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How to get a 3D printing quote online: instant quote or post to makers
Buyers pay no fee. Payment is protected until you confirm delivery and processed securely by Stripe.
Side by side
| Instant-quote service | Posting to makers on The Spool List | |
|---|---|---|
| How you get a price | Upload a 3D file and choose material and finish; the price is calculated from the file | Post the job free; makers send quotes; you choose one |
| What you need to start | A 3D model file; accepted formats vary by service (STL, OBJ, 3MF and STEP are common) | Files if you have them; photos, measurements or a description also work |
| File checks | Automatic checks on upload; some services add a manual review before you pay | The maker checks your file, or models the part as part of the quote |
| Account | Often needed to upload files and see prices | Needed to post a job; signing up is free |
| Minimum order | Varies: Craftcloud states no minimum order value; Xometry's US site says no minimums | None |
| Painting, assembly, custom finishing | Choose from the finishes the service lists | Agreed with the maker in the quote |
| Buyer fee | Check each service's checkout | None; you pay the maker's quote and makers pay the commission |
Option 1: an instant quote from a 3D file
Upload a print-ready file, pick the material and finish, and the service calculates a price on screen.
Craftcloud compares offers from more than 150 manufacturing partners in one place and accepts over 35 file formats, including STL, OBJ and STEP (Craftcloud). Xometry's instant quoting takes CAD formats such as STEP and mesh formats such as STL and 3MF, but mesh files can only be quoted for 3D printing and urethane casting (Xometry). JLC3DP asks you to register first, recommends STL (it also takes STEP and OBJ), and has engineers review each order before you pay, which it says takes 4–6 business hours (JLC3DP).
One trap catches a lot of first orders: STL and OBJ files don't store units, so check the quoting page reads your file in millimetres or inches as you intended (All3DP). A part designed in inches and read as millimetres comes out 25.4 times too small.
This route suits you when the file is final, you know the material you want, and you don't need anything beyond the finishes on the list.
Option 2: post the job and get quotes from makers
Post what you have, even without a file, and independent makers quote for the whole job.
Instant-quote engines price geometry, so they need a 3D file. If what you have is a broken clip, a photo of a prop or a sketch with measurements, post the job on The Spool List with photos, sizes and what the part has to do. Makers whose machines are verified on the platform send quotes, and modelling the part is quoted as part of the job.
It also suits work an engine can't price from a file: painting a cosplay helmet, assembling a multi-part model, matching a colour, or asking whether PETG or nylon is the better choice before you pay. You message makers directly before you choose one.
Posting is free and there's no buyer fee. You pay the quote you accept upfront through Stripe, and your payment is protected until you confirm delivery. If something goes wrong, you raise it in the in-app dispute tool before confirming (returns and disputes).
How to get quotes you can compare
Send every service or maker the same brief: file or photos, size, material, quantity, finish, deadline and delivery country.
Prices move with print size, material, technology and post-processing, and with where the service is and how it ships (All3DP). If two quotes are far apart, check that both cover the same finish and quantity before comparing totals.
For what each line of a quote pays for, see how much custom 3D printing costs. To test how size and material change the numbers for your own part, use the free Fabrication Cost Estimator.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a 3D printing quote without an STL file?
Instant-quote services price from a 3D file, so they need one. Without a file, post photos, measurements and a description of the part on The Spool List; makers can model it and include that in their quote.
Where can I pay someone to 3D print my STL file?
Upload it to an instant-quote service such as Craftcloud, Xometry or JLC3DP, or post it on The Spool List to get quotes from independent makers who can also finish or paint it.
Why are instant quotes for the same file different?
Each service prices its own material, technology, finishing and shipping, and its location changes delivery cost. Compare quotes for the same material, quantity and finish.
Does it cost anything to get quotes on The Spool List?
No. Posting a job is free and there's no buyer fee; you pay the quote you accept. Makers pay the platform's commission.
Is my payment protected if I order from a maker?
Yes. You pay upfront through Stripe, and the payment is protected until you confirm delivery. Problems are raised through the in-app dispute tool before you confirm.
More comparisons
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Further reading
Sources
- Craftcloud: homepage
- Craftcloud: your benefits (no minimum order value)
- Xometry: what file types Xometry accepts
- Xometry: homepage
- JLC3DP: how to place a 3D printing order
- All3DP: how to get a 3D printing quote instantly
- The Spool List: returns and disputes
Sources checked 2026-11-09. Competitor terms change; check their current pages before you order. Names of other companies are used only to identify their services.