Decide whether to buy a 3D printer or pay a service bureau for your parts.
Please do not make financial decisions based on these results.
What is the 3D Printer - Buy vs Outsource Calculator?
Decide whether to buy a 3D printer or pay a service bureau for your parts. To use the 3D Printer - Buy vs Outsource Calculator, enter printer price, material per part, power and upkeep per part, outsourced price per part, parts per year, years of use; it returns cost per part (own), cost per part (outsource), total saving over period, break-even parts, and shows them instantly as you type.
Where the 3D Printer - Buy vs Outsource Calculator fits
Decide whether to buy a 3D printer or pay a service bureau for your parts. The main figure it returns is the Cost per part (own), worked out from the values you enter.
It belongs with the other business planning tools. If you are comparing options or checking a result from another angle, try the Build vs. Buy Calculator, High-Low Method Calculator or the Burn Rate Calculator.
How to use the 3D Printer - Buy vs Outsource Calculator
- Enter your numbers. Start with Printer price ($), Material per part ($), Power and upkeep per part ($), then fill in Outsourced price per part ($), Parts per year, Years of use. Use figures from the same period (same month, quarter or year) for every field. Fields marked optional can stay at zero.
- Read the result. The highlighted box gives the Cost per part (own), and the cards below show Cost per part (outsource), Total saving over period, Break-even parts. Tables and charts break it down further.
- Test other scenarios. Results update as you type. Change one value at a time to see what drives the answer, and press Reset to go back to the defaults.
Formula and how it works
Example with real numbers
Here is the 3D Printer - Buy vs Outsource Calculator using the default values shown in the calculator above:
Inputs
| Printer price ($) | 2,500 |
|---|---|
| Material per part ($) | 3.5 |
| Power and upkeep per part ($) | 1.2 |
| Outsourced price per part ($) | 18 |
| Parts per year | 400 |
| Years of use | 3 |
Results
| Cost per part (own) | $6.78 |
|---|---|
| Cost per part (outsource) | $18.00 |
| Total saving over period | $13,460.00 |
| Break-even parts | 188 |
With these inputs the calculator returns Cost per part (own): $6.78. Change any value in the calculator to see how the result moves.
What if you change one input?
Sensitivity check: raising Printer price ($) from 2,500 to 3,000 (about 20% higher) and leaving everything else as in the example above changes the results like this:
| Result | Example | After the change | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost per part (own) | $6.78 | $7.20 | +6.1% |
| Cost per part (outsource) | $18.00 | $18.00 | 0% |
| Total saving over period | $13,460.00 | $12,960.00 | -3.7% |
| Break-even parts | 188 | 226 | +20% |
The input that moves the result most is the one to check twice. Change it in the calculator above to test your own case.
What the results tell you
The results panel of the 3D Printer - Buy vs Outsource Calculator reports Cost per part (own), cost per part (outsource), total saving over period and break-even parts. Compare these figures while changing one input at a time, and use the related calculators below to look at the same situation from another angle.
Method and limits. This calculator applies the formula in the section above to your inputs, in your browser; nothing you enter is stored on our servers. The result is only as accurate as the numbers you enter and the formula shown above. It is for information, not financial, tax or legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
How many parts justify buying a printer?
Divide the printer price by the saving per part; once you pass that part count, owning costs less.
Are the results forecasts?
No. They apply the formula shown to the numbers you enter, so the output is only as realistic as your assumptions.
What is the most important number for a new business?
Cash runway. A profitable plan still fails if cash runs out first, so check burn rate and break-even together.
Are the results guaranteed?
No. Results depend entirely on the numbers you enter and the formulas shown on this page. Please do not make financial decisions based on them alone; confirm important figures with a licensed professional.
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