSi10Mg approx. CHF 128 and approx. CHF 199, stainless steel 316L approx. CHF 174 and approx. CHF 258. Worth it when a part must be metal and has a shape that cannot be milled.CNC machining
For simple, prismatic metal parts with tight tolerances, often cheaper than metal 3D printing. We price CNC parts personally: send the STEP file and drawing, quote usually within a few hours.
How to reduce 3D printing costs.
The choice of process has the biggest effect. After that, an economical design and the order quantity count most.
Hollow instead of solid
A housing instead of a block: where the part needs no mass, define a wall thickness and leave the interior empty. In SLA, SLS and MJF, closed cavities need openings so that resin or powder can drain.Wall thickness as needed
Thick walls cost material and print time. Size the walls for the load; ribs stiffen a part at lower cost than mass.Combine parts
An assembly of several bolted parts can often be printed as one. That saves assembly, fasteners and order lines.Bundle quantities
Order several weeks of demand at once instead of piece by piece. In the examples the price per part drops by 17–50% at 10 pieces.Process by purpose
For visual models and first tests, FDM in PLA is enough. The mounting plate then costs approx. CHF 12 instead of approx. CHF 35 in MJF.Targeted finishing
Specify tight tolerances, threads and special surfaces only where the function requires them. Every extra operation takes time.
When 3D printing is not the cheapest option.
3D printing saves tooling costs and pays off for single parts, small series and complex shapes. In three cases another process costs less.
High volumes: injection moulding
Injection moulding needs a mould with a high one-off cost; after that every part is very cheap. 3D printing has no mould costs but constant unit costs. The quantity at which a mould pays off depends on the size and shape of the part. For pre-series and medium volumes, 3D printing is often the faster choice.Simple metal parts: milling
Plates, flanges and prismatic parts are usually cheaper and more precise when milled. In metal, 3D printing pays off when the shape demands it: internal channels, lattice structures, lightweight design.Large, solid parts
A lot of volume makes printing expensive and slow, especially in SLA, SLS, MJF and metal. For large components, large-format FDM printing is suitable; for solid blocks, milling or casting.
Frequently asked questions.
- A mounting plate measuring 80 × 50 × 5 mm costs approx. CHF 12–35 in plastic and approx. CHF 128–174 in metal, depending on the process; an electronics housing measuring 100 × 70 × 40 mm costs approx. CHF 22–77 and approx. CHF 199–258. All prices per piece, incl. VAT, excl. shipping, as of November 2026. The online quoting tool shows the binding price for your part after upload.
- Upload your STEP or STL file to the Swiss3D online quoting tool. It calculates the price from geometry, material and quantity and shows it within seconds. You do not need to apply a formula per gram or per print hour yourself.
- For low-cost 3D printing, choose FDM: in both examples the mounting plate costs approx. CHF 12 in PLA, the housing approx. CHF 22. For durable parts without supports, SLS or MJF are the options; which one is cheaper depends on the shape. Metal costs the most and pays off when the material is required.
- Yes. Fixed tasks such as file checking and setup are spread across more parts. In the examples, a part costs 17–50% less at 10 pieces than as a single part; the FDM mounting plate costs approx. CHF 6 instead of approx. CHF 12. At very high volumes, injection moulding can become cheaper.
- Metal powder costs more, laser melting under inert gas takes a long time, and every part is printed with supports on a build plate from which it is then cut off. In the examples, the mounting plate costs approx. CHF 128 in aluminium and approx. CHF 12 in PLA.
- For many simple PLA parts, your own FDM printer can pay off. On top of the filament, however, come purchase, maintenance, failed prints and labour. For engineering plastics, SLA, SLS, MJF and metal, 3D printing as a service is usually more economical because you do not have to buy and run the equipment.
- The price in the online quoting tool applies to your part in the selected material and quantity, with no tooling costs. Selected post-processing, express and shipping are shown before you order. All prices include VAT, as do the examples on this page.
Calculate 3D printing costs online.
Upload your STEP or STL file to the online quoting tool: price and delivery date for your part appear in seconds, for the process, material and quantity of your choice. For series, CNC and special requirements, send us an inquiry.
Sample images created with AI.