After testing the top 3D printers on the market, here are my favorite picks that are worth your money.
CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise. printing machine equipment
What material type do you need?
Filament (FDM) is best for large useful prints, while resin is great for tiny details.
How big do you want to print?
If you want to make large cosplay items, a bigger print area is best. 220x220 or more should be the goal.
What's your budget?
A smaller budget doesn't have to mean a worse machine, but you should expect to tinker.
CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.
What material type do you need?
Filament (FDM) is best for large useful prints, while resin is great for tiny details.
How big do you want to print?
If you want to make large cosplay items, a bigger print area is best. 220x220 or more should be the goal.
What's your budget?
A smaller budget doesn't have to mean a worse machine, but you should expect to tinker.
Finding the right 3D printer can be tricky with so many choices out there. I've been testing and reviewing these machines for years, and I've put together this guide to help you find the perfect one for your needs.
My journey with 3D printing started about 10 years ago when I traded my old phone for a printer. I spent tons of time tweaking those early machines and even sold my creations on Etsy. Over the years, I've even bought new machines to try out, testing out all of their strengths and weaknesses. Eventually, I started reviewing 3D printers as my job, but I never lost the excitement of seeing something amazing come off the print bed, even after testing so many 3D printers.
After putting in hundreds of hours testing different printers, we've put together this list, making sure there's something for everyone, no matter your project type or budget. When you're shopping for a printer, you'll want to consider two key things: print speed and accuracy. If you want to get more creative, check out options like multicolor printing or the ability to use different materials.
Whether you want a resin 3D printer to make miniatures for your Dungeons & Dragons game or a large-format one to make cosplay armor, we have the right 3D printer in this list. This guide also features considerations you might not have considered, such as print speed, build plate size, material costs, print head type and other essential details.
I've spent almost a decade and countless hours testing 3D printers in as many ways as possible to bring you the best 3D printers in every class. Right now, the Bambu Lab A1 Combo is our frontrunner: It's fast, can produce excellent detail and it's well priced at $489. It also comes with an excellent color system, allowing you to print in four different colors.
These models by Fotis Mint are extremely detailed.
I rarely find a product that impresses me, but the A1 Combo left me genuinely amazed with its performance and value. This 3D printer is excellent, with fast, quality printing at a great price. Adding the AMS lite elevates it to the best printer you can buy right now. Plus, its four-color printing for less than $600 is such a good deal; I'm still baffled by how the company pulls off that pricing. There is a lot that I can say about this machine, most of which can be read about in my A1 Combo review, but the most important part of it is how simple it is to use. From opening the box to printing my first quality print took minutes and it continues to produce fantastic models months after my first try. The A1 creates a lot of waste when printing in color, but that is not a good reason not to buy this machine. Whether it's your first printer or another one for your collection, the A1 Combo is the number one printer to buy right now.
Update: Prusa has released a new version of the Mk4, the Mk4S. It's an incremental upgrade but adds a lot of great features. It's faster -- it gets closer to that 500mm/s stated time in real life -- and the addition of an app and proper WiFi connections makes it a solid purchase for anyone. No best 3D printer list is complete without the Prusa MK4. For nearly a decade, Prusa has dominated the market and the Mk4 continues the trend of excellent quality and customer care.
It is fast, though not the fastest, and always creates quality prints. I can count the number of print fails from MK4 on one finger, and I have been using it for months now. If you have the money, the Mk4 is well worth the investment. Read more: Prusa Mk4 Review
The P1S is an updated version of our previous best 3D printer winner, the P1P. Each of the updates to the machine -- plastic side panels, glass top and door, camera, part fan and LED light -- helped land the P1S as our previous No. 1 pick. It's now been supplanted by another Bambu machine, but it still holds up as the best-enclosed printer you can buy.
The quality of the models and their speed are amazing and very few printers offer both of these aspects anywhere near the same price. The P1S beats out its predecessor, even though it is the same machine in every mechanical way, because the case and door make it a more well-rounded product.
The Kobra 3 is the first color combo 3D printer from one of the more budget-friendly manufacturers. It's a good machine, with a lot of nice little features. It prints at a good speed, and the ACE color system is positioned flexibly. It also keeps the filament secure and handles just about any filament roll you can throw at it. Models have been excellent and the color system handles the color changes well, though the software does create a barrier.
The software is the biggest barrier to the entire machine. I don't know why 3D printing companies invest so little time in Slicer software, given that it can make or break the experience. That said, Anycubic is working on a brand-new Slicer that may tip the scales back in their favor. Stay tuned.
The A1 Mini Combo is an almost perfect entry to the world of color 3D printing. It's well-priced, and while the build area is small, the quality of the print -- and the fact you can print in four colors straight out of the box -- is amazing. I've spent hours using it to make cool little things for kids and having them learn what all the pieces do, too. The Mini Combo comes with an app that makes it simple to get started and allows you to monitor the print while you are away. The software on your computer is easy to use and can be set up immediately. If you are unsure about 3D printing and want a cheap way to get started, this is the printer for you.
printing equipments Read more: A1 Mini Combo review