Pricing guide · 3D printing

How to quote 3D printing jobs

A 3D printing quote adds up material, machine time, setup and finishing, then applies your margin and quantity breaks. The inputs below are the ones that move the price most. SeekMake applies them automatically to every uploaded file.

3D printing prices depend heavily on technology. For FDM and SLA, material volume, supports and build time dominate; for SLS and MJF, how many parts fit in one build matters more. Post-processing such as support removal, sanding, dyeing or painting can cost more than the print itself on small parts.

Watch the demo
Free planFree setup callYour logo, your domain
yourshop.com/instant-quote
SeekMake instant quote widget: a part being analysed and priced, with material options and a cart
Key factsLast updated
Built for
FDM, SLA, SLS, MJF and metal print shops
Customers upload
STL, OBJ and 3MF
Price follows
Your rates, setup and margins
Formula
(Material + time + setup + finish) × margin
Biggest drivers
Material and machine time
Automate with
Your rates in SeekMake
The problem

Where hand quotes go wrong

Common mistakesmargin leaks

  • Setup forgotten on small batches
  • Finishing priced as an afterthought
  • Old material prices
  • No quantity breaks, so big orders are lost

A consistent methodsame rules every time

  • Setup spread over quantity
  • Finishes priced per option
  • Material prices updated in one place
  • Quantity breaks built in
Demo

See SeekMake in action

Watch a customer upload files, get prices and check out, then see the order arrive in the shop’s dashboard.

SeekMake demo video: upload files, see prices and check out
How it works

A simple quoting formula

Price = (material + machine time × rate + setup ÷ quantity + finishing) × (1 + margin). SeekMake applies this kind of rule set to every file automatically.

  • 01
    Collect the inputsMaterial, size, features and quantity from the file.
  • 02
    Apply your ratesMachine rate, setup, finishes and margin.
  • 03
    Check and sendReview unusual parts; standard parts go out instantly.
yourshop.com/cart
Cart with priced parts, checkout and sales dashboard
Fully customizable

A quote widget that looks and works like your website

Choose what customers fill in and what they can pick, then style it to match your site. Your customers never see the SeekMake name.

  • Input fields
  • Options customers can pick
  • Post-processing
  • Finishes
  • Certifications
  • Colours
  • Layout
  • Design and fonts
100% white labelYour logo, your colours and your domain on the widget, the customer portal, emails, quotes and invoices.
ColourLayoutCorners
Your shophousing_lid.stl
Analysing geometry…1/4
  • Watertight mesh
  • Wall thickness
  • Normals repaired
  • Fits build volume
Technology
SLS
Material
PA12 nylon
Colour
Black (dyed)
Post-processing
Bead blasting
Certification
Certificate of conformity
Quantity: 20
€386.00
Ships in 5 working days
Add to cart
Request manual quote
Example widget. Prices are illustrative.
Your pricing rules

Price 3D printing the way your team does

These are the inputs you control. Example values are for illustration only.

VolumePart volumeMaterial used, from the model's volume in cm³
SupportSupport materialAdded for overhangs, depending on the technology
BoxBounding boxBuild space the part takes, useful for SLS and MJF nesting
StartStart-up costA fixed charge per order or per part
BreaksVolume pricingLower prices for larger orders
FinishFinishingSanding, dyeing, painting, each with its price
Customer portal

Customers track every quote and order themselves

Each customer gets a portal on your domain with their quotes, orders, invoices and messages, so they stop emailing you for status updates.

  • 01
    Quotes saved automaticallyEvery upload becomes a quote the customer can reopen, edit and order later.
  • 02
    Order status and chatProduction status and a message thread on each order.
  • 03
    Invoices and receiptsDocuments generated from the order, in your branding.
portal.yourshop.com/quotes
Customer portal listing quotes and their status
Grow your sales

Features that help you win more orders

Instant prices bring the requests in. These features turn more of them into paid orders.

Automatic follow-ups

Customers who didn’t order get reminder emails on the schedule you choose.

See who viewed the quote

Know when a customer opens a quote, so you follow up at the right moment.

Customer portal

Customers reopen quotes, reorder and track production without emailing you.

File repair

Broken meshes are fixed automatically, so fewer quotes stall on a bad file.

Email to quote

Forward an RFQ email and a draft quote is created for you to review.

Discounts and coupons

Offers for new customers, repeat buyers or large orders.

And more: order tracking, analytics, custom emails and online payments.

Not sure it fits your shop?Book a discovery call. We look at your process, your pricing and your website together.
Comparison

Quoting by hand vs with SeekMake

ComparisonBy handSeekMake
InputsMeasured manuallyRead from the file
RatesRemembered or looked upStored once
TimeMinutes per quoteSeconds
ErrorsForgotten setup or finishSame rules every time
Customer responseHours or daysInstant
Time saved

What instant quoting saves your shop

Hours saved per month
16 h
Cost saved per month
€650

Assumes about 1 minute to review each automatic quote and 4.33 weeks per month. Change the sliders to match your shop.

Back office

Everything after the order, in the same place

Order page with production status and customer chat

Orders and customer chat

Each order carries its files, price breakdown, delivery date and a thread with the customer.

Production board with jobs grouped by status

Production board

Jobs move from quote to production to shipping, grouped by status and machine.

Printable work order instructions

Work orders

Printable instructions with part, material, quantity and inspection fields.

Analytics with revenue, orders and visitors

Reports

Revenue, orders, quote-to-order rate and visitors in one view.

CustomersDiscounts and couponsShipping rulesMachinesMaterialsCustom emailsJob queuePayments: card, PayPal, bank transfer
Integrations

Works with the tools you already use

Integrations: Google Drive, QuickBooks, Trello, Google Sheets, WordPress, Shopify
FAQ

Questions shops ask before switching

What is the biggest cost driver?

Usually material and machine time. Setup matters most on small batches.

How do I set quantity breaks?

Spread setup over the batch and lower the unit price at the quantities your customers order most.

Can I automate this?

Yes. Enter your rates in SeekMake and every uploaded file is priced with the same rules.

Should I price 3D prints by weight or by machine time?

Many services combine both: material by volume or weight plus machine time, then add setup and finishing. Using only one tends to underprice either tall parts or dense parts.

How do I price post-processing like sanding or dyeing?

Treat each finishing step as an option with its own cost, often per part or by surface area, so the customer sees it in the price before ordering.

Which files can customers upload?

STL, OBJ and 3MF files. The print is checked and measured automatically when it is uploaded.

How much does SeekMake cost?

There is a free plan to start. Paid plans add more features, lower fees on online orders and priority support.

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