How Much Does 3D Printing Cost? (2026 Price Guide & Philippines Rates)

Make It 3D Philippines

Introduction

If you have a great idea for a prototype, a replacement part, or a custom gift, the first question on your mind is almost always: "How much does 3D print cost?"

The short answer is: It depends.

Unlike buying a product off a shelf, 3D printing is a custom manufacturing process. The price isn't just about the plastic; it's about the time, the machine wear, and the human expertise required to make your digital file a physical reality.

In this guide, we'll answer the most common questions we get asked about pricing, specifically for our customers here in the Philippines.

1. How much does it cost to 3D print? (The Short Answer)

If you are looking for a quick estimate, 3D printing services typically charge based on printing time or weight (grams).

  • Small items (e.g., a keychain, small bracket): Usually ranges from ₱50 to ₱200.
  • Medium items (e.g., a phone stand, action figure): Usually ranges from ₱300 to ₱800.
  • Large/Complex items (e.g., cosplay helmets, architectural models): Can range from ₱1,500 to ₱5,000+.

Note: Most professional shops have a "minimum order fee" (often around ₱150 - ₱300) to cover the setup time, regardless of how small the part is.

2. How much is 3D printing in the Philippines?

In the Philippines, pricing varies between "Standard/FDM" printing (the melted plastic layers) and "Resin/SLA" printing (high-detail liquid curing).

Here is the average market rate you can expect:

Printing Type Service Rate (Estimate) Best For
Standard (FDM) ₱5 – ₱15 per gram Brackets, prototypes, functional parts, large items.
High Detail (Resin) ₱15 – ₱40 per gram/mL Miniatures, jewelry prototypes, highly detailed figures.
Machine Hourly Rate ₱50 – ₱100 per hour Large batches or very long prints.

These are general market estimates. Prices at Make It 3D may vary based on the specific material quality and post-processing required.

3. Is it costly to 3D print?

Many people ask, "Is it costly to 3D print?" The answer depends on what you are comparing it to.

  • Compared to Mass Production: Yes, it is expensive. If you buy a plastic cup at the supermarket, it costs ₱20 because they made 1,000,000 of them. Printing one cup might cost ₱200.
  • Compared to Traditional Manufacturing: No, it is very cheap. If you wanted to make a custom plastic prototype 10 years ago, you would have to pay for a "mold" costing ₱50,000+. With 3D printing, you can have that same prototype in your hand for just ₱500.

The Verdict: 3D printing is arguably the cheapest way to create custom, one-off items.

4. What determines the final price?

When you send us a file for a quote, we look at four main things:

  1. Material: Basic PLA plastic is affordable. Specialty materials (like Carbon Fiber, flexible TPU, or high-temp resins) cost more.
  2. Weight & Time: A solid block takes longer to print and uses more material than a hollow shell.
  3. Support Removal: If your object has overhangs (like a character with arms reaching out), the printer builds "scaffolding" to hold it up. Removing and cleaning these marks takes manual labor.
  4. Layer Height (Quality): Printing at "high quality" (thinner layers) takes 2-3x longer than "draft quality," which increases the machine time cost.

5. What is the average price of 3D printing?

While an "average" is hard to pin down for custom work, our data shows that the majority of hobbyist and replacement part orders fall into the ₱300 – ₱600 range.

This usually covers items that are roughly the size of a coffee mug or a large smartphone.

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Frequently Asked Questions

(This section helps Google find your answers directly)

Q: How much does 3D print cost?
A: Costs typically range from ₱5 to ₱15 per gram for standard plastic prints, with minimum order fees often starting at ₱150.

Q: How much does it cost to 3D print a miniature?
A: A standard tabletop miniature (28mm scale) in high-detail resin usually costs between ₱150 and ₱300 depending on complexity.

Q: Is 3D printing cheaper than buying a replacement part?
A: Often, yes. If a small gear breaks on a ₱10,000 appliance, printing a ₱200 replacement gear is much cheaper than replacing the whole machine.

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