Print Time Estimator | PrintCalcLab

Estimate FDM 3D print time.

Slicers report a print time only after you slice, but sometimes you want a sanity estimate first — when quoting a job from a filament-volume figure, comparing speed profiles, or checking whether a promised duration is plausible. This estimator works from just the filament volume, filament diameter, nominal print speed, and material. It deliberately discounts the nominal speed, because real printers spend a large share of every print accelerating, decelerating, and traveling between features rather than extruding at full speed.

How It Works

The filament volume is converted to filament length by dividing by the filament's cross-sectional area, and to mass by multiplying the volume in cm³ by the material density — for instance, 10,000 mm³ of PLA at 1.24 g/cm³ weighs 12.4 g. The time estimate divides that filament length by an effective speed equal to your nominal print speed times a throughput factor of 0.6, which approximates the losses from acceleration, travel moves, and retractions in typical Marlin or Klipper profiles. Your slicer's figure remains the authoritative number, since it integrates the true acceleration curve move by move.

FAQ

Why does this estimate differ from my slicer's prediction?

The slicer simulates every individual move with your printer's actual acceleration and jerk limits, while this tool applies one flat 0.6 throughput factor to the nominal speed. Expect agreement in rough magnitude, not to the minute — use the slicer figure for final planning.

Where do I find the filament volume for a model?

Most slicers report it alongside filament length and weight in the print summary. You can also work backwards from weight: divide grams by the material density to get cm³, then multiply by 1,000 for mm³.

What does the throughput factor mean?

It is the fraction of the nominal speed your printer effectively sustains once acceleration ramps, cornering slowdowns, travel moves, and retractions are averaged in. The default of 0.6 matches community estimates for typical profiles; a tuned high-acceleration machine sustains more, a bed-slinger printing small detailed parts less.

Which materials does the mass estimate support?

Eight common FDM materials with their standard densities: PLA (1.24), PETG (1.27), TPU (1.21), PC (1.20), Nylon (1.14), ASA (1.07), and ABS and HIPS (both 1.04 g/cm³). The density affects only the mass output, not the time.