Filament Weight Calculator
Convert filament length, diameter, material density, spool tare, moisture allowance, and multi-spool inventory into practical grams for print batches.
Pick a material and inventory scenario. Each preset fills the density, diameter, print length, tare, and batch fields.
Filament Weight Results
Full Breakdown
| Material | Typical Density | Common Use | Moisture Behavior |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLA | 1.24 g/cm³ | Prototypes, models | Low to moderate |
| PLA+ | 1.25 g/cm³ | Stronger general parts | Low to moderate |
| PETG | 1.27 g/cm³ | Brackets, functional parts | Moderate |
| ABS | 1.04 g/cm³ | Enclosures, heat tolerant parts | Low to moderate |
| ASA | 1.07 g/cm³ | Outdoor and UV exposed parts | Low to moderate |
| TPU 95A | 1.21 g/cm³ | Flexible gaskets and feet | Moderate |
| Nylon PA6 | 1.14 g/cm³ | Jigs, gears, wear parts | High |
| Polycarbonate | 1.20 g/cm³ | Strong fixtures | Moderate to high |
| HIPS | 1.04 g/cm³ | Support and light models | Low |
| PVA | 1.23 g/cm³ | Water-soluble support | Very high |
| Material | 1.75 mm grams/m | 2.85 mm grams/m | 1 kg length at 1.75 mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLA | 2.98 g | 7.92 g | 335 m |
| PETG | 3.05 g | 8.11 g | 328 m |
| ABS | 2.50 g | 6.64 g | 400 m |
| ASA | 2.57 g | 6.83 g | 389 m |
| TPU 95A | 2.91 g | 7.73 g | 344 m |
| Nylon PA6 | 2.74 g | 7.28 g | 365 m |
| Polycarbonate | 2.89 g | 7.66 g | 347 m |
| PVA | 2.96 g | 7.85 g | 338 m |
| Spool Type | Typical Empty Tare | Best Use In Calculator | Inventory Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardboard 1 kg | 150-230 g | Enter printed tare if marked | Moisture can add scale weight |
| Plastic 1 kg | 180-280 g | Weigh an empty matching spool | Often more consistent |
| Refill core | 80-160 g | Include reusable core weight | Check adapter mass |
| 2 kg spool | 300-500 g | Use actual empty spool | Tare error doubles quickly |
| Sample coil | 0-40 g | Use bag or coil holder tare | Measure before small jobs |
| Print Situation | Waste Allowance | Moisture Allowance | Reserve Habit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-color PLA print | 3-8% | 0-1% | Keep 20-40 g |
| PETG functional batch | 6-12% | 1-2% | Keep 40-70 g |
| Multi-color purge tower | 15-45% | 0-2% | Keep purge buffer |
| Nylon or PVA support | 8-18% | 2-8% | Use dry-box reserve |
| Print farm repeat run | 5-15% | 1-3% | Hold one restart margin |
Every person that utilize a 3D printer at some point will encounter the problem of not knowing how much filament is remaining on a spool. It is possible to open a new spool of filament, print some object, and not know how much filament is remaining on that print spool. This lack of knowledge of the amount of filament that is remaining on a print spool is a problem, particulary with the possibility of continuing to print long object, as the print may fail if the filament run out.
A print may fail due to the filament remaining on the print spool being under-masured, or the user not account for the amount of filament that is actualy remaining on the spool. The calculation of the weight of the filament utilize the geometry of the filament. The diameter of the filament have a direct impact upon the total weight of the filament; if the user changes the diameter of the filament, the total weight of that filament will change.
How to know how much filament is left on a spool
Furthermore, the density of the filament also has an impact upon the weight of that filament; if the density of the filament is changed, the weight will change, as well. Thus, the weight of the filament can change as a result of either changing the diameter or the density of that type of filament. The calculator perform these calculation to make certain that the user doesnt have to remember these type of calculations.
In addition to the calculations of the total weight of the filament, it is also necessary to account for the weight of the print spool itself. The user can determine the weight of the print spool by weighing the print spool itself, and accounting for the weight of that object. The weight of the print spool itself is referred to as a tare weight.
Tare weight can change with the type of print spool; some contain cardboard, others are made of plastic. Thus, it is necessary to account for the tare weight prior to calculating the total weight of the usable filament. Additionally, the amount of filament that will be accounted for is the amount of that material that is available for being printed.
Some filament, such as nylon or PVA filaments, will absorb moisture from the air. Furthermore, the amount of filament that will be used for print features like purge tower, brims, and failed start must also be accounted for. When planning the print of a batch of objects, it is necessary to account for the amount of filament that may be wasted during the print process.
For instance, the user can choose to account for a certain amount of the filament as a reserve for potential printing error, or the user can print as much of the available filament as possible. Each of these options will impact the total number of prints that will be printed as a batch. The calculator allow for the allowance of waste, moisture content, and the amount of filament that is to be reserve prior to printing.
Due to the way in which the environment in which the 3D printer is located can affect the print filament, the calculation of the amount of filament that is remaining on a print spool may vary slight from one calculation to the next. For instance, the humidity in the air may impact the amount of moisture in the filament, meaning that filament that is left on a 3D printer may absorb more moisture than filament that is stored within a dry box. Furthermore, different print manufacturers may use different amount of filament within the print spool; thus, tare weight may not be the same for each brand of filament.
Finally, the temperature within the print workspace may impact the filament scale such that they read differently throughout the day. Thus, this calculation is an estimate only, and should of not be used as a guarantee as to the amount of filament that will be remaining on a print spool. Through the process of weighing the print filament and noting its tare weight, users can ensure that they are certain of the amount of filament that is remaining on each print spool.
Prior to beginning prints that will take place over long period of time, it is beneficial to reweigh the print filament to ensure that the user is aware of the amount of filament that is available for printing. By weighing the print filament and noting its tare weight, users can stop guess at the amount of filament that is remaining on each print spool, and instead begin to know if there is enough filament remaining to complete the prints.
