How Layer Height Affects Print Time, Quality, and Cost

The Most Important Slicer Setting

Layer height determines how many passes your printer makes. Double the layer height and you roughly halve the print time.

Common Layer Heights

• 0.08mm: Ultra-fine. Miniatures and detailed models. Very slow.
• 0.12mm: Fine. Good detail with reasonable speed.
• 0.16mm: Balanced. Great for most prints.
• 0.20mm: Standard. Good speed-quality balance.
• 0.28mm: Draft. Fast prints, visible layers.
• 0.32mm: Speed. Functional parts only.

Time Comparison

A model that takes 4 hours at 0.20mm:

• At 0.12mm: ~6.5 hours (63% longer)
• At 0.28mm: ~2.8 hours (30% faster)
• At 0.32mm: ~2.5 hours (38% faster)

Strength Impact

Thicker layers actually produce stronger parts in the Z-axis because there are fewer layer boundaries. For functional parts, use 0.20-0.28mm.

Cost Impact

Time is money. A 4-hour print at €0.17/hour machine cost + €0.05/hour electricity = €0.88. The same print at 0.12mm (6.5 hours) costs €1.43. That's 63% more for a cosmetic improvement.

When to Use Each

Layer Height	Use Case
0.08-0.12mm	Miniatures, jewelry, display models
0.16-0.20mm	General purpose, prototypes
0.24-0.32mm	Functional parts, fast iterations

Use our calculator with different layer height settings to see the exact cost impact.