Bambu Lab P1S vs Prusa MK4S: print cost head-to-head
Side-by-side specs, energy and amortization numbers for the Bambu Lab P1S and the Prusa MK4S, plus a quick verdict on the dimensions that move per-part cost.
Specs side by side
Bambu Lab · 2023
- Average power
- 150 W
- Useful life
- 25,000 h
- Build volume
- 256 × 256 × 256 mm
- Best for
- Enthusiasts
Prusa · 2024
- Average power
- 130 W
- Useful life
- 25,000 h
- Build volume
- 250 × 210 × 220 mm
- Best for
- Professionals
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 so the only thing changing is the printer.
Bambu Lab P1S
- Energy$0.16
- Amortization$0.12
- Unit Cost$1.49
- Final Consumer Price$6.49
Prusa MK4S
- Energy$0.14
- Amortization$0.12
- Unit Cost$1.47
- Final Consumer Price$6.39
Verdict by dimension
Cheaper to run
Prusa MK4SPrusa 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
TieBoth printers land within the noise threshold for this dimension.
Larger build volume
Bambu Lab P1SBambu 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 MK4SPrusa MK4S is from 2024 while the Bambu Lab P1S is from 2023 — more recent firmware, motion-system and ecosystem updates.