3D Printer Filament Calculator
Calculate filament length, weight, and cost for your 3D printing projects.
Health Disclaimer: Some 3D printer filaments may release potentially harmful particles and VOCs when heated. Always ensure proper ventilation and follow manufacturer guidelines when printing. Consider using an enclosure and air filtration system for safer printing.
Filament Calculation Results
Total Filament Length: meters
Weight per Meter: g/m
Cost per Meter: $/m
Cost per Gram: $/g
About Our 3D Printer Filament Calculator
Our 3D Printer Filament Calculator helps you estimate filament usage, cost, and length for your 3D printing projects. Whether you're planning a large project or managing your filament inventory, this tool provides accurate calculations based on material properties.
How It Works
The calculator uses the filament's diameter and material density to determine length, weight relationships, and costs. By knowing these values, you can better estimate print costs and material requirements for your 3D printing projects.
The basic formulas used:
- Cross-sectional area (mm²) = π × (diameter/2)²
- Volume per meter (cm³) = cross-sectional area × 100
- Weight per meter (g) = volume per meter × density
- Total length (m) = weight (g) ÷ weight per meter (g/m)
- Cost per meter ($/m) = total cost ($) ÷ total length (m)
- Cost per gram ($/g) = total cost ($) ÷ total weight (g)
Key Features:
- Calculate total filament length from spool weight
- Determine cost per meter and cost per gram
- Support for common filament types (PLA, ABS, PETG, TPU)
- Option to enter custom material density
- Works with standard filament diameters (1.75mm, 2.85mm, 3.00mm)
Practical Applications:
Project Planning: Estimate if you have enough filament for your next print.
Cost Estimation: Calculate the exact material cost for client projects.
Inventory Management: Track remaining filament on partially used spools.
Value Comparison: Compare cost-effectiveness between different filament brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is the filament calculator?
The calculator provides highly accurate estimations based on the physical properties of the filament. However, actual results may vary slightly due to manufacturing tolerances in filament diameter and density. For most practical purposes, these calculations will be within 2-5% of actual values.
Why does filament density matter?
Different materials have different densities, which affects how much a meter of filament weighs. PLA is denser than ABS, so a meter of PLA weighs more than a meter of ABS with the same diameter. This impacts both length calculations and cost estimations.
How do I measure remaining filament on a partially used spool?
Weigh the spool with the remaining filament, then subtract the weight of the empty spool (if known). Enter this weight as the spool weight in the calculator to determine the remaining length. If you don't know the empty spool weight, estimate it as 200-250g for most standard spools.