What does 3D printing cost in 2026? SLS, MJF, SLA and FDM prices
Industrial 3D printing has no setup cost, which keeps small batches affordable. Here are realistic unit prices per technology, from 1 piece to 5,000+.
- Industrial 3D printing in the Benelux typically costs €12–€60 per part for parts up to 150 mm in PA12 or resin. Because there is no setup cost, volume discounts are smaller than in CNC, and CNC machining usually becomes the cheaper option from roughly 20 metal parts onwards.
Frequently asked questions
- Which 3D printing technology should I choose?
- SLS and MJF in PA12 for functional, load-bearing parts: strong, no support marks, isotropic enough for end use. SLA for visual models and fine detail, with the best surface finish. FDM for large, cheap, non-critical parts. We advise automatically when you upload your file.
- What tolerances can 3D printing hold?
- SLS and MJF hold ±0.3 mm or ±0.3% of the largest dimension, with ±0.2 mm on small features. SLA is tighter: ±0.15 mm or ±0.15%, and ±0.05 mm on small features. If you need tighter, we machine the critical faces afterwards or move the part to CNC.
- What is the minimum wall thickness?
- SLS 0.7 mm, MJF 1.0 mm, SLA 0.5 mm, FDM 1.0 mm. Those are the values we guarantee; thinner is often possible after engineering review, because the risk of warping and breakage during depowdering rises.
- When should I switch from 3D printing to injection moulding?
- Somewhere between 500 and 2,000 pieces a year. A mould costs €3,000–€15,000, but the unit price then drops to a few euros. Ask us for a break-even calculation with your annual volume and we will price both scenarios side by side.
- Can printed parts be dyed or finished?
- Yes. PA12 ships grey or black by default; dyeing, media tumbling and vapour smoothing are available. For SLA we offer sanding, priming and RAL-colour spraying. Finishing is priced per part and listed separately on the quote.