Resin Volume Calculator for SLA & DLP Prints
Find exact UV resin needed for an SLA/DLP print from model volume plus supports, avoiding running short or overmixing.
Reviewed for accuracy by Daniel Agrici, Founder & Lead Developer
Resin Volume Calculator for SLA & DLP Prints
Calculator
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Formula: Total Resin = (Model Volume + Support Volume) x Copies + Vat Loss
Worked example — 41.5 mL total resin | $1.45 cost | ~1.2 hours print time (560 layers)
Formula
Total Resin = (Model Volume + Support Volume) x Copies + Vat Loss
Model volume comes from your slicer or CAD software. Support volume is a percentage based on density. Vat loss (typically 8%) accounts for resin left on the FEP and tank. Hollowing reduces model volume by subtracting the inner cavity.
Worked Examples
Example 1: Miniature Figure with Medium Supports
Problem:A 28mm-tall tabletop miniature has a model volume of 8 cm3. Print 4 copies with medium supports, solid (not hollow), at 0.05mm layer height, 28mm build height. Resin costs $35/liter.
Solution:Model volume = 8 cm3 per copy Supports at Medium (20%) = 8 x 0.20 = 1.6 cm3 Total per copy = 8 + 1.6 = 9.6 cm3 All 4 copies = 9.6 x 4 = 38.4 cm3 = 38.4 mL Vat loss (8%) = 38.4 x 0.08 = 3.07 mL Grand total = 38.4 + 3.07 = 41.47 mL, rounds to 41.5 mL = 0.041 L Cost = 0.041 x $35 = $1.45 Print time = 28mm / 0.05mm = 560 layers x 8s/layer = 4,480s = 74.7 min = ~1.2 hours Weight = 41.47 mL x 1.15 g/mL = 47.7 g (1.7 oz)
Result:41.5 mL total resin | $1.45 cost | ~1.2 hours print time (560 layers)
Example 2: Large Hollow Bust with Heavy Supports
Problem:A display bust has 350 cm3 solid volume, hollowed with 2.5mm walls. Heavy supports, 1 copy, 0.05mm layers, 120mm tall. Resin costs $40/liter.
Solution:Solid model volume = 350 cm3 Outer radius equivalent (sphere approximation) = (3 x 350 / 4pi)^(1/3) = 4.37 cm Inner radius after 2.5mm wall = 4.37 - 0.25 = 4.12 cm Inner cavity volume = 4/3 x pi x 4.12^3 = 293.3 cm3 Hollow shell volume = 350 - 293.3 = 56.68 cm3 Heavy supports (35%) = 56.68 x 0.35 = 19.84 cm3 Total = 56.68 + 19.84 = 76.51 cm3 = 76.51 mL Vat loss (8%) = 76.51 x 0.08 = 6.12 mL Grand total = 76.51 + 6.12 = 82.63 mL, rounds to 82.6 mL = 0.083 L Cost = 0.083 x $40 = $3.31 Print time = 120mm / 0.05mm = 2,400 layers x 8s/layer = 19,200s = 320 min = 5.3 hours Weight = 82.63 mL x 1.15 g/mL = 95.0 g (3.4 oz) For comparison, printing the same bust solid (heavy supports, no hollowing) needs 510.3 mL ($20.41) - hollowing saves about 427.7 mL (84%) and $17.11, with no change in print tim
Result:82.6 mL total resin | $3.31 cost | Saved ~427.7 mL (84%) vs. printing solid
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I find the model volume number Resin Volume Calculator for SLA & DLP Prints asks for?
Your slicer already calculates it: in ChiTuBox it's shown in the model information panel after loading the STL/OBJ, in Lychee Slicer it's in the model properties panel, and PrusaSlicer shows it on the resin printer profile summary. If you're working from CAD, Blender's Mesh menu has a 'Print3D Check All' option that reports volume directly, and Fusion 360/Meshmixer expose it under mass properties. Enter that number in the Model Volume field above and pick the matching unit (cm3/mL, mm3, or in3) - most slicers report in mm3 by default, so double-check the unit before reading the result.
How much extra resin do supports actually add to my print?
It depends on the support density you choose, and Resin Volume Calculator for SLA & DLP Prints uses the same ranges most slicers default to: Light adds about 10%, Medium (the typical slicer default) adds about 20%, Heavy adds about 35% for large overhangs or flat-bottomed models, and Very Heavy can add 50% or more for oversized or fragile geometry. The single biggest lever on that percentage is model orientation - tilting a model reduces flat overhangs and often lets you drop from Heavy to Medium supports, which is usually a bigger resin saving than any other setting on this page.
How much resin do I actually save by hollowing a model?
It scales with model size and wall thickness, not a flat percentage - our worked example above shows a 350 cm3 solid bust dropping to about 57 cm3 of shell material with 2.5mm walls, roughly 84% less resin overall once supports and vat loss are included. Toggle 'Hollow Shell' on and enter your wall thickness (2-3mm is typical for display pieces, 2.5-3mm+ for anything load-bearing) to see the savings for your specific model. Remember that hollow prints need at least two 3-4mm drain holes so uncured resin can escape the cavity after printing - without them, trapped liquid resin can crack or leak from the part later.
Why does my slicer show a different resin amount than Resin Volume Calculator for SLA & DLP Prints?
Slicers like ChiTuBox and Lychee compute support volume from the exact 3D geometry of the support tree they generate for your model's orientation, while Resin Volume Calculator for SLA & DLP Prints applies a flat percentage for the density level you select - so it's built for fast budgeting and shopping-list estimates, not a substitute for your slicer's per-model number. Vat-loss assumptions also differ: this tool applies a fixed 8% for resin left on the FEP and tank walls, which is a reasonable mid-range figure but can run higher or lower depending on your printer and cleanup habits. Use Resin Volume Calculator for SLA & DLP Prints to figure out how much resin to buy before you start, then trust your slicer's live estimate once supports are actually generated.
How many bottles of resin should I buy for this print?
Once you enter your volume, supports, and copies above, the results show bottles needed at both common sizes - standard 500mL bottles and 1-liter bottles - rounded up to the next whole bottle, since resin sold by the bottle can't be bought in fractions. If the grand total lands close to a bottle boundary (for example, 490mL when you own 500mL bottles), it's worth buying one extra bottle rather than cutting it close: opening a second bottle mid-print isn't possible once the vat is full, and slightly under-buying means a stalled print.
Should I buy more resin than Resin Volume Calculator for SLA & DLP Prints says, just in case?
The 8% vat-loss figure already built into the total covers routine losses on the FEP film and tank, but it doesn't cover a failed print - and failure rates of 10-20% are common while dialing in exposure settings on a new resin or printer. For a first attempt with an unfamiliar resin, model, or orientation, budget an extra 10-15% of resin (or simply round up to the next full bottle) so a single failed print doesn't leave you short mid-project. Once your settings are proven and repeatable, the calculator's total plus one bottle of headroom is usually enough.
References
Background & Theory
Resin density: what "1.15 g/mL" is based on
This calculator estimates printed weight using 1.15 g/mL, a blended figure that sits between published liquid and cured densities for standard photopolymer resins. ELEGOO's own technical reference lists standard resin at 1.100 g/cm3 liquid and 1.195 g/cm3 once fully cured — resin shrinks slightly and gains density as it polymerizes, so a single "in-between" number gives a realistic estimate for a part that is mostly (but not 100%) cured at the time you weigh it.
| Resin state | Density | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Liquid (uncured), standard resin | 1.100 g/cm3 | ELEGOO Wiki, "What Is the Resin Density" |
| Cured (solid), standard resin | 1.195 g/cm3 | ELEGOO Wiki, "What Is the Resin Density" |
| This calculator's weight estimate | 1.15 g/mL | Blended average of the above |
Support density settings, mapped to real slicer presets
The percentages behind this calculator's Support Density dropdown mirror the ranges slicers such as ChiTuBox and Lychee actually produce for equivalent preset names, so the estimate lines up with what you'll see once supports are generated on your own model.
| Setting | Extra resin | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| None | 0% | Flat parts printed directly on the build plate |
| Light | ~10% | Small, low-overhang minis and jewelry |
| Medium | ~20% | Most tabletop miniatures (typical slicer default) |
| Heavy | ~35% | Large flat-bottomed or overhang-heavy models |
| Very Heavy | ~50% | Large busts, cosplay props, complex overhangs |
Source: CHITUBOX Docs, "Configure Print Settings"; All3DP, "SLA Resin Printing Guide".
Print time by model height (a size-independent fact worth knowing)
Resin printers cure one full layer at a time regardless of how much cross-sectional area (or volume) that layer contains, so print time tracks build height and layer height only — not model volume. At a common 0.05mm layer height with an ~8-second exposure-plus-lift cycle per layer (in line with default profiles documented for ChiTuBox and Elegoo Mars printers), here is what that means in practice:
| Model height | Layers @ 0.05mm | Est. print time |
|---|---|---|
| 25mm (small mini) | 500 | ~1.1 hours |
| 50mm (default) | 1,000 | ~2.2 hours |
| 75mm | 1,500 | ~3.3 hours |
| 100mm | 2,000 | ~4.4 hours |
| 150mm (large bust) | 3,000 | ~6.7 hours |
| 200mm | 4,000 | ~8.9 hours |
Source: CHITUBOX Docs, "Configure Print Settings"; exposure/lift cycle times consistent with default Elegoo Mars printer profiles referenced in third-party CHITUBOX setup guides. Actual per-layer time varies by resin, printer, and exposure settings — check your slicer's estimate before printing.
Reviewed for accuracy by Daniel Agrici, Founder & Lead Developer · Editorial policy
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