3D printing, also called additive manufacturing in many market and policy reports, spans printers, materials, software, services, and production workflows. The figures below cover global markets, U.S. manufacturing and dental practices, COVID-19 response efforts in France and the United States, and company-reported industry structure; definitions and periods differ across sources.
Key 3D Printing Statistics
The most broadly useful figures include:
- In 2011, global additive-manufactured-goods revenue was estimated at $642.6 million.
- In 2011, the United States accounted for an estimated $468.9 million of global additive-manufactured-goods revenue.
- From approximately 1988 to 2013, worldwide additive-manufacturing product and service revenue had a 25.4% compound annual growth rate.
- A 2013 NIST scenario forecast additive manufacturing exceeding $4.4 billion globally in 2020.
- A separate NIST scenario forecast $16.0 billion in global additive manufacturing by 2025.
- A 2013 NIST long-range scenario forecast $196.8 billion in additive manufacturing by 2035.
- A Saudi Industrial Development Fund feature reported approximately $15.3 billion in global additive-manufacturing market size in 2021.
- In November 2022, 17% of responding U.S. dental practices reported currently using a 3D printer.
- In November 2022, 67% of U.S. dental-practice printer users had used the technology for less than two years.
- In November 2022, 44% of U.S. dental-practice printer nonusers cited laboratory dependence as a reason for not owning one.
- In November 2022, diagnostic models were used by 62% of surveyed U.S. dental-practice printer users.
- In a 2014 NIST assessment, additively manufactured products represented less than 1% of U.S. manufactured products.
- A 2013-based model estimated $667 million in global value added from additive manufacturing.
- During the 2020 U.S. community PPE response, reported per-unit production costs ranged from about $2 to $20.
- During the 2020 French COVID-19 response through June 9, 98 centers reported producing more than 84,000 3D-printed pieces.
- During that French response period, around 6,109 patients were helped and around 41,091 caregivers were protected.
- The WCO reported approximately 133,000 3D printers shipped worldwide in 2014.
- The WCO estimated $3.3 billion in worldwide 3D-printing-market sales in 2014, including printers, materials, and services.
Contents
- Market size, revenue, and long-term 3D printing trends
- 3D printing adoption in manufacturing and dental practices
- Applications and outcomes by 3D printing sector
- 3D printing costs, economics, and production scale
- COVID-19 3D printing response and operational data
- 3D printing companies and technology landscape
Market Size, Revenue, and Long-Term 3D Printing Trends
Historical estimates show how differently market definitions can frame the scale of additive manufacturing. NIST’s Economics of the U.S. Additive Manufacturing Industry estimated global additive-manufactured-goods revenue at $642.6 million in 2011, with the United States contributing an estimated $468.9 million and representing an estimated 72.9% of global production revenue in that year.
These are historical estimates of production revenue, not a complete measure of every 3D-printing activity.
The same NIST source cited a 25.4% CAGR for worldwide additive-manufacturing product and service revenue over approximately 1988–2013: NIST, Economics of the U.S. Additive Manufacturing Industry.
| Period or year | Measure | Figure and status |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Global additive-manufactured-goods revenue | $642.6 million, estimate |
| 2011 | U.S. additive-manufactured-goods revenue | $468.9 million, estimate |
| 2021 | Global additive-manufacturing market size | Approximately $15.3 billion, estimate |
| 2040 | Global additive-manufacturing market size | $363.6 billion, forecast |
A Saudi Industrial Development Fund annual-report feature, citing the Wohlers Report 2022, reported approximately $15.3 billion in global additive-manufacturing market size in 2021 and 24% year-on-year growth over the prior period. The same feature projected $363.6 billion by 2040, attributing that projection to a McKinsey additive-manufacturing study: Saudi Industrial Development Fund feature.
NIST’s 2013 analysis also modeled a different adoption path, forecasting more than $4.4 billion in 2020, $16.0 billion in 2025, and $196.8 billion in 2035. These are scenario forecasts, not observed market totals, and should not be merged with later estimates that use different definitions: NIST, Costs and Cost Effectiveness of Additive Manufacturing.
3D Printing Adoption in Manufacturing and Dental Practices
Adoption statistics depend heavily on the population being surveyed. A U.S. survey published in 2017 measured adoption drivers among 270 manufacturing top-management representatives, but its sample size provides context for the analysis rather than an adoption rate: NIST, Economics of the U.S. Additive Manufacturing Industry.
The American Dental Association panel survey provides a more specific snapshot of practice-level use in November 2022. Among 277 respondents, with a 27% response rate, 17% of responding dental practices reported current 3D-printer use.
- Among current dental-practice printer users, 67% had used the technology for less than two years.
- Among nonusers, 21% were considering investing in a printer in 2023.
- Among nonusers, 35% were considering obtaining 3D-printing training.
- Among nonusers, 44% cited laboratory dependence as a reason for not owning a printer.
- 39% cited high financial investment as a barrier.
- 34% cited lack of perceived benefit as a barrier.
These percentages describe the ADA panel sample, not all U.S. dental practices, and the barrier question allowed multiple reasons. Source: ADA Clinical Evaluators Panel survey.
After adoption, 61% of user practices reported staff additions and training, while 51% reported collaboration with dental laboratories. Those figures describe reported practice changes among surveyed users rather than independently measured staffing or productivity outcomes.
Applications and Outcomes by 3D Printing Sector
Dental-practice applications in the November 2022 ADA survey were varied and could overlap. Diagnostic models were reported by 62% of printer-using practices, while splints and occlusal devices were reported by 50% and surgical guides by 48%.
| Dental-practice measure | Share of surveyed printer users | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic models | 62% | Reported application |
| Splints and occlusal devices | 50% | Reported application |
| Surgical guides | 48% | Reported application |
| Complementing or enhancing digital technologies | 63% | Reported use |
| Workflow control | 50% | Reported use |
| Improving efficiency | 50% | Reported use |
| Reducing cost or manufacturing time | 43% | Reported use |
The same respondents described why they used 3D printing. 63% reported complementing or enhancing other digital technologies, 50% reported workflow control, 50% reported improving efficiency, and 48% reported using existing digital skills or procedures.
43% reported reducing cost or manufacturing time.
Perceived advantages were not the same as audited outcomes: 68% reported improved efficiency as an advantage and 44% reported reduced cost. These measures are self-reported and allow multiple applications or reasons: ADA Clinical Evaluators Panel survey.
3D Printing Costs, Economics, and Production Scale
NIST’s cost study placed additive manufacturing in a broader manufacturing context. Its 2014 report assessment estimated that additively manufactured products represented less than 1% of all manufactured products in the United States.
A 2013-based supply-chain analysis estimated $667 million in global additive-manufacturing value added, equal to 0.01% of total global manufacturing value added.
For the United States, that analysis estimated $241 million in additive-manufacturing value added and 0.02% of relevant U.S. manufacturing industries. The global and U.S. percentages use different denominators, so they are not a single comparable market-share series: NIST, Costs and Cost Effectiveness of Additive Manufacturing.
Community production during the 2020 U.S. pandemic response illustrates the range of small-scale operating economics. A survey of 74 people involved in informal PPE-production efforts found self-reported per-unit costs from about $2 to $20, with 51 respondents reporting costs under $5.
The same study found a 0.78 Spearman correlation between the number of FFF printers and parts produced per day. This is a correlation for the study’s FFF subset, not proof that adding printers alone caused the output difference; materials and donated stock also varied.
The study additionally reviewed 145 publicly available news stories, and 22 respondents reported using several different filament types: Community-driven PPE production study.
COVID-19 3D Printing Response and Operational Data
COVID-19 response figures describe exceptional, time-bounded efforts rather than ordinary 3D-printing activity. In France, a nationwide survey covering 98 centers through June 9, 2020 reported more than 84,000 3D-printed pieces, helping around 6,109 patients and protecting around 41,091 caregivers.
External printers were used in 91 of 98 cases, or 92.85%, where “external” meant printers outside the healthcare center. The totals are survey-reported, and the patient and caregiver figures use approximate wording: The role of three-dimensional printing in coronavirus disease-19 medical management: A French nationwide survey.
In the United States, an FDA-funded America Makes project had a $300,000 contract value during September 2020–February 2021. The linked impact survey examined additive-manufacturing response actions from February 15 through July 15, 2020, but the contract value is project funding, not total U.S. 3D-printing response spending: FDA, Assessing the Role of Additive Manufacturing in Support of the U.S. COVID-19 Response.
3D Printing Companies and Technology Landscape
The WCO’s historical market snapshot reported approximately 133,000 3D printers shipped worldwide in 2014, with shipments increasing by up to 68% from 2013 to 2014. It put total 2014 3D-printing-market sales, including printers, materials, and services, at $3.3 billion, up 34% from 2013, and estimated 2015 sales at $5.2 billion and 2020 sales at $20.2 billion; the latter two figures were forecasts in that historical report: WCO, Study Report on Disruptive Technologies.
Company disclosures show how one major supplier organizes the field, but they do not establish industry-wide market share. In its 2023 Form 10-K, 3D Systems reported more than 35 years of experience, organized solutions into two key verticals—Healthcare Solutions and Industrial Solutions—and listed four core solution categories: printers, materials, software, and services.
The company markets through three geographic regions: Americas, EMEA, and APAC. These are company portfolio and reporting classifications, not independent measurements of industry structure: 3D Systems Corporation 2023 Form 10-K Annual Report.
The figures across this overview should therefore be read with their definitions attached: additive manufacturing and 3D printing overlap where sources use them together, while market totals, survey populations, response efforts, and company classifications measure different parts of the technology.