Economic Analysis of 3D-Printed Hempcrete Buildings (2025-08)¶

This paper studies the economic viability of single-story three-dimensional printed hempcrete (3DPH) housing by developing initial construction cost estimates for 16 US cities representing the respective climate zones identified by the US Department of Energy. Estimates are also created for similar 3D-printed concrete (3DPC) prototypes and conventional construction types, such as concrete block masonry and light-weight wood frame construction. These estimates are used to compare the construction costs across the four building types, namely, 3DPH, 3DPC, concrete block masonry, and light-weight wood frame housing, and to identify specific implications of using 3D printing on the material and installation costs. The cost comparisons show the average construction cost (excluding land acquisition costs and architectural fees) of 3DPH prototype housing to be 15%, 36%, and 52% higher than that of similar 3DPC housing, conventional concrete block masonry housing, and light-weight wood frame housing, respectively. The effects of three print design parameters—the cost of hempcrete material, printing nozzle speed, and infill area ratio of the wall cross section—on the construction cost of the superstructure of the 3DPH houses are also studied, showing that the initial costs can be reduced to 17% higher than that of light-weight wood frame construction. A market survey, which involves interviewing potential technology stakeholders, is conducted to explore the competitiveness of 3DPH construction further. The findings of the market survey regarding the prospective market for 3DPH homes are presented, and the entailing challenges for the industry are identified.