How the cost of a resin print is calculated
The density step matters. A 1 kg bottle of resin holds roughly 870–950 ml, not 1000 ml, because most resins are denser than water. Treating 1 kg as 1 litre under-counts resin cost by around 10%.
Worked example
A miniature batch uses 60 ml of standard resin at 1.10 g/ml from a 30 per 1 kg bottle, prints for 4 hours at 50 W with electricity at 0.40 per kWh, and uses about 0.30 of IPA and gloves.
- Resin: 60 ml × 1.10 × (30 ÷ 1000 g)
- 1.98
- Electricity: 0.05 kW × 4 h × 0.40
- 0.08
- IPA and consumables
- 0.30
- Screen and FEP wear: 4 h × (60 ÷ 2000 h)
- 0.12
- Failure allowance: 10% of 2.48
- 0.25
- Total cost per print
- 2.73
Resin is about 70% of the total. Printing several parts on one plate shares the consumables and wear, so batch printing lowers the cost per part.
Costs people forget with resin
- Cleaning: isopropyl alcohol (or a resin cleaner), nitrile gloves and paper towels are used on every print.
- Screen and FEP film: both wear with use. Spreading their replacement cost over their working hours gives each print a fair share.
- Supports and rafts: they count towards the volume. Hollowing models and adding drain holes saves the most resin.
- Waste: resin left in the vat that expires or gets contaminated. Raise the failure allowance if you print rarely.
Frequently asked questions
How many ml are in 1 kg of resin?
About 870–950 ml for most standard resins, depending on density. Divide 1000 g by the density in g/ml: at 1.10 g/ml, 1 kg is about 909 ml.
Is resin printing more expensive than FDM?
Usually per gram, yes. Resin costs more per kilogram than PLA, and cleaning consumables add to every print. For small, detailed parts the difference is often small, because the volume used is low.
How much does it cost to print a miniature in resin?
A single 28–32 mm miniature with supports often uses 5–15 ml of resin. At typical resin prices that is a fraction of the cost of a bought miniature, especially when you print a full plate at once.
Does hollowing reduce cost?
Yes. Hollowing a large model with 2–3 mm walls and drain holes can cut resin use by more than half. Enter the new volume your slicer reports to see the saving.
Last reviewed October 2026. See how we calculate.