Why I Don’t Charge My Clients for 3D Prints

This one’s for current and future clients, and maybe a few fellow designers too.

If you’ve worked with me before, or are considering it, you might notice something missing from my quotes and invoices: I don’t charge for 3D prints. That’s not a mistake or a generous oversight - it’s intentional.

There’s no filament fee, no machine time, or no per-part cost tucked in at the bottom of a quote. And that’s not because I forgot. It’s because I made a conscious decision early on not to treat this sort of low-fidelity, functional prototyping as a billable extra, but as a core part of the design process.

Here’s why I don’t charge for prints, and how it benefits you as a client.

1. Prototypes Aren’t Extras - They Are Part of the Process

For me, 3D prints are not an add-on or deliverable, they're a tool. Like a sketchbook, calliper or CAD software. They help me test proportions, tolerances, usability, ergonomics, and feasibility in real space. How does this grip feel? Will this radius be comfortable in the hand? Is the size physically right in reality? Will this part clear that part when it rotates?

These are subtle, physical, often non-obvious design questions that 3D prints help answer. They’re part of how I validate decisions, and I don’t believe clients should be nickelled-and-dimed for the tools I use to do my job well.

2. I Print Often, and Often Quietly

It’s very likely that during your project, I’ll print multiple parts you’ll never see. Ever. That’s by design. I’ll print a sketchy early version of a form just to sense-check its proportions. Or a small corner of a part to check a snap fit. Or a thread to make sure a screw cap fits. Sometimes I’ll print a part just to check how it feels - a quick grip check or a desk test, long before we hit a final design.

These prints are fast, often ugly, and usually go straight into a recycling bin, but they’ve served their purpose. They make the work better, faster. They let me be more experimental and confident in the direction I’m taking.

If I were to tally each one, assign a cost, and try to charge for it? That would introduce friction. It would slow things down and risk discouraging valuable tests just because they don’t look “final.”

3. The Value is in the Design, Not the Plastic

You’re not hiring me to print objects, you’re hiring me to solve design problems. To bring an idea to life, to make a product intuitive, manufacturable, aesthetically strong, and user-focused.

Charging for 3D prints shifts the focus away from that value and turns it into a cost conversation: “Do you really need to print this one too?” or “Can we hold off and save a bit?” And honestly, that’s the wrong lens.

A 30-minute 3D print that helps us avoid a tooling mistake, or clarifies a design decision a week earlier than expected, is worth far more than a few grams of PLA. I’d rather you get the best result than worry about what each print costs.

4. It Keeps the Workflow Fluid

When I know I can print a quick test part without needing sign-off or discussion, I stay agile. A big part of my workflow is momentum - staying in a rhythm of designing, prototyping, testing, and refining. If I had to stop and run costs past a client before every print, I’d be injecting unnecessary friction, time and delay into that cycle.

By not charging for small-scale prototyping, I can move faster and iterate more freely. I can print late at night, mid-concept, or spontaneously, without needing approvals. That agility makes a real difference to timelines and outcomes.

The result? A better design, with fewer delays and a smoother experience on your end.

5. Yes, There’s a Cost, But It’s Already Factored In

Of course, 3D printers need maintenance, filament isn’t free, and downtime is real. I’m not pretending there’s no cost on my end.

But instead of itemizing it per print, I’ve built that overhead into my overall project fees. That way, you’re not getting piecemeal invoices or confusing breakdowns. It’s cleaner, more transparent, and reflects what I actually offer: a complete design service that includes prototyping as standard.

6. When Prototypes Do Matter to You, You’ll Know

There’s a big difference between an internal, low fidelity test print on my desk and a high-quality prototype for a client pitch, user testing session, or investor demo. Both in terms of fit, function and cost.

In those cases, where resolution, finish, or specific materials matter, I’ll always quote clearly and give you options. Whether it’s SLA, SLS, CNC, or otherwise, we’ll choose the right method based on your needs, not just what's convenient for me.

But until we get there? My desktop 3D prints are a part of the process, and they’re on me.

In short: You get better design, faster iterations, and no surprise charges.

3D printing isn’t a service I sell. It’s a tool I use to make your product better.

If you're working on a new idea and need help bringing it into the physical world, fast, cleanly, and with a focus on usability, I’d love to collaborate. And if you're curious how this all works behind the scenes, happy to show you the wall of prototypes next to my desk (just don’t judge the spaghetti of support material).

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Lucas Lastman.

Freelance Industrial Designer Melbourne | Prototype-Focused | Detail-Driven