Step 1 of 9
Extruder Steps /
Rotation Distance
First calibration — how much your extruder actually extrudes per command. This is the foundation for accurate and consistent prints.
⏱
Time
5–10 min
📊
Difficulty
Beginner
⚡
Impact
Critical
ℹ️
Why this matters: If your E-steps are wrong, every other calibration will be wrong. Temperature tower, PA, EM — they all assume the extruder is accurate. Get this right first.
1
Follow These Stepsℹ
Find your current Rotation Distance
Before calibrating, find the Rotation Distance currently configured for your extruder. You’ll need this value in the calculator.
Show me where →
Open printer.cfg and find the [extruder] section.
[extruder]step_pin: ...dir_pin: ...rotation_distance: 33.500
Enter only the number, for example 33.500.
Tip: Use your config editor’s search and search for "rotation_distance".
📍
Mark your filament
Measure 120mm from the extruder entry and make a clear mark with a marker.
⌨️
Paste the command in the console
Use the Klipper command shown below to extrude exactly 100mm.
📏
Measure what is left
After extrusion finishes, measure the remaining distance between the extruder entry and your mark.
🔢
Enter the remaining distance
Type that remaining distance in the calculator. We calculate the real extrusion and give you the new firmware value.
Console command for Klipper
M83 _CLIENT_LINEAR_MOVE E=100 F=100
If your Klipper console does not support _CLIENT_LINEAR_MOVE, use this fallback:
M83 G1 E100 F100
⭐ Pro Tip
Do the test 2–3 times and average the results for best accuracy. Cold extruder = inaccurate results — always heat to print temperature first.
2
Calculatormm
ⓘ Where do I find this value?
Find your current Rotation Distance
Open your Klipper configuration file (printer.cfg) and find the [extruder] section.
[extruder]step_pin: ...dir_pin: ...rotation_distance: 33.500gear_ratio: ...
The value after rotation_distance is the number you need. In this example, enter 33.500.
Can’t find it? Search your configuration for "rotation_distance".
Fixed test values
Mark distance
120 mm
Extrude command
100 mm
mm
⊗Common Mistakes
⊗Marking filament at wrong position
⊗Using wrong units (mm vs cm)
⊗Too much friction in the extruder
⊗Not measuring straight with calipers
⊗Not saving the new value to firmware
→Next Step
PID Tuning
Stabilize hotend and bed temperature for consistent calibration results.
Go to PID Tuning →