How it works
unit cost = cost per print + design fee ÷ quantity + shipping. Price = unit cost ÷ (1 − marketplace fee% − target margin%). Profit = price − fee − unit cost.
Pricing to a target margin is not the same as adding a markup, and the difference is where makers lose money. First build the unit cost: your cost to print one, plus the design or setup fee divided by how many you will sell (a $15 design over 10 pieces is $1.50 each), plus any shipping you absorb. Then set the price so that after the marketplace takes its cut you still keep your margin. Because both the fee and your margin are percentages of the final price, you cannot just add them to the cost — you divide the cost by (1 − fee% − margin%). On a $7.50 unit cost with a 6.5% Etsy fee and a 40% target margin, that is $7.50 ÷ 0.535 ≈ $14.02, which leaves about $5.61 profit and lands the full 40% margin, not the 34% you would get by naively adding 40%. The verdict flags a margin under 15% as thin, because a single re-print or refund can wipe out a razor-thin markup on a handmade item. Marketplace fees change, so treat the presets as a starting point and confirm the current rate before you list.
Sources
- Margin-divisor pricing (margin vs markup) Standard cost accounting: to price to a target margin, price = cost ÷ (1 − margin). Margin is profit as a share of price; markup is profit as a share of cost, so the two differ.
- Marketplace fee (default preset) Etsy Fees & Payments Policy: a 6.5% transaction fee on the item price plus shipping, a $0.20 listing fee, and (in the US) 3% + $0.25 payment processing. Rates change — verify before listing.
- Per-unit cost basis Thomas, D. S. & Gilbert, S. W. (2014). Costs and Cost Effectiveness of Additive Manufacturing. NIST Special Publication 1176 — additive-manufacturing unit cost combines machine, material and labor, the basis this tool prices from.
FAQ
How much should I charge for a 3D print?
Enough to cover your true cost and leave the margin you want after selling fees. Start from your all-in cost per print — filament, electricity, machine wear, failed prints and your time — then add a share of any design work and shipping, and price so the marketplace fee and your target profit both come out of the final number. This calculator does that division for you and shows the profit and margin you actually keep, so you are not guessing.
What is the difference between markup and margin?
Markup is profit measured against your cost; margin is profit measured against the price the customer pays. If something costs you $10 and you add a 50% markup, you charge $15 and keep $5 — but $5 of $15 is a 33% margin, not 50%. This tool prices to a margin, which is the number that matters for your take-home, and it does it after the marketplace fee so the margin you set is the margin you get.
How do I account for Etsy or eBay fees?
Enter the marketplace fee as a percentage. Etsy currently charges a 6.5% transaction fee on the item and shipping price, plus a small listing fee and payment processing; eBay is typically around 13% depending on category. Because the fee is a slice of the sell price, the calculator bakes it into the price division so it does not quietly eat your margin. Fees change, so check the marketplace’s current published rate rather than relying on the preset.
Should I include a design fee?
If you spent time modelling or preparing the design, yes — but spread it over the number of copies you expect to sell so a single buyer is not paying for all of it. A $30 design across 20 sales is only $1.50 per unit. For a true one-off commission, set the quantity to 1 so the whole design fee lands on that single piece. Leaving design time out entirely means you are working for free on the part of the job that took the most skill.
Why is my margin thin even at a high price?
Usually because the unit cost is higher than it feels. Long print times, an expensive machine, a high failure rate, absorbed shipping and marketplace fees all stack up. If the calculator flags a thin margin, look at each input: a lower failure rate, a faster or lighter print, buyer-paid shipping, or selling on your own site to avoid fees all widen the margin. Raising the price is the blunt lever; cutting cost is usually the better one.
Estimates only, not financial advice or a guaranteed price. Marketplace fees, shipping and demand vary — confirm current fees and test your price in your own market. Pricing that works for one shop may not work for another.