3D Printing Statistics: 69 Facts and Trends to Follow in 2023

3D printing has evolved significantly in recent years. Many businesses use 3D printers, with new consumers constantly entering the market. 

3D printing can help anyone turn their digital designs into physical objects. For example, you can design a unique phone case on a computer and then print it out using a 3D printer. Using materials like plastic or metal, the printer would construct the casing layer by layer, creating a unique and valuable final product. 

Many organizations leverage 3D printing software to translate their design into the final product that a 3D printer can understand.

To learn more about the future of the 3D market, let’s dive deeper into these statistics.

Top 3D printing statistics

The development of 3D printing has advanced significantly in its relatively brief history. Due to its ability to offer customization, efficiency, and intricate designs, 3D printing is positioned to revolutionize businesses and help people achieve their ideas.

Discover the top 3D printing statistics demonstrating the technology's growing significance. 

• North America was the largest geographic market, with a market portion larger than 30% in 2022.  
• The United States was the single-largest market, with $3.1 billion or 22%.
• 52% of all 3D printing businesses are based in Europe. 
• The estimated market size for 3D printing in the UK is £468 million, making it the second-biggest market in Europe and the fifth-largest market globally.
• By 2030, the size of the global market is expected to increase by 20.8% annually, with a potential value of $62.76 billion (£48.88 billion).
• By 2026, the UK 3D printing market is anticipated to reach a value of £685 million, growing at a CAGR of around 10%.

• 61% of 3D printer users say they want to increase their investment in the technology, while only 36% want to maintain their present level. 
• Customers spend over £8,000 annually on 3D printing, while 23% spend close to £80,000.
• Cost is the main barrier keeping consumers from utilizing 3D printing more regularly, according to 55% of respondents.
• German suppliers account for 62% of all PBF metal additive manufacturing (AM) systems installed worldwide.
• By 2027, the market for small industrial metal printers will reach $1 billion.
• Between 2022 and 2027, the size of the global 3D printer market is anticipated to increase by $25million at a CAGR of 23.49%.

3D printing market statistics

The complexity of the 3D printing market makes it difficult to analyze trends in this industry. The market's three primary segments are hardware, software, and services. The actual machines or printers are referred to as hardware. 

Let’s dive more into 3D printing market trends statistics to get an overview of its development worldwide.

• As of 2018, the market for 3D printing earned revenues of $14.5 billion.
• More than 75% of American patients with damaged skulls from disease or trauma had their implants made by Oxford Performance Materials' 3D printer, according to the company.
• In 2022, North America was anticipated to contribute 34% to the growth of the worldwide 3D printing market.
• 49% of participants in the poll from 2022 reported using 3D printing for manufacturing runs involving more than 10 items.
• The additive manufacturing (AM) market is anticipated to enjoy rapid development and double in size, reaching a worth of $37.2 billion by 2026, according to the HUBS trend analysis.

• Hardware commands the highest part, accounting for over 63% of the market, when the 3D printing market is divided into software, hardware, and services.
• The functional components market is expected to grow rapidly for 3D printing applications, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.5% from 2021 to 2028.
• Metal makes up a major portion of the market for 3D printing materials, accounting for more than 48% of global revenue.
• Despite being relatively new, the ceramics market was anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 23.3% in 2022.
• By 2026, it’s anticipated that the market for CAD software and on-demand parts services will have tripled.
• Industrial printers account for a significant percentage of the 3D printing market's printer types, accounting for more than 76% of global sales.

3D printing industry statistics

3D printers are employed in various industries all around the world. There are currently so many users that industries are sometimes split into desktop and industrial categories. Industrial users operate large machinery in high-volume production, while desktop users work in smaller workshops, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities. 

Let’s learn more about 3D printing industry statistics to know how the manufacturing industries have a bright future.

• The manufacturing industry increasingly relies on 3D printing for anything from specialized parts for car interiors, spaceship engines, face shields, and masks for healthcare personnel to inventive pen holders.
• The market for 3D printing in North America was projected to be worth $5.72 billion in 2021.
• According to many analysts, the 3D printing market will expand between 18% and 27% annually, which is astoundingly fast.
• In 2021, close to 2.2 million 3D printers were shipped.
• In 2021, the market for 3D printing materials was worth $1.7 billion, while the equipment market was worth $4.5 billion.
• Manufacturers of 3D printers that are most profitable include AutoDesk, HP Inc., 3D Systems, Desktop Metal, and Proto Labs. AutoDesk has a market worth of more than $68.2 billion.

• More than $300 million in venture capital funding was given to 3D printing startups in 2018.
• Most companies that now utilize 3D technology (more than 23%) acknowledged investing more than $100,000 in it in 2020.
• When asked why they prefer 3D printing to alternative production techniques, 69% of respondents cited its exceptional capacity for producing intricate geometrical items, 52% praised its ability to iterate quickly, and 41% cited its capacity for mass customization.
• 38% of businesses that employ 3D printing technologies view it as their primary activity, while 18% have internal departments devoted to it and 16% use it in various areas. 
• More than half of companies that use 3D printers intend to expand to new materials, while 70% anticipate discovering new use cases and applications for them soon.

3D printing technology statistics

3D printing technology has benefited humanity and significantly contributed to solving pressing ecological problems. Let us learn about the most used 3D printing technology..

• The most widely used 3D printing technology is fused deposition modeling (FDM) or fused filament fabrication (FFF), like HP's Multi Jet Fusion. 71% of businesses that utilize FDM/FFF do it internally.
• The second most preferred method is selective laser sintering (SLS). However, 42% of its customers use it as an external service, which is the majority.
• Stereolithography (SLA), which once dominated the industry, is quickly being replaced by speedier technologies. The estimated market size for SLA in 2020 was $1.6 billion.
• As industries all around the world deal with growing worries about the usage of plastic, metal 3D printing is gaining popularity. 2018 saw the use of metal in 36% and plastic in 65% of 3D printers.

• 2.2 million 3D printers were supplied to clients globally. 
• Between one and two million people use 3D printers worldwide.
• There are 168,000 installed 3D printers in the UK.
• The ability of 3D printing to produce complex shapes is the main benefit, according to 69% of businesses. 
• 3D printing generated $3.7 billion in sales by 2021. It can overtake traditional manufacturing as the primary method for dental devices and restorations by 2027.

3D printing usage statistics

Witness the revolutionary technology's incredible development, awe-inspiring applications, and limitless potential usage. Let’s pave the road for the foreseeable future with some exciting 3D printing usage statistics.

• More than 68% of companies using 3D printing use it for prototyping and pre-series manufacturing.
• In 2020, it was calculated that the prototyping value of 3D printing was worth $4.4 billion.
• With 59% of respondents saying they used 3D printing in 2020, proof of concept is the second most popular use.
• 40% of businesses that employ 3D printing produce functional items, while 26% manufacture tools.
• 3D printing is used by 27% of businesses to produce finished consumer goods.
• Within the next ten years, the molds and tooling market is predicted to increase from $5.2 billion in 2020 to $20 billion.
• All different kinds of polymers, resins, metals, cement, and even a type of ceramic can be 3D printed. Even food is printed in 3D for fine dining. The concept is simple: using additive manufacturing, complex shapes may be created for food items like chocolate and purees.

• 3D printing is used for mass manufacturing in 18% of the cases, large series in 49% of the cases, and small series in 70% of the cases by the companies who reported significant expenditures in the technology.
• Adidas is a company that manufactures 3D printed products in large quantities; its 4DFWD running shoes have 3D printed soles.
• More 3D printing might cut waste by up to 95%.

3D printing growth opportunities statistics

As 3D printing technology develops, materials grow more varied, and applications become more pervasive, there is a tremendous amount of room for future developments. These statistics give a complete picture of the additive manufacturing market growth and its applications.

• According to 55% of the organizations polled, adopting 3D printing can boost supply chain flexibility. It will simplify logistics, transit, and stock management. Shipping material things as digital files is now a viable alternative because of 3D printing.
• According to 69% of 3D printing users, the technology needs to become more dependable and affordable. 29% of respondents claimed that they lack confidence in the dependability of 3D printing is a significant project-specific disincentive.
• Up to 71% of companies think they don't have the knowledge or training needed to use 3D printing technology efficiently.
• The market for orthopedics 3D printing was estimated to be worth $691 million in 2018 and is expected to reach $3.7 billion by 2027.
• Including materials, services, software, and hardware, the medical 3D printing market is presently valued at $1.25 billion.
• Over 49% annual growth rates in unit volume was seen for 3D printer shipments in 2019. 
• By 2024, the metal AM hardware market is anticipated to generate over $4 billion in revenue.
• Large companies post new 3D printing jobs regularly (36.3%), but very small entities (VSEs), small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and intermediate-sized enterprises (ETIs) aren't far behind, with 30.7% of published offers.
• While 4.6% of the automobile industry has long utilized 3D printing, several manufacturers have recently decided to establish their facilities for additive production. 
• A study by A.T. Kearney projects that by 2027, 3D printing will be responsible for 2-3 million new jobs.
• The market for goods and services related to 3D printing expanded to $5.1 billion in 2022.

The future is 3D

The breadth of potential 3D applications and opportunities will grow as technology's capabilities progress. 3D printing has become a popular topic in the tech industry. It is unsurprising considering how it used to take at least a year to build a house, but now we can create one in a shorter time.

Many industries are considering using 3D printing technology. This includes sectors like aviation, automotive, construction, medical, and even the food industry employing 3D printing to enhance products and streamline manufacturing processes.

The above statistics highlight its significant capacity to transform industries and promote innovation. With manufacturers gaining a better understanding of 3D printing technology, it will be widely used to grow businesses.