How to quote a 3D print to a customer

What a quote must include

Qty, material, color, technology (FDM/resin), estimated time, lead time, VAT in/out, revision rights. Without them, the next chat eats your margin.

Example sentence

Qty, material, estimated hours, total including waste and VAT, lead time, and that a model change renews the quote. That sentence comes from the calculator summary.

Where margin goes

Apply a percent on net cost (material + electricity + machine + labor + waste), not a guess on top of filament. The slider does exactly that.

VAT and internal jobs

If you invoice, keep VAT on. For hobby, internal R&D, or export you can turn VAT off. Waste and depreciation work the same way.

Calculate from here

Upload STL, OBJ, or 3MF on the cost calculator and copy the table into your quote. Questions: contact.

Preflight before sending a quote

Freeze scope in one sentence: file revision, quantity, outside size, material, color, infill, layer height, and delivery method. A changed model can alter grams and time, so state that file changes require repricing. Mention normal process marks such as supports, shade variation, and FDM layer lines.

State quote validity, payment milestone, and when lead time starts. Imported spools and resin can move in price, so a 7- or 14-day validity limits risk. Start production lead time after payment and file approval; keep shipping time separate.

For a batch, define a paid sample and approval point. Separate design revisions from reprinting. A final check with subtotal, waste, labor, margin, tax, and shipping as separate lines makes repeat quotes reproducible.