The archetypal prototype job is a project-box-sized enclosure or bracket around 85 cm³, printed in PETG for a balance of toughness and printability. At shop rates that's typically $15–$40 per iteration — a fraction of CNC or injection-molded tooling, which is exactly why hardware teams print three revisions in a week instead of machining one. The estimator below lets you scale the size to match your actual part.
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Price breakdown
| Material | $1.19 |
| Machine time | $3.40 |
| Labor (setup) | $5.00 |
| Markup | $2.88 |
| Estimated price | $12.46 |
What drives the cost
Iteration is the point
A prototype's cost only makes sense against alternatives: a machined one-off often runs $200+. Printing lets you afford to be wrong twice before you're right.
PETG for function
PETG costs marginally more than PLA but survives screws, snap-fits, and warm electronics — the things prototypes exist to test.
Tolerances add labor
If holes must be drilled to size or surfaces faced flat, post-processing labor lands on the quote. Design with printed tolerances (±0.2mm) to keep it cheap.
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Get an exact quote Run a shop? Start freeFrequently asked questions
Is 3D printing the cheapest way to prototype?
For one-offs and small parts, almost always. CNC starts cheaper only at high quantities or when you need metal or tight tolerances printing can't hold.
PLA or PETG for a functional prototype?
PETG if the part does mechanical work or gets warm; PLA if it's a form-and-fit check. The price difference is small — the durability difference isn't.
How fast can I get a printed prototype?
An 85 cm³ enclosure prints in 4–8 hours, so same-day or next-day turnaround is realistic when a shop has machine capacity.