If the first quote you get back surprises you, this article explains why it came in where it did and how to reduce cost for round two.
The five levers that move your quote
1. Part volume (not bounding box) Pricing is driven by the actual cubic volume of material your part uses, not its bounding box. A hollow shell prints for a fraction of a solid block of the same outer dimensions. Hollowing and infill are your biggest cost levers on FDM.
2. Material choice PLA is the cheapest entry point. PETG, ABS, and standard resin sit in the middle. Engineering materials — nylon, polycarbonate, carbon-fiber-filled, dental or high-temp resins — cost 3–10× more per gram. Pick the cheapest material that meets your real functional requirements.
3. Technology FDM is the cheapest per cubic cm and best for functional prototypes and large parts. SLA (resin) costs more but gives a smooth surface finish and fine detail. Match the tech to the use case.
FDM and resin (SLA) are the two technologies our makers run. Powder and metal processes — SLS, MJF, DMLS — are described in our technology guides as general industry reference, and pricing rules of thumb for them still apply if you are shopping elsewhere, but we do not currently fulfil them.
4. Post-processing Raw prints are cheap. Sanding, priming, painting, vapor smoothing, dyeing, threaded insert installation — each adds labor minutes that show up on your invoice. Only ask for finishes that the part actually needs.
5. Turnaround Standard lead time (4–7 days) is included. Rush orders (24–48 hours) typically add 30–80% because the maker has to shuffle their queue.
How to get a cheaper quote without lowering quality
- Upload the same file and ask for quotes in both FDM and resin. You will see the delta instantly.
- Reduce infill on FDM parts to 15–25% unless you need structural strength.
- Print more units in one batch — the fixed setup cost gets amortized.
- Split large parts into smaller pieces that fit in smaller machines, then glue or thread-fit them back together.
- Accept standard colors (natural, black, white) — custom colors add material changeover time.
What doesn't save money
- Asking for "no supports" on SLA — the slicer will add them automatically. Design overhangs below 45° whenever you can.
- Asking for a "rough finish" to save labour — a raw print off the plate is already the cheapest finish there is.