What goes into the cost of a resin print
Resin printing has different hidden costs than FDM. Electricity is small, but resin is lost on supports, the build plate and in the wash, and the LCD screen and FEP/release film are wear parts. Post-processing also takes more hands-on time.
- Resin = slicer volume × (1 + waste %) × price per liter ÷ 1000.
- Screen + FEP wear = replacement cost spread over their expected life, charged per print hour.
- Consumables: isopropyl alcohol (or other wash liquid), nitrile gloves and paper towels.
- Failure allowance: material and machine costs are divided by (1 − failure rate) so successful prints cover the failed ones.
Estimating wear cost per hour
Take the price of a replacement LCD screen and divide it by its expected life in print hours (monochrome screens are commonly rated in the low thousands of hours). Do the same for the FEP or release film, which is usually replaced far more often, and add the two together.
Reducing resin print cost
- Hollow larger models and add drain holes. It can cut resin use dramatically.
- Fill the build plate. Layer time is the same whether you print one part or ten, so print time per part drops.
- Filter and reuse wash IPA instead of replacing it every time.
Frequently asked questions
How much does resin printing cost per ml?
At 35 per liter, resin costs 0.035 per ml before waste. With 10% waste the effective cost is about 0.0385 per ml. Use the calculator above for your own resin price.
Is resin printing more expensive than FDM?
Usually yes, per gram of material. Resin costs more than PLA, and you also pay for wash liquid, gloves and wear parts. For small, highly detailed parts the difference is often worth it.
How do I find out how much resin a print uses?
Your slicer (Chitubox, Lychee, Voxeldance and others) shows the volume in ml after you add supports and slice.