6 minute read

Pricing & Costs

Transparent, pay-as-you-go pricing. No subscriptions, no minimums, no hidden fees.

PrintPort3D operates on a simple model: you pay only when orders are fulfilled. There are no monthly fees, no setup costs, and no minimum order requirements. You pay us for production only. You purchase shipping labels through your own Shippo account.

What you pay PrintPort3D
Production Cost Only
Materials (PLA $0.02/gram, varies by type) + Print time ($4 first hour + $2/hr)

Shipping labels via Shippo

You connect your own Shippo account (free to create) via OAuth. When orders ship, shipping labels are purchased directly through your Shippo account at discounted carrier rates—typically 30-50% off retail.

Production costs

Production cost is calculated based on two factors: material used and print time. This ensures you only pay for what's actually consumed.

ComponentRateNotes
Material (PLA)$0.02 per gramStandard filament, multiple colors available
Print time (first hour)$4.00Covers machine setup, calibration, initial operation
Print time (additional hours)$2.00 per hourEach hour after the first

The formula

Production Cost = (grams × material price/g) + $4.00 (first hour) + ($2.00 × additional hours)

Example calculations

Small keychain (8g, 0.5 hours)$2.16
(8 × $0.02) + ($4.00 × 0.5 hours) = $0.16 + $2.00
Phone stand (30g, 1.5 hours)$5.35
(30 × $0.02) + $4.00 + (0.5 × $2.00) = $0.60 + $4.00 + $1.00
Desk organizer (85g, 4 hours)$10.20
(85 × $0.02) + $4.00 + (3 × $2.00) = $1.70 + $4.00 + $6.00
Large vase (200g, 8 hours)$14.50
(200 × $0.02) + $4.00 + (7 × $2.00) = $4.00 + $4.00 + $14.00

See costs before you commit

When you upload a file to PrintPort3D, we analyze it and show you the exact production cost before you create a product. No surprises.

Shipping via Shippo

You purchase shipping labels through your own Shippo account. PrintPort3D integrates with Shippo via OAuth—you connect your Shippo account once, and we automatically generate and purchase labels when orders ship. Shippo provides discounted carrier rates (30-50% off retail).

Shippo account required

Before you can fulfill orders, you must connect a Shippo account in Settings → Shipping Integration. Shippo is free to create and only charges when you purchase labels.

Domestic (US) shipping estimates

ServiceWeightTypical costDelivery
USPS First ClassUnder 4 oz$3.50 - $4.502-5 days
USPS First Class4-13 oz$4.50 - $6.002-5 days
USPS PriorityUnder 1 lb$7.00 - $9.001-3 days
USPS Priority1-3 lbs$9.00 - $14.001-3 days
UPS Ground1-5 lbs$8.00 - $15.003-5 days

What's NOT charged

We believe in transparent pricing. Here's what you'll never see on your bill:

Monthly subscription fees
Setup or onboarding fees
Per-listing fees
Storage or warehousing fees
Account maintenance fees
Minimum order penalties
API access fees
Support or service fees

Setting your prices

You have complete control over your retail prices. Here are strategies that successful sellers use:

Recommended markup ranges

Product typeTypical markupWhy
Commodity items (hooks, stands)2-3× costCompetitive market, volume-focused
Niche/unique designs3-5× costLess competition, design value
Custom/personalized4-8× costUnique value, no direct comparison
B2B / wholesale1.5-2× costVolume discounts, repeat orders

Pricing examples

Custom phone stand
15g, 45 min print
Production cost$2.60
Shipping (USPS First Class)$4.20
Your total cost$6.80
If you sell for...
$14.99
$8.19 profit
55% margin
$19.99
$13.19 profit
66% margin
$24.99
$18.19 profit
73% margin
Decorative planter
120g, 5 hour print
Production cost$15.50
Shipping (USPS Priority)$9.80
Your total cost$25.30
If you sell for...
$44.99
$19.69 profit
44% margin
$59.99
$34.69 profit
58% margin
$79.99
$54.69 profit
68% margin

Handling shipping in your store

You need to decide how to handle shipping costs with your customers. Here are common approaches:

Option 1: Free shipping (build it into price)

Add average shipping cost to your product price and offer "free shipping." Customers love this and it simplifies purchasing decisions.

Example: Cost $6.80, shipping ~$4.50 → Sell for $24.99 with free shipping

Option 2: Flat rate shipping

Charge a fixed shipping fee (e.g., $4.99 domestic, $14.99 international). Simple for customers to understand.

Tip: Set your flat rate slightly above your average actual cost to cover variations

Option 3: Calculated shipping

Use your platform's calculated shipping feature to charge exact rates. Most accurate but can surprise customers at checkout.

Best for: Heavy/large items where shipping varies significantly

The psychology of free shipping

Studies show customers prefer a $24.99 item with free shipping over a $19.99 item + $5 shipping—even though the total is the same. Consider building shipping into your prices.

Payment & billing

We charge your card on file for production costs only. Shipping labels are billed separately through your Shippo account. Here's how billing works:

1
Order received
Order syncs from your store. No charge yet.
2
Payment authorized
We verify your card can cover production costs. Funds are held but not charged.
3
Production completes
Item is printed, inspected, and packed.
4
Production charge finalized
We charge your card for the actual production cost (materials + print time).
5
Shipping label purchased
PrintPort3D generates and purchases a shipping label through your Shippo account. Shippo bills you directly.

Failed payments

If your card fails, we'll retry once and notify you. Orders are held for 48 hours while you update your payment method. Contact support if you need help resolving payment issues.

Track your costs

Your dashboard shows real-time financials so you always know where you stand:

Total Revenue
$17.09
Fulfillment
$1.41
Shipping
$0
Net Profit
$15.68

These metrics update in real-time. Export detailed reports anytime from your dashboard.