Grandpa Cad LogoGrandpaCAD
Grandpa Cad LogoGrandpaCAD
Sign upSign in

E-Steps Calibration Calculator

Calibrate your 3D printer's extruder to ensure it pushes exactly the right amount of filament.

How to Measure

  1. Heat up your nozzle to your printing temperature.
  2. Mark your filament exactly 120mm from the extruder intake.
  3. Extrude exactly 100mm of filament using your printer's menu.
  4. Measure the distance from the extruder intake to your mark. Enter this as "Measured Remaining".

Current Settings

Measurements

New E-Steps

Update Firmware To
93.00
Actual Extruded100.00 mm
DifferencePerfectly calibrated

How to save:

  • Marlin: Send M92 E93.00 then M500 to save to EEPROM.
  • Klipper: Update rotation_distance in printer.cfg under [extruder], then restart.
Note: Always perform this calibration with the hotend at printing temperature, but without passing filament through the nozzle (remove Bowden tube) for best results, OR extrude slowly to avoid pressure buildup.

What are E-Steps?

"E-Steps" stands for Extruder Steps. It is a setting in your 3D printer's firmware that defines how many steps the stepper motor needs to turn to feed exactly 1 millimeter of filament.

Think of it as the "steps per millimeter" for your extruder. If this value is incorrect, your printer acts blindly:

  • Over-extrusion: The printer pushes more plastic than expected, causing blobs, zits, and poor dimensional accuracy.
  • Under-extrusion: The printer pushes less plastic than expected, leading to gaps between layers, weak parts, and top surfaces that aren't solid.
Calibrating your E-Steps is the foundational step for a well-tuned printer. It ensures the mechanical movement matches the software instructions.

Step-by-Step Guide

1

Preparation

Preheat your nozzle to your standard printing temperature (e.g., 200°C for PLA). This ensures the plastic melts correctly and flows without excessive resistance.

2

Mark the Filament

Measure exactly 120mm from the entrance of your extruder (where the filament goes in) and make a clear mark on the filament with a sharpie.

3

Extrude

Tell your printer to extrude 100mm of filament. You can do this via the printer's screen menu (often under "Move Axis" > "Extruder") or using a G-code command like G1 E100 F100.

4

Measure & Calculate

Measure the distance from the extruder entrance to the mark you made. Ideally, if it extruded perfectly, you should have 20mm left (120mm - 100mm). Enter your measurement in the calculator above.

Pro Tips for Accuracy

Remove the Bowden Tube

For the most accurate result, disconnect the Bowden tube from the extruder. This removes nozzle back-pressure from the equation, measuring only the extruder's raw movement. Keep the hotend heated and extrude slowly into free air.

Check Hardware First

Before calibrating, ensure your extruder gears are clean of plastic dust and the tension arm isn't cracked (a very common issue on plastic Ender 3 extruders).

Don't Chase Perfection

If you are within 0.5% of your target, you are likely close enough for most hobbyist prints. Further tuning should be done via "Flow Rate" (extrusion multiplier) in your slicer for specific filaments.

Save Your Settings

Don't forget to save! On Marlin, use M500. On Klipper, use SAVE_CONFIG. If you just turn off the printer, your new E-Steps might be lost.

Ready to take your 3D modeling to the next level?

Create complex 3D models in seconds using our AI-powered generator. No CAD experience required.

Try GrandpaCAD for Free