SpoolBasisBuild a price you can repeat
A print takes printer time even when you’re away from the bench. Estimate that time in the production cost, then price the order separately so one buyer’s shipping and fees don’t get confused with the cost of every part.
1. Cost a successful batch
Slice the design in the material and orientation you will sell. Include supports and purge, then calculate the attempt cost for one plate. Add a reserve for full reprints and the hands-on work that happens after a successful print. Use the print cost calculator to divide the total by the number of good parts.
Track prep and cleanup with a timer over a few real jobs. Keep custom design or CAD work separate if it happens once for the order. For a repeatable item, record the amount of finishing the average unit needs.
2. Separate item costs from order costs
A set of three parts uses three times the production cost per part, but often needs only one box and one shipping label. Add the actual packing materials, postage, and fees. If the buyer pays for shipping, include that payment in order revenue as well.
3. Price after percentage fees
For three parts at $2.84 each, $1.10 in packing, $5 in postage, and $0.30 in fixed fees, your fixed spend is $14.92. A 10% fee and 30% target margin leave 60% of order revenue to cover that spend. Divide $14.92 by 0.60 for about $24.87 in required revenue. With $5 of that charged as shipping, the minimum item price is $6.63 each, rounded up to the next cent.
Required order revenue = fixed spend ÷ (1 − fee rate − target margin)
4. Compare estimates to actual sales
After a few orders, compare your time log, rejected parts, and payout statement against your estimate. Adjust the assumptions for the orders you actually ship, including different package sizes or reprint rates for different products. Check the license for any model you plan to sell, including any commercial-use terms.