Prusa · 2020
Print cost on the Prusa Mini+
The Mini+ is Prusa's compact printer — 180 mm cubed, cartesian, stable platform and the Prusa firmware. Small on purpose: many makers buy two or three Mini+ for the price of one MK4 and run them in parallel. Prusa family maintenance and quality in a smaller form factor.
Specs
- Average power
- 90 W
- Useful life
- 20,000 h
- Build volume
- 180 × 180 × 180 mm
- Best for
- Beginners
When this printer makes sense
The Mini+ is Prusa's compact entry for makers who want into the Prusa Research ecosystem (open-source, PrusaSlicer, long-term support) without committing to the MK4S budget. 180 × 180 × 180 mm volume — very similar to the Bambu A1 Mini in usable footprint. Prusa ships direct from Czechia at $429 kit / $549 assembled. Makes sense for makers who value open-source philosophy and Prusa's long support window over Bambu's plug-and-play convenience.
Strengths and limitations
Strengths
Compact footprint — fits anywhere. Prusa Research support measured in years (5+ years of replacement parts). PrusaSlicer is the best slicer on the market by a wide margin — fine control others don't offer. Modular hardware: upgrade to MMU3 (multi-material) later. Robust reprap community in English with thousands of guides.
Limitations
Direct import has all the drawbacks of MK4S: unpredictable customs, international warranty, 2-6 week wait. No direct drive — Bowden extruder limits TPU (works with aggressive tuning). 280 °C hotend covers PETG but doesn't reach reliable ABS. 180 mm³ build volume is small — doesn't compete with the full A1 or K1.
Typical print cost
A 25 g PLA part on the Mini+ costs $0.20-0.30 per unit in a 10-batch with amortization over $429. Compared to the A1 Mini at $299, the Mini+ runs slightly higher in ROI due to the larger acquisition cost. But for makers who reject closed ecosystems and want to invest in a machine that will still have replacement parts in 2030, the premium pays off.
Example calculation
For a 50 g part in PLA, 6 h print time and 8% failure rate. Currency follows your selection at the top.
- Filament$1.10
- Energy$0.10
- Amortization$0.13
- Failures (8%)$0.11
- Unit Cost$1.43
- Final Consumer Price (3× / 6% / 2%)$6.23
Filaments that print well on the Prusa Mini+
Every material the Prusa Mini+ handles reliably, grouped by what makes it compatible. Click any to open the calculator with that filament selected.
Standard filaments
Everyday materials — the Prusa Mini+ prints them stock without tuning or hardware mods.
Flexible filaments (Bowden compatible)
Bowden setup on the Prusa Mini+ works for flexibles with tuned retraction and slow speeds.
Compare the Prusa Mini+ with...
Prusa Mini+
Prusa · 2020
- Build volume
- 180 × 180 × 180 mm
- Average power
- 90 W
- Useful life
- 20,000 h
- Max hotend temp
- 280 °C
- Frame
- Open
- Mechanism
- Bedslinger
- Release year
- 2020
- Reference price
- $429