FDM vs resin print cost

Why two quotes?

FDM hollows the part with infill; resin (SLA/MSLA) prints solid volume. The same STL often uses 2–4× the grams in resin. Wash, cure, and consumables do not exist in FDM.

FDM side

Drivers: nozzle size (time), bed heat (power), supports (grams + labor), first-layer scrap. Two quote lines — standard vs fast — set expectations.

Resin side

Supports are usually thrown away — put them in the waste percent. Standard vs engineering resin can double litre price. Choosing SLA loads resin types and a higher default waste.

What to recommend

Miniatures, jewelry, fine text: resin. Brackets, boxes, large parts: FDM. Showing both with grams and time protects your margin.

Hidden consumables and a decision example

FDM support uses filament but rarely becomes saleable product. Removing support interfaces, brims, and sanding are labor. A large functional enclosure can favor FDM with low infill and thick walls, but orientation controls the weak axis, so the cheapest orientation is not always acceptable.

Resin cost also includes resin trapped on supports, unusable vat residue, IPA or wash fluid, gloves, filters, and curing. Layer exposure depends mainly on height; placing several small parts on one plate can reduce time cost per unit.

Start with use: visual detail, mechanical load, temperature, dimensions, and quantity. Fine small batches lean resin; brackets and enclosures lean FDM. Where both work, quote surface, tolerance, and post-processing differences together with price.