{"id":23981,"date":"2023-12-29T00:14:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-29T00:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/the3dsourced.wpengine.com\/?p=23981"},"modified":"2023-12-29T19:31:30","modified_gmt":"2023-12-29T19:31:30","slug":"how-much-can-you-print-with-1kg-filament","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/guides\/how-much-can-you-print-with-1kg-filament\/","title":{"rendered":"How Long Does 1KG Filament Last? (With Calculator)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-17f5da06 no-title-margin gb-container-3ce39208\" id=\"question-box-pattern\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n<div class=\"gb-grid-wrapper gb-grid-wrapper-cb7186aa gb-grid-wrapper-13867f42\">\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-aa6aefb5 gb-grid-column-44ad68b8\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-aa6aefb5 gb-container-44ad68b8\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<figure class=\"gb-block-image gb-block-image-a1cd5870\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"256\" height=\"256\" class=\"gb-image gb-image-a1cd5870 gb-image-01dc0c8a\" src=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/circle-wavy-question-duotone.svg\" alt=\"\" title=\"circle-wavy-question-duotone\"><\/figure>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-5b8fa74e gb-grid-column-f8c4bfec\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-5b8fa74e gb-container-f8c4bfec\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<h2 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-5fa8a6ad gb-headline-text gb-headline-ec198c29\">Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Average estimate<\/strong>: if using up 7 grams per hour, 1kg lasts approx 140 hours per spool, or 4-5 weeks for average user.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Example prints<\/strong>: 1kg filament can print 63 Benchies, 4 flower pots, 16 pencil holders, 166 miniatures, or 4 Darth Vader busts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tips to conserve filament<\/strong>: Reduce infill, supports, and print size; buy quality filament; store it properly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>A factory-fresh spool of filament promises possibilities, but eyeing it up doesn&#8217;t really give you a sense of how much you can print with 1 kg of filament, or how long it will last. Should you make the most of a multi-spool deal, or settle for one 1KG roll?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As with most things in 3D printing, your mileage will vary &#8211; everyone has different printing plans and uses different settings that can affect filament use, like infill density.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>I&#8217;ve created a filament calculator in this article<\/strong>, to help you understand how many prints you can get out of a spool of PLA, and how many hours of continuous printing a kilo of filament will get you.<strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I&#8217;ve also estimated filament usage per hour, using a blended average of popular STL files in Cura, and how many of these you can print in an average 1kg spool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, whether you&#8217;re printing full-sized Master Chief helmets, flower pots, or churning out batches of miniatures for tabletop gaming, this article has you covered.<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-table-of-contents uagb-toc__align-left uagb-toc__columns-1 uagb-toc__collapse uagb-block-c04601e8\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-scroll= \"1\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-offset= \"30\"\n\t\t\t\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"uagb-toc__wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"uagb-toc__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTable Of Contents\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox= \"0 0 384 512\"><path d=\"M192 384c-8.188 0-16.38-3.125-22.62-9.375l-160-160c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.75 0-45.25s32.75-12.5 45.25 0L192 306.8l137.4-137.4c12.5-12.5 32.75-12.5 45.25 0s12.5 32.75 0 45.25l-160 160C208.4 380.9 200.2 384 192 384z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"uagb-toc__list-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<ol class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#key-takeaways\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">Key Takeaways<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#so-how-long-does-a-1kg-spool-of-filament-last\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">So, How Long Does a 1kg Spool of Filament Last?<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#how-much-can-you-print-with-1kg-filament\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">How Much Can You Print With 1kg filament?<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#factors-that-affect-how-long-filament-lasts\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">Factors That Affect How Long Filament Lasts<\/a><ul class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#1-supports\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">1. Supports<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#2-skirtsbrimsrafts\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">2. Skirts\/Brims\/Rafts<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#3-infill-settings\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">3. Infill Settings<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#4-downsize-and-print-selectively\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">4. Downsize and Print Selectively<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#5-filament-quality-and-maintenance\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">5. Filament Quality and Maintenance<\/a><\/ul><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">So, How Long Does a 1kg Spool of Filament Last?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Based on a 3D printer usage of 7 grams of material per hour, a 1 kg spool of filament will last 4.5 weeks if you 3D print for 30 hours per week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Running the 3D printer 24\/7 will use up a 1kg PLA filament spool in 143 hours, or roughly six days. For casual users who only use their 3D printer once a week for five hours, a spool will last 28.5 weeks, or a little over six months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Here&#8217;s a calculator to help you estimate exactly how long your filament will last. Input your filament spool size, how often you 3D print, and the calculator will give you an exact answer:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<!DOCTYPE html>\r\n<html lang=\"en\">\r\n<head>\r\n    <link rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\" href=\"filament_calculator_styles.css\">\r\n<\/head>\r\n<body>\r\n    <div class=\"calculator\">\r\n        <h2>Filament Usage Calculator<\/h2>\r\n\r\n        <label for=\"filamentPerHour\">Average filament used per hour (grams):<\/label>\r\n        <input type=\"number\" id=\"filamentPerHour\" value=\"7\" placeholder=\"Enter filament usage per hour\">\r\n\r\n        <label for=\"hoursPerWeek\">Hours per week:<\/label>\r\n        <input type=\"number\" id=\"hoursPerWeek\" placeholder=\"Enter hours\">\r\n\r\n        <label for=\"spoolSize\">Spool size:<\/label>\r\n        <select id=\"spoolSize\">\r\n            <option value=\"1000\">1KG<\/option>\r\n            <option value=\"2000\">2KG<\/option>\r\n            <option value=\"custom\">Custom<\/option>\r\n        <\/select>\r\n        <input type=\"number\" id=\"customSpoolSize\" placeholder=\"Enter custom size in grams\" style=\"display: none;\">\r\n\r\n        <button onclick=\"calculateLifespan()\">Calculate<\/button>\r\n\r\n        <div id=\"result\">\r\n            <p>Days the spool will last: <span id=\"daysLast\">0<\/span><\/p>\r\n            <p>Weeks the spool will last: <span id=\"weeksLast\">0<\/span><\/p>\r\n            <p>Years the spool will last: <span id=\"yearsLast\">0<\/span><\/p>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n\r\n        <script src=\"filament_calculator_script.js\"><\/script>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/body>\r\n<\/html>\r\n\n\n\n\n<p>However, filament usage depends on how much you 3D print, the size of your prints, and your slicer settings like infill density, wall thickness, and print speed. Larger prints like tabletop terrain, cosplay parts, helmets, and large vases also use filament much faster than smaller parts like miniatures and small household items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To reach our estimate of 7 grams of filament per hour, we took several common 3D print STL files and found their print times and filament use per hour in Cura. We then averaged these results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are the three sample models we used:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Model<\/th><th>Filament volume used (grams)<\/th><th>Print time (hours)<\/th><th>Filament volume used per hour (g\/hr)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thingiverse.com\/thing:763622\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"16693\">3D Benchy<\/a><\/td><td>16<\/td><td>3 <\/td><td>5.33<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.printables.com\/model\/116323-happy-pot\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"16694\">Happy Pot<\/a><\/td><td>221<\/td><td>24<\/td><td>9<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/cults3d.com\/en\/3d-model\/home\/square-pencil-cup-tall\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"16695\">Square Pencil Cup<\/a><\/td><td>63<\/td><td>9<\/td><td>7<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Comparison of filament used per model mentioned<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This gives us a solid starting point to estimate how much filament is used in 3D printing, and how long a 1 kg roll of filament will last the average user.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From there, we can calculate how long it will take to use up a 1 kg spool of filament:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><thead><tr><th>Printing time<\/th><th>Filament used up on average<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>1 hour<\/td><td>7 grams<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>10 hours<\/td><td>70 grams<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>24 hours<\/td><td>168 grams<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>100 hours<\/td><td>700 grams<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1 week<\/td><td>1,176 grams<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Average grams of filament used at specified hours of printing time<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>To summarize,<\/strong> a 1 kg spool of filament can last anywhere from a week to six months, depending on how often you use your 3D printer.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Much Can You Print With 1kg filament?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With 1kg of filament, you expect to print roughly 63 3DBenchy test prints of approximately 16g of filament each. Other example models you could print with 1kg filament are 4 large flower pots, 16 pencil holders, around 166 miniatures, or 4 large Darth Vader busts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, this doesn&#8217;t factor in any failed prints, so you should be conservative with these estimates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Breaking this down, we can see how this works based on the gram per model consumption established above:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><thead><tr><th>Model<\/th><th>Grams per Model<\/th><th>Models per 1 kg Filament<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>3DBenchy<\/td><td>16 grams<\/td><td>63 models<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Large Flower Pot<\/td><td>221 grams<\/td><td>4 models<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Pencil Holder<\/td><td>63 grams<\/td><td>16 models<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Miniatures<\/td><td>6 grams<\/td><td>166 models<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.printables.com\/model\/36697-darth-vader-bust-stl\/files\" data-lasso-id=\"97090\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Darth Vader Bust<\/a><\/td><td>236 grams<\/td><td>4 models<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Darth-Vader-bust-STL-from-Printables.jpg\" alt=\"Darth Vader bust - STL from Printables\" class=\"wp-image-23985\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Darth-Vader-bust-STL-from-Printables.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Darth-Vader-bust-STL-from-Printables-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Darth-Vader-bust-STL-from-Printables-768x384.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Darth Vader Bust by Eastman. STL linked above.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Should you want an estimate more suited to your particular model, settings, and printer, we recommend loading it up in your slicer and slicing the model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This will give you not just a print time estimate, but also how much filament in grams is required for the print. Though numbers can sometimes be a bit off, they offer a solid estimate to guide you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Factors That Affect How Long Filament Lasts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"#Supports\">Supports<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"#SkirtsBrims-Rafts\">Skirts\/Brims\/Rafts<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"#Infill%20Settings\">Infill Settings<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"#Downsize-PrintSelectively\">Downsize and Print Selectively<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"#FilamentQuality-Maintenance\">Filament Quality and Maintenance<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Supports\">1. Supports<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Support structures are a vital part of 3D printing, especially when printing ambitious projects with lots of overhangs and rich details.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/anycubic-chiron-3D-print-hulk-with-supports.jpg\" alt=\"anycubic-chiron-3D-print-hulk-with-supports\" class=\"wp-image-19283\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/anycubic-chiron-3D-print-hulk-with-supports.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/anycubic-chiron-3D-print-hulk-with-supports-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/anycubic-chiron-3D-print-hulk-with-supports-768x384.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">3D printed Hulk on supports. Source:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BreaksnMakes\/status\/1025483889295482880\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"16697\">Twitter<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>However, supports use up filament. The more supports you use, the less mileage you\u2019ll get out of a 1 kg spool of filament.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The key to mitigating wasted filament is to be economical with supports &#8211; only use them where necessary, and angle your prints correctly in your slicer to require the least supports possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Manually adding supports where needed generally uses less filament than auto-support wizards and tools found in most slicing software.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"SkirtsBrims-Rafts\">2. Skirts\/Brims\/Rafts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The same applies to <a data-lasso-id=\"16698\" href=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/rigid-ink\/3d-printing-raft-brim-skirt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">skirts, brims, and rafts<\/a>. They are vital tools for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/guides\/3d-print-first-layer-problems\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"20131\" data-lasso-id=\"97091\">preventing first-layer adhesion issues<\/a>, but, again, cost filament.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/petg-raft-and-brim-examples.jpg\" alt=\"petg raft and brim examples\" class=\"wp-image-19801\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/petg-raft-and-brim-examples.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/petg-raft-and-brim-examples-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/petg-raft-and-brim-examples-768x384.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Example of raft (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/3Dprinting\/comments\/nsyyti\/petg_10_cooling_fan_brim_no_warping\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"16699\">Reddit<\/a>) and brim first layer (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/3Dprinting\/comments\/nsyyti\/petg_10_cooling_fan_brim_no_warping\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"16700\">Reddit<\/a>) in PETG filament. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This isn\u2019t a huge amount generally, but if you\u2019re a heavy user you\u2019ll use quite a bit of filament over time, reducing how many prints you\u2019ll get per 1 kg spool of filament.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To reduce unnecessary filament waste, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/guides\/best-layer-height-in-3d-printing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"16701\">cut down on the number of layers<\/a>, the width, and infill density of brims and rafts, and reduce the number of lines that form a skirt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Infill-Settings\">3. Infill Settings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a data-lasso-id=\"16702\" href=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/rigid-ink\/3d-print-optimal-infill-settings\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Infill settings<\/a> arguably have one of the biggest impacts on filament consumption. By reducing the infill density percentage, you can significantly increase how many prints you&#8217;ll get from a spool of filament.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/3d-printed-tpu-phone-case-in-gyroid-infill.jpg\" alt=\"3d printed TPU phone case in gyroid infill\" class=\"wp-image-19831\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/3d-printed-tpu-phone-case-in-gyroid-infill.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/3d-printed-tpu-phone-case-in-gyroid-infill-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/3d-printed-tpu-phone-case-in-gyroid-infill-768x384.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">3D printed translucent TPU phone case with gyroid infill. Source:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/3Dprinting\/comments\/iqs565\/im_in_the_habit_of_printing_phone_cases_for_the\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"16703\">Reddit<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>While 20% infill is a common standard in most slicer software, for many prints you can get away with lowering this by a few percentage points, even as low as 0-5% for decorative prints that won&#8217;t be subject to wear and tear or functional applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Similarly, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/guides\/best-infill-pattern-cura\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"97092\">different infill patterns use different amounts of filament and have different advantages<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re after the most economical patterns, options like <strong>Line, Lightning, and Zig Zag<\/strong> tend to use less filament than other patterns. If you&#8217;re looking for a balance between material consumption and strength, use infill patterns like <strong>Hexagon<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/1kg-PETG-filament-10-infill-benchy.jpg\" alt=\"1kg PETG filament 10% infill benchy\" class=\"wp-image-23988\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/1kg-PETG-filament-10-infill-benchy.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/1kg-PETG-filament-10-infill-benchy-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/1kg-PETG-filament-10-infill-benchy-768x384.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A large Benchy that used up under 1kg PETG filament at 10% infill. Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/3Dprinting\/comments\/hioul1\/in_case_you_were_wondering_how_big_of_a_benchy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"16704\">Reddit<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s also worth using settings like gradient infill to instruct the printer to use a higher infill density on the outer edges of the print, while reducing it as it nears the center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Downsize-PrintSelectively\">4. Downsize and Print Selectively<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Though large prints are certainly impressive, they aren\u2019t always necessary, especially for decorative items. You can conserve filament by downsizing your prints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dropping the print size to 80%-90% won\u2019t have a major impact on the part, but saves you lots of filament over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Used-up-half-a-spool-of-filament.jpg\" alt=\"This 15-inch tall no infill model consumed a total of 500g PLA with .8mm nozzle at 0.2m layer height on a CR10 S5 printer\" class=\"wp-image-23989\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Used-up-half-a-spool-of-filament.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Used-up-half-a-spool-of-filament-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Used-up-half-a-spool-of-filament-768x384.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This 15-inch tall no infill model consumed 500g PLA with .8mm nozzle at 0.2m layer height on a CR10 S5 printer. Source: <a data-lasso-id=\"16706\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/3Dprinting\/comments\/dz4e0m\/comment\/f85hc3x\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Reddit<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In the same vein, be more selective over what you print. All makers are guilty of printing parts and models that end up sitting on a shelf or in a workshop serving no purpose whatsoever. This filament could have been put to better use.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In that spirit, it\u2019s worth really thinking about whether you need an extra flower&#8230; or if you really need a <em>fifth bust<\/em> dedicated to your favorite blockbuster franchise <em>(yes, you probably do<\/em>). Cutting back where appropriate can greatly extend the lifespan of a spool of filament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"FilamentQuality-Maintenance\">5. Filament Quality and Maintenance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Filament-quality-of-a-cheap-no-name-filament.jpg\" alt=\"Filament quality of a cheap no name filament\" class=\"wp-image-23986\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Filament-quality-of-a-cheap-no-name-filament.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Filament-quality-of-a-cheap-no-name-filament-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Filament-quality-of-a-cheap-no-name-filament-768x384.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Filament quality of a cheap no-name filament. Source: <a data-lasso-id=\"16707\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/3Dprinting\/comments\/okrmcb\/bought_1kg_of_cheap_no_name_filament_on_a_steal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Reddit<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As tempting as it is to buy the cheapest filament, it often comes with downsides, whether that\u2019s a shoddy formula, poor manufacturing, or an approximate diameter, length, or weight. Not all 1 kg spools actually weigh 1 kg when you receive them&#8230;\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In other words, get your money\u2019s worth by spending a little more on better-quality filament. This also reduces failed prints that can happen because of low-quality filament. We personally have a guide to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/3d-printer-materials\/best-pla-filament\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"97099\">best PLA filaments<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/guides\/3d-printer-filament\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"97100\">best filament brands overall<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another important part of conserving filament is to store and maintain it properly. Almost all filament are hygroscopic, meaning they absorb moisture if left in the open air and deteriorate over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To avoid this, we recommend investing in <a data-lasso-id=\"16711\" href=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/3d-printers\/diy-filament-dry-box-projects\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dry boxes<\/a> or even <a data-lasso-id=\"16712\" href=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/rigid-ink\/dry-3d-printer-filament-wet\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a filament dryer.<\/a> These do all the heavy lifting to keep your filament in top condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/wet-filament-inside-a-dehydrator.jpg\" alt=\"wet filament inside a dehydrator\" class=\"wp-image-19803\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/wet-filament-inside-a-dehydrator.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/wet-filament-inside-a-dehydrator-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/wet-filament-inside-a-dehydrator-768x384.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Wet filament inside a dehydrator. Source:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/3Dprinting\/comments\/puousd\/always_dry_your_filament_this_is_how_it_came_out\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"16710\">Reddit<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related articles:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/3d-printers\/how-much-can-you-3d-print-with-1l-500ml-resin\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"23314\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"19963\">How much can you print with 1L of resin?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a data-lasso-id=\"16714\" href=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/guides\/best-layer-height-in-3d-printing\/\">Complete Guide: Layer Height In 3D Printing<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/rankings\/best-3d-printer-filament-dryers-dry-box\/\" data-lasso-id=\"16715\">Best Filament Dryers &amp; Dry Boxes in For All Type of Budgets<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/3d-printers\/diy-filament-dry-box-projects\/\" data-lasso-id=\"16716\">Make Your Own Filament Dry Box: Projects You Can Make at Home<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/rigid-ink\/what-to-do-with-empty-filament-spools\/\" data-lasso-id=\"16717\">Top Ways to Recycle Empty Filament Spools<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/rigid-ink\/3d-print-optimal-infill-settings\/\" data-lasso-id=\"16718\">Increasing Strength While Saving Filament by Using 3D Print Infill Settings<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/rigid-ink\/dry-3d-printer-filament-wet\/\" data-lasso-id=\"16719\">How-To: Dry Your Wet Filament Effectively<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n            <div id=\"daexthefu-container\"\n                 class=\"daexthefu-container daexthefu-layout-side-by-side daexthefu-alignment-left\"\n                 data-post-id=\"23981\">\n\n                <div class=\"daexthefu-feedback\">\n                    <div class=\"daexthefu-text\">\n                        <h3 class=\"daexthefu-title\">Was this content helpful? 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(With Calculator)\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/guides\/how-much-can-you-print-with-1kg-filament\/\" aria-label=\"More on How Long Does 1KG Filament Last? (With Calculator)\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":23984,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_helpful_status":1,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,17,67,59],"tags":[],"featured_post":[],"post_template":[],"class_list":["post-23981","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guides","category-3d-printer-materials","category-3d-printing-guides","category-filament","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33"],"acf":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/How-Much-Can-You-Print-With-1KG-Filament.jpg",1280,720,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/How-Much-Can-You-Print-With-1KG-Filament-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/How-Much-Can-You-Print-With-1KG-Filament-300x169.jpg",300,169,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/How-Much-Can-You-Print-With-1KG-Filament-768x432.jpg",768,432,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/How-Much-Can-You-Print-With-1KG-Filament-1024x576.jpg",1024,576,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/How-Much-Can-You-Print-With-1KG-Filament.jpg",1280,720,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/How-Much-Can-You-Print-With-1KG-Filament.jpg",1280,720,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Tom Bardwell","author_link":"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/author\/tom-b\/"},"uagb_comment_info":11,"uagb_excerpt":"A factory-fresh spool of filament promises possibilities, but eyeing it up doesn&#8217;t really give you a sense of how much you can print with 1 kg of filament, or how long it ... Read more","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23981","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23981"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23981\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23984"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23981"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23981"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23981"},{"taxonomy":"featured_post","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/featured_post?post=23981"},{"taxonomy":"post_template","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.3dsourced.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_template?post=23981"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}