Bambu Lab P1S vs Prusa MK4S: print cost head-to-head

Specs side by side

Sample calculation

Same input on both columns: 50 g PLA part, 6 h print time, 8% failure rate. Energy cost held at $0.18/kWh, amortization uses each printer's regional price — so both the machine and its price drive the numbers.

Verdict by dimension

• Cheaper to buy

  Bambu Lab P1S

  Bambu Lab P1S costs $699 vs $899 for the Prusa MK4S — a lower upfront price also means less amortization per print.

• Cheaper to run

  Prusa MK4S

  Prusa MK4S draws 130 W on average vs 150 W for the Bambu Lab P1S — lower power means a smaller energy line in every print.

• Longer useful life

  Tie

  Both printers land within the noise threshold for this dimension.

• Larger build volume

  Bambu Lab P1S

  Bambu Lab P1S ships with 256 × 256 × 256 mm build volume vs 250 × 210 × 220 mm on the Prusa MK4S — bigger plates or batched parts fit without splitting.

• More recent release

  Prusa MK4S

  Prusa MK4S is from 2024 while the Bambu Lab P1S is from 2023 — more recent firmware, motion-system and ecosystem updates.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Bambu Lab P1S better than the Prusa MK4S?

Neither is strictly better — it depends on what you print. The Prusa MK4S is cheaper to run, the Bambu Lab P1S has the larger build volume, and the Prusa MK4S is the more recent release. Match the winner on the dimension you care about most.

What's the difference between the Bambu Lab P1S and the Prusa MK4S?

The Bambu Lab P1S is priced at $699 with a 256 × 256 × 256 mm build volume; the Prusa MK4S is $899 with 250 × 210 × 220 mm. Beyond price and volume, they differ in power draw, rated life and release year — see the verdict table above.

Which is cheaper, the Bambu Lab P1S or the Prusa MK4S?

The Bambu Lab P1S is cheaper to buy at $699 vs $899 for the Prusa MK4S. Factoring energy and amortization, the Prusa MK4S also has the lower per-print running cost — run your own numbers in the calculator to be sure.