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Understanding Your Calculation Results

Learn how to read and interpret your cost breakdown

Overview

After clicking "Calculate", you'll see a detailed breakdown showing exactly how your price is calculated. Understanding each component helps you make informed pricing decisions.

Complete Cost Breakdown

The 8 Cost Components

Your calculation shows 8 separate cost components that add up to your final price:

1. Material Cost

Base + Markup

Cost of filament used (weight × cost per kg) multiplied by your filament markup (default 2.7x).

Example: 100g @ $20/kg = $2.00 × 2.7 = $5.40

2. Electricity Cost

Usage Only

Power consumption based on printer wattage, print time, and your electricity rate per kWh.

Formula: (Watts ÷ 1000) × Hours × Rate = Cost

3. Depreciation Cost

If Enabled

Printer wear and tear cost. Shows $0.00 if depreciation toggle is disabled.

Formula: (Purchase Price ÷ Lifespan Hours) × Print Hours = Cost

4. Job Removal Labor

Post-Processing

Time to remove print from build plate × post-processing hourly rate.

Example: 0.1 hours × $20/hour = $2.00

5. Support Removal Labor

Post-Processing

Time to remove support structures × post-processing hourly rate.

Example: 0.5 hours × $20/hour = $10.00

6. Additional Work Labor

Post-Processing

Time for finishing work (sanding, painting, assembly) × post-processing hourly rate.

Example: 1.0 hours × $20/hour = $20.00

7. Preparation Labor

Pre-Print Work

Total preparation time (model prep + slicing + material change + transfer) × preparation hourly rate.

Example: 0.6 hours × $20/hour = $12.00

8. Markup Amount

Profit & Overhead

General markup percentage applied to sum of costs 1-7. This is your profit and overhead buffer.

Example: $49.40 × 50% = $24.70

Total Calculations

Subtotal

Sum of all 8 cost components before the failure rate adjustment.

Material + Electricity + Depreciation + Job Removal + Support Removal + Additional Work + Preparation + Markup
= Subtotal

Failure Adjustment

The additional amount added to protect against failed prints. The failure rate increases your price to cover the cost of reprints.

Subtotal with Markup ÷ (1 - Failure Rate %) = Final Price
Example: $74.10 ÷ (1 - 0.10) = $74.10 ÷ 0.90 = $82.33
Failure Adjustment = $82.33 - $74.10 = $8.23

Final Price (Recommended)

This is your complete, profitable price that covers all costs, provides margin, and accounts for failures.

Formula:
Subtotal with Markup ÷ (1 - Failure Rate %)
Example: $74.10 ÷ 0.90 = $82.33

Using Your Results

Quote This Price

The final price is your recommended selling price. You can round it to a cleaner number if desired (e.g., $81.51 → $82.00 or $80.00).

Show Breakdown to Clients

Some clients appreciate seeing the breakdown. It justifies your price and demonstrates professionalism. You can share the cost components to show you're being fair.

Adjust as Needed

The calculator gives you a baseline. Feel free to adjust up for rush jobs, complex requests, or premium clients. Adjust down for bulk orders or repeat customers.

Track Your Results

The calculator tracks your statistics: calculations today, total calculated costs, and total count. Use these metrics to understand your pricing patterns.

Complete Example

Sample Calculation Breakdown

Material Cost:$5.40
Electricity Cost:$0.60
Depreciation Cost:$0.75
Job Removal Labor:$2.00
Support Removal Labor:$10.00
Additional Work Labor:$20.00
Preparation Labor:$12.00
Markup Amount (50%):$25.38
Subtotal:$76.13
Failure Calculation (10%):
$76.13 ÷ (1 - 0.10) = $76.13 ÷ 0.90
Final Price:$84.59
Failure Adjustment Amount:$84.59 - $76.13 = $8.46
Interpretation: This print requires $84.59 to cover all materials, labor, electricity, printer wear, provide a 50% profit margin, and protect against a 10% failure rate. The failure adjustment adds $8.46 to ensure you can afford reprints when prints fail.

Currency Display

All calculations are automatically displayed in your preferred currency set in the dashboard header. The calculator handles conversion automatically if needed.

Multi-Currency: You can have printers priced in USD and filaments in EUR - the calculator converts everything to your display currency automatically.

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