How long does 3D printing take?

A small 3D print can take 20 minutes to a few hours; palm-sized parts often take several hours, while a solid 10 cm cube takes about 23 hours 25 minutes. Time depends on volume, height, infill, layer height and material—not just the part’s longest dimension. This is estimated machine time, not delivery time.

Measured print times by part

We measured these on 1 October 2026 using the slicer and workshop profile behind our calculator. Unless noted, settings were FDM, 0.4 mm nozzle, PLA, 0.2 mm layers, 20% infill and supports enabled. Weight is filament mass; time is slicer-estimated machine time.

A 100 mm cube takes far more than 2.5 times as long as a 40 mm cube: 23 hr 25 min versus 1 hr 45 min. The solid volume grows rapidly, so a solid 10 cm cube is roughly a day of printing. A large hollow enclosure can be much faster because it does not fill its entire volume with solid material.

Geometry matters, even at similar weight

Filament weight alone cannot predict print time. A 23.4 g rod printed upright took 2 hr 18 min, while a 14.8 g broad, thin plate took 33 minutes. The rod requires many layers along its height; the plate is wide but only 3 mm thick. Height and layer count can therefore make similarly weighted parts take very different times.

There is no single answer to “How long does a 10 cm part take?” The measured solid 100 mm cube took 23 hr 25 min, while a thin plate about 10 cm wide can take around half an hour. A hollow body may also print much faster than a solid cube. A useful estimate needs the 3D model and print settings.

Layer height, infill and material

Thicker layers mean fewer layers and usually less time, but their lines are more visible. Measured PLA cube times:

• 40 mm cube: 0.12 mm, 2 hr 41 min; 0.20 mm, 1 hr 45 min; 0.28 mm, 1 hr 21 min.
• 60 mm cube: 0.12 mm, 8 hr 10 min; 0.20 mm, 5 hr 18 min; 0.28 mm, 4 hr 7 min.

Moving from 0.12 to 0.28 mm cuts these examples by nearly half. Choose finer layers for visible surfaces and thicker layers for functional parts where appearance is secondary.

Higher infill makes the printer trace more material inside the part. For a 40 mm cube: 15% was 19.6 g and 1 hr 18 min; 20% was 23.1 g and 1 hr 45 min; 50% was 41.5 g and 4 hr 43 min. Raising infill from 20% to 50% increased time more than 2.5-fold. For many parts, 15–25% may be enough; strength often comes largely from the number of walls. Unneeded infill adds time and material.

For the same 40 mm cube, 0.2 mm layers and 20% infill: PLA took 1 hr 45 min, PETG 1 hr 42 min, ABS 1 hr 46 min, and flexible TPU 2 hr 50 min. TPU was about 60% slower than PLA in this measurement because flexible material is printed more cautiously. These are results for this geometry and profile; another model can differ.

Quantity, estimates and delivery

On one machine, printing several identical parts multiplies machine time directly by the quantity. If the job and production plan allow, work can be split across multiple machines. Slicer estimates may differ from elapsed time because starts, pauses and production settings matter.

Machine time is not the time until a parcel arrives. File checks, the queue, cooling, support removal and shipping add time. See our guide to how many days 3D printing delivery takes for those factors.

To estimate your own model, upload an STL, OBJ, 3MF or STEP file to the 3D printing price calculator. It uses the same slicer to show filament weight and estimated machine time in the form ⏱ ~X hr Y min. The 40 mm cube price example is $1.41; prices exclude VAT. You can also inspect a model with the free online STL viewer.

Frequently asked questions

How many hours does a 10 cm 3D print take?

It depends on shape and infill. The measured solid 100×100×100 mm PLA cube took 23 hr 25 min; a thin or hollow part with similar outer dimensions may take less.

How long does a small part take on a 3D printer?

There is no universal time. The measured 20 mm cube took 20 minutes and the 40 mm cube 1 hr 45 min. Height, layers, infill and material all affect the result.

How can I reduce print time?

Thicker layers and suitably lower infill can save time, but may affect surface finish or strength. Keep the walls the design needs and check the sliced model for a sound estimate.