Skip to main content
PrintCalc
3D Printers
Comparison

Prusa Mini+ vs Prusa MK4S: print cost head-to-head

Side-by-side specs, energy and amortization numbers for the Prusa Mini+ and the Prusa MK4S, plus a quick verdict on the dimensions that move per-part cost.

Specs side by side

Prusa · 2020

Prusa Mini+

Price
$429
Average power
90 W
Useful life
20,000 h
Build volume
180 × 180 × 180 mm
Best for
Beginners

Prusa · 2024

Prusa MK4S

Price
$899
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, amortization uses each printer's regional price — so both the machine and its price drive the numbers.

Prusa Mini+

  • Energy$0.10
  • Amortization$0.13
  • Unit Cost$1.43
  • Final Consumer Price$6.23

Prusa MK4S

  • Energy$0.14
  • Amortization$0.22
  • Unit Cost$1.57
  • Final Consumer Price$6.84

Verdict by dimension

  • Cheaper to buy

    Prusa Mini+

    Prusa Mini+ costs $429 vs $899 for the Prusa MK4S — a lower upfront price also means less amortization per print.

  • Cheaper to run

    Prusa Mini+

    Prusa Mini+ draws 90 W on average vs 130 W for the Prusa MK4S — lower power means a smaller energy line in every print.

  • Longer useful life

    Prusa MK4S

    Prusa MK4S is rated at 25,000 h vs 20,000 h for the Prusa Mini+, so amortization spreads over more printing hours.

  • Larger build volume

    Prusa MK4S

    Prusa MK4S ships with 250 × 210 × 220 mm build volume vs 180 × 180 × 180 mm on the Prusa Mini+ — bigger plates or batched parts fit without splitting.

  • More recent release

    Prusa MK4S

    Prusa MK4S is from 2024 while the Prusa Mini+ is from 2020 — more recent firmware, motion-system and ecosystem updates.

Over a 5-year horizon, the Prusa MK4S amortizes 1.3× more print-hours than the Prusa Mini+.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Prusa Mini+ better than the Prusa MK4S?
Neither is strictly better — it depends on what you print. The Prusa Mini+ is cheaper to run, the Prusa MK4S 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 Prusa Mini+ and the Prusa MK4S?
The Prusa Mini+ is priced at $429 with a 180 × 180 × 180 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 Prusa Mini+ or the Prusa MK4S?
The Prusa Mini+ is cheaper to buy at $429 vs $899 for the Prusa MK4S. Factoring energy and amortization, the Prusa Mini+ also has the lower per-print running cost — run your own numbers in the calculator to be sure.

Related comparisons