FDM vs Resin Cost Comparison Calculator
Created by: Lucas Grant
Last updated:
Compare the total cost of FDM filament printing versus SLA/MSLA resin printing for the same part, including materials, electricity, and post-processing.
FDM vs Resin Cost Comparison Calculator
3D PrintingCompare the total cost of printing the same part on FDM (filament) vs resin (SLA/MSLA) including materials, electricity, and post-processing.
What is a FDM vs Resin Cost Comparison Calculator?
An FDM vs resin cost comparison calculator shows you the total expense of printing the same part on a filament (FDM) printer and a resin (SLA/MSLA) printer side by side. This is the question that every maker with access to both technologies asks: for this specific part, which approach is actually cheaper?
The answer is not as straightforward as comparing the raw material prices. FDM filament is generally cheaper per unit volume than liquid resin, but FDM prints often use more material due to infill patterns and larger support structures. Resin printers draw less electricity, but resin printing comes with significant post-processing costs for cleaning chemicals, gloves, and curing that FDM largely avoids.
This calculator accounts for all of these factors. It calculates the FDM cost from the effective print volume (accounting for infill), material density, and electricity. The resin cost includes the full model volume (resin prints are solid by default), support resin at 20% overhead, vat loss, electricity, and optional post-processing consumables like IPA and nitrile gloves.
The result is a clear winner for your specific part, along with a breakdown showing exactly which cost components tip the balance. For large functional parts, FDM almost always wins. For small detailed parts, resin can be surprisingly competitive. The comparison gets most interesting for medium-sized parts where the technologies are close in cost and the decision comes down to print quality, speed, or material properties.
How the FDM vs Resin Cost Comparison Calculator Works
The FDM cost calculation applies the infill percentage to estimate effective volume, multiplies by the material density to get weight, and then calculates material cost from the filament price per kilogram. Electricity cost uses the FDM printer wattage and print time.
The resin cost starts with the full model volume (solid print), adds 20% for support structures and 7 mL for vat loss, and calculates material cost from the resin price per liter. Electricity uses the resin printer wattage and print time. If post-processing is included, $0.50 for IPA and $0.15 for gloves are added per print session.
FDM vs Resin cost formulas
FDM effective volume = volume × 0.3 + volume × 0.7 × (infill% / 100)
FDM material cost = (effective volume × density / 1000) × price per kg
FDM electricity = print hours × watts / 1000 × rate
FDM total = material + electricity
Resin volume = model + (model × 0.20 support) + 7 mL vat loss
Resin material cost = resin volume / 1000 × price per liter
Resin post-processing = $0.50 IPA + $0.15 gloves (optional)
Resin total = material + electricity + post-processing
Example Calculations
Example 1: Small 15 cm³ miniature
FDM (PLA, 20% infill): effective volume 6.6 cm³, weight 8.2 g, material $0.16, electricity $0.13. Total: $0.29. Resin (Standard): 15 + 3 + 7 = 25 mL, material $0.75, electricity $0.04, post-processing $0.65. Total: $1.44. FDM is cheaper, but resin quality is much higher for miniatures.
Example 2: Medium 50 cm³ enclosure
FDM (PETG, 20% infill): effective volume 22 cm³, weight 27.9 g, material $0.61, electricity $0.19. Total: $0.80. Resin (ABS-Like): 50 + 10 + 7 = 67 mL, material $2.35, electricity $0.06, post-processing $0.65. Total: $3.06. FDM wins decisively for functional enclosures.
Example 3: Large 200 cm³ bracket
FDM (ABS, 40% infill): effective volume 116 cm³, weight 120.6 g, material $2.65, electricity $0.38. Total: $3.03. Resin (Tough): 200 + 40 + 7 = 247 mL, material $12.35, electricity $0.10, post-processing $0.65. Total: $13.10. For large parts, FDM is dramatically cheaper.
Common 3D Printing Applications
- Decide between FDM and resin for a specific project by comparing actual per-part costs rather than guessing.
- Route print jobs to the more cost-effective technology in a workshop that has both FDM and resin printers.
- Justify technology purchases by understanding which types of parts are cheaper on each platform.
- Compare the cost impact of including or excluding post-processing consumables in resin print pricing.
- Plan production economics for small businesses offering 3D printing services on both FDM and resin.
Tips for Better 3D Printing Results
Remember that cost is only one factor in the FDM vs resin decision. Resin delivers far superior surface finish and detail resolution, which matters for visual models, miniatures, and dental or jewelry applications. FDM excels at structural strength, larger build volumes, and zero post-processing chemical handling.
If you include post-processing costs for resin, also consider the hidden time cost. Washing, curing, and support removal for resin can take 15-30 minutes per batch, while FDM parts often need only basic support removal. For production volumes, this time cost can be more significant than the material cost difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is resin printing cheaper than FDM?
For most parts, FDM is cheaper per unit volume because filament costs less per equivalent volume than resin, and FDM printers use less electricity. However, resin can be cheaper for very small, detailed parts where FDM would need extensive supports and post-processing. The total depends on part size, material choice, and post-processing requirements.
What are the hidden costs of resin printing?
Resin printing has significant consumable costs beyond the resin itself. Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) for washing, nitrile gloves, paper towels, FEP film replacements, and UV curing electricity all add up. These post-processing costs typically add $0.50 to $1.00 per print session.
Does resin printing use less electricity than FDM?
Yes, resin printers typically draw 60-100 watts compared to 150-250 watts for FDM printers. However, resin prints often have shorter print times for equivalent detail because they cure entire layers at once. The electricity difference is usually a small part of the total cost comparison.
When does resin printing make more economic sense than FDM?
Resin excels economically for small, highly detailed parts like miniatures, jewelry patterns, dental models, and precision prototypes. When the part requires resolution that FDM cannot achieve, resin is the only viable option. For large, functional parts, FDM is almost always cheaper.
How much does post-processing add to resin printing costs?
A typical resin post-processing session uses about $0.30-0.50 worth of IPA, $0.10-0.15 in nitrile gloves, and a small amount of electricity for UV curing. If you include FEP film wear averaged over its lifespan, total post-processing adds roughly $0.50-1.00 per print session.
Can I reduce resin printing costs?
Yes. Use water-washable resin to eliminate IPA costs, hollow out models with drain holes to reduce resin volume, orient parts to minimize supports, batch multiple models per print to amortize setup costs, and buy resin in bulk when it goes on sale. These strategies can reduce per-part costs by 20-40%.
Which technology should I choose for a small business?
FDM is better for functional parts, enclosures, brackets, and anything larger than a fist. Resin is better for jewelry, miniatures, dental work, and precision prototypes. Many small businesses run both technologies and route each job to the more cost-effective option based on part size and detail requirements.
Sources and References
- All3DP, FDM vs SLA cost comparison guide and technology overview.
- Formlabs, SLA printing cost analysis and post-processing requirements.
- Prusa Research, FDM printing cost breakdown and material consumption data.
- CNC Kitchen, empirical 3D printing cost testing across FDM and resin platforms.