How much does 3D printing cost?

3D printing has become very popular in recent years. It is used by both hobbyists and professionals. But how much does it actually cost to start 3D printing? Which factors play a role in determining the final costs? In this article we dive into the world of Bambu Lab FDM printers. We discuss the purchase costs, the material costs and the operational costs. We also compare the costs per print. This information will help you make a suitable choice if you are considering buying a 3D printer.

Purchase costs: Which Bambu Lab models fit your budget?

The models in a nutshell

Bambu Lab offers a wide range of FDM printers. Each one is unique and has its own special features. For example, you will find:

• X1 Carbon : The flagship model, aimed at users looking for maximum possibilities and an extensive set of features. The basic version costs around € 1,300. With an option for automatic material feed ( AMS ) for around € 1,550 .
• P1s : This model offers excellent value for money. Initially around €750 , but has since dropped to around €890 . The P1S offers high print speeds and good quality results without too many extras.
• A1 : The entry-level model for beginners. This printer is the most affordable, with a base price of around €380 . There is also a bundle with AMS Lite available (A1 Combo) for around €560 .
• A1 mini : The cheapest model. This printer is perfect for small modelers and the beginning hobbyist. With a base price of around €230 and a bundle price (A1 mini combo) of around €390.

What do you get for your money?

Each model has its own unique features. The X1 Carbon is equipped with a sealed cabinet, active filtering and advanced sensors and an AI camera. This makes it ideal for printing difficult materials such as ABS or nylon. The P1S is an open CoreXY printer that is best known for its high print speed. It also offers solid performance, but with fewer “luxury” features. The A1 series is perfect for those just starting out. It is a simple, yet effective solution. With automatic calibration and enough features to get started right away. Although the X1 Carbon has a higher purchase price, the time savings and increased reliability compensate. Therefore, it is often worth the extra investment for the demanding user.

Material Cost: Official vs. Generic Filaments

Official Bambu Lab Filaments

Bambu Lab offers a range of filaments that are specifically made for their printers. They have different materials such as PLA, PETG or TPU. An important advantage of these filaments is the integrated RFID chip on the spool. This allows your printer to automatically load the correct print profiles via the Automatic Material System (AMS). This simplifies the setup and optimizes the print results.

NB:

• RFID functionality: The RFID chip only works in combination with Bambu Lab's AMS systems. If you do not have an AMS, you will not benefit from this automatic recognition. Without an AMS, there is actually no advantage to these filaments.
• Pricing: Examples of prices include Bambu PLA Basic. This material is around €29 per kilogram. Other materials such as PETG and ABS are also in a similar price point. Special filaments/colours are always more expensive.

Polymaker Filaments

Polymaker has a wide range of filament tents. In addition, Polymaker is one of the brands that offer good quality.

• Price-quality: For standard materials such as PLA and PETG, Polymaker has several options. These differ in price from the budget-friendly variant for €19.99 to a high quality of €29 to €44 per kilo. PolyTerra is the budget-friendly variant with only PLA and many different color options. PolyLite and PolyMax are made for more specific purposes and are therefore also more expensive.
• User experience: Polymaker filaments are known for their quality. which ensures consistent prints and less chance of clogging. The range is also wider with special colors and finishes. The Polymaker filaments do not have an RFID chip, but they are still easy to use. Polymaker has all their print profiles as standard in the bambu lab printers. In addition, they are an excellent choice due to their quality and reliability. The filaments can be used with or without AMS.

Generic Filaments and the Advice against AliExpress

Many users consider filaments from brands like eSun or Sunlu to save costs. These alternatives are often sold for prices between €10 and €20 per kilogram. Which might make it interesting as a replacement for the Polymaker or bambu lab filament. However:

• Quality: Cheap filament has impurities in the material or a different diameter. Therefore, we advise against ordering filaments from Aliexpress or other cheap suppliers. The different quality can lead to blockages, printing problems and even fire hazard. Ultimately, this will lead to more maintenance and extra costs.
• Reliability: Well-known brands such as Bambu Lab and Polymaker invest in quality control. Due to the higher purchase price, you will have less costs for maintenance or failed prints later. This makes it the right option for the long term.

Summary Material Costs

In short, although the official Bambu Lab filaments offer advantages in terms of ease of use. PolyMaker offers an attractive alternative. With a very good quality and extensive range, this is the best choice. It is strongly recommended to avoid cheap filament from AliExpress or other unknown suppliers. For savings in the long term. After all, the material costs per print scale directly with the weight of the filament used. In the event of a failed print, it is wasted money and when replacing a broken nozzle, it is extra costs.

Operational Costs: Energy Consumption and Maintenance

Energy consumption during printing

An important aspect that is often overlooked is the energy consumption of your printer. Bambu Lab printers are known for their features to be relatively efficient. Despite the high temperatures and high speeds, they consume little power:

• On average, a printer like the X1 Carbon consumes about 100–130 watts during a print job.
• During peak loads, the peaks can be higher for a short time. These peaks occur during heating of the bed or nozzle.
• For example, a 10-hour print job uses approximately 1 kWh of electricity, which at a rate of €0.29 per kWh only results in approximately €0.29 in costs.

Maintenance and replacement parts

As with other machines, 3D printers have wearing parts that need to be replaced periodically:

• Nozzles: Depending on the type (stainless steel or hardened steel) nozzles can vary in lifespan from 6 to 12 months. Replacement parts usually cost a few euros each.
• Construction boards: The flexible, PEI-coated boards can become scratched after heavy use and are usually replaced after about a year – a new board costs around €30-€40 .
• Filters and other parts: For models with a closed housing, such as the X1 Carbon, the carbon filter must be replaced regularly. Also parts of the AMS, such as filament cutters and PTFE tubes, are often very affordable.

Adding up these maintenance costs, the annual cost – excluding material costs – often comes to just €20-€50 . Maintenance is relatively simple and the availability of cheap replacement parts keeps the operational investment low.

Printing Costs per Model: How to Calculate Costs per Object?

The cost per print is mainly determined by the material consumption. Because filament usually costs between €20 and €30 per kilogram (depending on whether you choose official or generic filaments), you can quickly calculate what a certain print object costs. Below is an example table:

Multicolor prints: additional material and costs

When using the AMS for multi-colour prints, there is additional consumption due to the ‘purge’ process. This additional material – often in the form of a purge tower – can increase the material costs per print. For example, a 150g model can effectively consume up to 300g of filament, which will increase the cost for that particular project accordingly. This is an important trade-off for users who want to do a lot of multi-colour prints: convenience versus cost.

View the AMS here

User Experience and Cost Benefits

Efficiency and reliability in practice

The user experience with Bambu Lab FDM printers is overwhelmingly positive. Thanks to features such as automatic calibration, filament runout sensors and even an AI camera for detecting “spaghetti” (failed prints), you not only save material, but also a lot of time. The high print speeds – sometimes up to 500 mm/s – ensure that you can produce more objects in less time. This is an important cost-saving factor for both hobbyists and professionals.

Cost-saving tips from practice

Users have developed several strategies to further reduce costs:

• Choosing Generic Filaments: Many users find that using cheaper, generic filaments significantly reduces overall material costs while typically maintaining print quality.
• Optimizing print settings: By playing with nozzle size, lowering infill and using a draft mode, you can save material and print time.
• Smart use of the AMS: By only using the AMS (Automatic Material System) for special prints or by limiting color changes, you reduce purge consumption and thus additional material costs.

For hobbyists vs. professionals

For the aspiring creator, a model like the A1 offers an affordable entry point with an easy-to-use experience. Its lower purchase price and simple maintenance make it an attractive option for occasional prints. For professionals or small businesses who print more frequently and in higher volumes, the X1 Carbon or P1P offer higher productivity. The higher initial investment is more than offset by the time savings, reliability, and low variable costs per print. This means that a professional user can produce hundreds of prints over time at a fraction of the cost of outsourced print services.

Conclusion: Is investing in a Bambu Lab printer the right choice?

When you map out all the cost items, you get a clear picture. The initial investment in a Bambu Lab printer ranges from an entry-level model of around €350-€400 to a high-end model like the X1 Carbon of €1400 . The bambu filaments are a bit more expensive but easier to use with an AMS. In addition, PolyMaker is the cheaper option that still delivers good quality.

For hobbyists, this means that despite a slightly higher investment in hardware, you benefit from fewer failed prints and faster results. Professionals and small businesses see Bambu Lab printers as an efficient way to produce prototypes and small series in-house. The combination of fast prints, low energy consumption and minimal operational costs means that every euro invested actually contributes to higher productivity and lower costs per part.

In short, if you are looking for a cost-efficient, reliable and fast 3D printing solution, Bambu Lab FDM printers are an excellent choice. The flexibility in material selection and the smart automation ensure that you not only save on printing material, but also save valuable time for your creative projects.