Best 1000 dollar 3d printer

Best 3D printers under $1,000 in 2022

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Written By Gabriel Morgan

Updated Jul 13, 2022 12:30 PM

Load up the filament, transfer your slices … the best 3D printers under $1,000 have all the tools that most makers will need to give form to their visions. You might be a hobbyist separately printing and carefully-painting each gargantuan wing of the great gold-dragon for your next D&D campaign. Maybe you’re printing a grip for your old film camera to make it more comfortable to hold. Or perhaps you’re creating a custom prop for a photoshoot for much less than the cost of buying it. Whatever your aims, 3D printers at the sub $1000 price point should give you enough power to achieve them. If you want to go even cheaper, you can check out the best 3D printers for kids.

This article focuses on 3D printers at the high-hundreds price-point, that still hover below $1000. At this price point 3D printers get quite capable, delivering some really great features like auto-leveling trays, blistering extruders capable of working with wider sets of materials (such as nylon), extremely high-resolution resin prints, air-filtration, quieter operation, better-connectivity, and dual extruders. Read on for a look at some of the best 3D printers under $1000, and just what it is that makes them so.

• Best overall: R QIDI X-Plus
• Best resin: ANYCUBIC Photon Mono X 6K
• Best dual extruder: BIBO 3D Printer Dual Extruder
• Best kit: Original Prusa i3 MK3S+ kit
• Best budget: Creality Ender-3 S1

3D printers are stuffed full of tech, from their blistering-hot extruders, to their auto leveling trays, to WiFi, and 4k+ LCD arrays for curing liquid resin, Even the Bowden mechanism that’s often used to channel filament comes from an important invention for bicycle construction. With so many mechanical inventions and systems crammed into one device, 3D printers are inherently technical. Because of this, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with some parts of how the technology works before you buy. 

With the first functional 3D printers built in the 1980s, 3D printers didn’t begin to pervade the mass market until the 2000s. While a few inventors and scientists were concurrently working on different elements of technology that would be incorporated into the 3D printer systems of today, Bill Masters was the first inventor who filed a 3D printer patent. 

The inventor was camping on the banks of the Chattanooga river one night, staring up at the stars, when the idea came to him. He imagined using one star as a seed point, and then combining the other dots of starlight to create any shape he liked. His analogy for the additive manufacturing process that defines FDM printers of now, is great, likening the tech to “spit wads,” similar to the ones so many children familiarize themselves with at a day in the mall, “When you shoot a lot of wads, they begin to take shape. If you can control the direction of the wads and the motion of the device shooting them, you can produce any desired shape.” We love it.

While there are numerous classes of 3D printers, there are three main families. These are fused deposition modeling (FDM), stereolithography (SLA), and selective laser sintering (SLS). Selective laser sintering uses a laser to fuse powdered material, which is distributed across a bed with a roller. SLS printers are capable of delivering strong functional prints that are sturdy enough for immediate incorporation into manufactured systems. However, the SLS process is very expensive, and is out of reach for most DIY tinkerers. At the sub-$1000 price point, this article focuses on FDM and SLA printers.

FDM printers are the most common and economical 3D printers on the market. These printers use a superheated nozzle to extrude filament downward onto a heated, leveled tray, building the model up slice-by-slice. FDM printers are suitable for quick prototyping, proof of concepts, and finished projects, and tend to be more economical and user-friendly. FDM printers usually also deliver a greater build area than SLA printers for the price.

FDM printers create objects out of thermoplastics. These common plastics have chemical properties that allow them to melt, form into a shape, and then melt again. These plastics are inherently recyclable, and many are quite cheap. The most common thermoplastics used in FDM printers include ABS, PLA, PETG, and TPU. Some also print nylon, and more. 

These thermoplastics have different properties, some are food safe, while others are biodegradable, others are non-toxic for skin contact. However, the manner in which thermoplastic deposits fuse is primarily mechanical, rather than chemical, which runs the risk of leaving voids (or open spaces) in the walls of the print, which leads to inferior structural integrity on the Z axis.

SLA printers use a different process from FDM printers, whereby a laser, or LCD array cures resin in a liquid resin bath, and extrudes it upwards slice by slice. These printers fuse the print onto a heated tray, and lifts it, upside-down, from the liquid resin. They are capable of printing parts and models with greater structural integrity and detail. Because of their high print resolution, SLA printers are the go-to for most hobbyists looking to build intricate models and figurines.

SLA printers use thermosetting plastics (thermosets). These resins cure into shape, and cannot be heated to dissolve, rather, heat causes their decomposition. This means that thermosets are not recyclable. However, the curing process of resins give them superior structural integrity to thermoplastics, as the plastic chemically fuses, creating covalent bonds between molecules. These resins achieve prints with better detail, resolution, and strength. Thermoset variety is also wide, including clear resins, wiggly resins, high temp resins, and even dental grade resins. 

Because there’s so much that goes into great 3D printers there were a lot of features to factor when we were researching the five best. We researched numerous printers from multiple manufacturers, looking for the best feature sets, wherein all parts collaborate for a gestalt of function that’s the most useful for the makers of today. Along the way we looked for a few specific features which we detailed below:

Versatility is always nice. At the mid-level price point below $1000, we start seeing FDM printers that are capable of nylon and some more advanced thermoplastics. We also start seeing SLA printers that are capable of more. We noted this wherever it stood out.

Tray functions are so important to overall printer quality. We looked for printers with trays that get hot enough to keep your models well-secured. We also looked for printers that have auto-leveling functionality, or at least excellent semi-auto leveling. 

Extruder & LCD (or laser) quality is extremely important for 3D printing. Extruder quality plays a big role in which thermoplastics the printer can handle. Great extruders get hot, and are light enough to work well with the system. Different extruder dimensions also play into their use for different situations. Some systems even use two extruders. For SLA systems the LCD array (or laser) is extremely important in getting good print resolution and smooth forms. 

Overall precision is achieved through lots of factors, but we like to see FDM printers with a multi-column lift system. We looked for FDM printers that don’t leave lines, burrs, or slice edges visible on the sides of the print. We also looked for SLA printers that yield high-res prints with smooth curves.

Connectivity & slicing software can define the quality of your print experience just as much as some of the more mechanical components of your system. Wireless connection is always nice, and printers with a few gigabytes of internal storage also offer a boon. Compatibility with lots of slicing software or one especially good one is also important and we noted this.

User experience and assembly also cannot be overlooked. Some printers get loud — we mean infernal giant-water-bears crawling from the pit sort-of loud (do water-bears roar?). Where we found printers that deal well with sound and fumes, we highlighted them. We also noted the required assembly of each printer. Some want highly customizable printers that might require longer assembly but are capable of modding, but not all do.

Best overall: R QIDI X-Plus

R QIDI TECHNOLOGY

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Why It Made The Cut: An FDM printer with easily-serviceable standard parts, an optional auxiliary-extruder that enables it to print more technical materials, and outstanding customer service.  

Specs:

• Print technology: FDM
• Build size: 10.6 x 7.9 x 7.9 inches
• Supported materials: PLA, TPU, PETG, ABS, Nylon, PC, Carbon fiber, and more
• Best slicer software: QIDI Print Slicer (included free)

Pros

• Second extruder for technical-material free upon request
• Excellent customer service and support
• Very easy assembly & simple repair
• High res-smooth prints

Cons

• Manual bed leveling
• Wifi issues with non-QIDI software

Something of a plug-and-play machine, the R QIDI X-Plus is a highly capable FDM printer that has an expanded range of materials, possible via a free supplementary extruder. With easily repaired standard parts, and great customer support, it’s an easy best-overall choice for most.

Shipped from China, the semi-enclosed X-Plus takes hardly any set up. It comes with a standard extruder suitable for PLA, ABS, and TPU. A second technical-material extruder is also available with your purchase free-of-charge by request (which belies the companies communication-forward ethos), and is capable of materials like Nylon, PC, Carbon fiber, and more. To be clear, this second extruder is swappable, rather than supplementary, this isn’t a dual-extruder rig, and the second extruder won’t work in tandem with the standard. However, the technical nozzle is a nice touch, that firmly differentiates this machine from cheaper FDM’s in the sub-$500 price range. 

QIDI is all about customer support and easy repairs. Not only are the majority of the parts in this system standard and easily replaceable, but the majority of replacements are also easy to DIY, with included tools for most hardware in the system. QIDI offers exceptional customer service, with knowledgeable agents ready to send you repair parts as needed, and help troubleshoot issues.

While the X-Plus doesn’t have the automatic leveling you might like at this price point, it does have a semi-auto, single-point quick-level system that is reliable and easy. It features QIDI Print Slicer software, that’s free to use with any QIDI system All-in-all, while this system might not be as appealing to hardcore tinkerers as some, those who want consistent quality with easy set-up, good customer support, and a wider than average range of available materials will love it. 

Best Resin: ANYCUBIC Photon Mono X 6K

Why It Made The Cut: 6K LCDs mean better resolution than ever, with more detail and contrast, more build volume, and faster speeds.

Specs:

• Print technology: SLA
• Build size: 9.6 x 7.8 x 4.8 inches
• Supported materials: Resin
• Best slicer software: Anycubic Photon Workshop (free), ChiTuBox, Lychee, more

Pros

• Extreme print detail and resolution
• Great contrast
• Fast, at up to 1s / layer in some instances
• Great out of the box prints

Cons

• Poor connectivity options
• Very smelly

6K — that’s a lot of LCDs, and the ANYCUBIC Photon Mono X 6K leverages them all for extremely high-resolution prints with impeccable contrast. ANYCUBIC is one of the most popular lines of SLA resin printers, and the Photon Mono X is one of the most impressive dogs in the pack. 

With its 6K LCDs the Photon Mono X 6K uses an 9.25 inch monochrome LCD array, with 6% light transmittance, which means quicker printing. The machine is fast, and ANYCUBIC brags up to 1s / layer, in ideal circumstances. Its LCD’s deliver extreme contrast that’s noticeable, and the model sports a much larger build area than its cousins, at 9.6 x 7.8 x 4.8 inches.

ANYCUBIC is compatible with lots of the great slicer software packs, from ChiTuBox, to Lychee, and offers the proprietary Anycubic Photon Workshop free of charge. Sadly, getting your slices to the printer is more difficult than it could be, as the printer’s Wifi is notoriously spotty. It’s built around its LCD screen control and SD card reader, meaning SD is the best way-to-play. Those who like to keep their SLA printer on a well ventilated back porch will appreciate not having to keep their printer connected to a laptop, but those who want to set up a printer farm might groan. Otherwise, it’s a great buy, offering some of the best quality resin prints out there.

Best dxtruder: BIBO 3D Printer Dual Extruder

Why It Made The Cut: Solid dual extruder support means lots of techniques you can’t get at with other FDM printers, plus WiFi and a touchscreen make it easy to use.

Specs:

• Print technology: FDM
• Build size: 8.4 x 7.3 x 6.3 inches
• Supported materials: ABS, PLA, Dissolvable filament (PVA, HIPS), TPU, PETG, Nylon, PC, Carbon fiber, and more
• Best slicer software: Repetier-Host, Cura, Simplify3D 

Pros

• Dual extruders
• Minimal easy assembly
• Wifi control
• Good customer support

Cons

• Difficult maintenance and usability
• Bed isn’t easy to level

If you’re moving up from a basic machine, the BIBO 3D’s dual extruders can open doors you didn’t even know were closed. These include printing dissolvable supports, printing with multiple colors, and 3D printing two duplicate objects simultaneously. But these dual extruders aren’t the BIBO 3D’s only bargaining chip. 

BIBO 3D does a good job with a wider range of materials. Beyond the standards like ABS and PLA, it prints more technical thermoplastics like flexible nylon, and carbon fiber. The system uses an easy touch-screen control panel to set up prints, and can also be controlled via Wifi, meaning you can control it from your phone. 

The machine does have a couple of blindspots. Its leveling control isn’t as intuitive as you would expect at the price point. The machine is also packed tight with features, with screws in odd places, and somewhat abstract engineering overall. These issues are offset by great customer service from the company, but they do make the machine’s usability somewhat less optimal than some of the competition. It’s a great option for tinkerers who want extra extruders and wider material possibilities, but in spite of its initial assembly, it may be more hands on than some want.

Best kit: Original Prusa i3 MK3S+ kit

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Why It Made The Cut: Taking a DIY ethos all the way, the Prusa i3 kit is open-sourced and powerful, with a state-of-the-art-extruder, exceptional leveling, wide filament support and more.

Specs:

• Print technology: FDM
• Build size: 9.84 × 8.3 × 8.3 inches
• Supported materials: PLA, PETG, ASA, ABS, PC (Polycarbonate), CPE, PVA / BVOH, PVB, HIPS, PP (Polypropylene), Flex, nGen, Nylon, Carbon filled, Woodfill
• Best slicer software: PrusaSlicer (proprietary), open source

Pros

• Mesh bed leveling details leveling for every print
• Excellent extruder that can handle an extra wide set of features
• Open source with strong user base for help with all sorts of mods and use cases
• Easy to remove prints

Cons

• Kit requires detailed and rigorous assembly
• Long lead-times for production, allow weeks before it arrives

You can’t get far into 3D printing turf without hearing the name Prusa, and it’s not hard to see why with the Original Prusa i3 MK3S+ kit (an assembled version is also available for a couple hundred more). This kit is a DIY maker’s dream, including some of the best tools in its class for 3D printing. 

There’s a few things that make the Prusa i3 special, but we’ll start with its basics. It features a state-of-the-art extruder, as well as an excellent filament monitor. The extruder can handle a much wider than average set of filaments, including the standards, as well as nice additions such as woodfill, and abrasive nylon carbon-fiber. The printer also features an excellent fully automatic bed-leveling system that checks your bed before every print. If that’s not enough, its removable spring steel-sheets make it easy to extract your finished print.

In the end the Prusa i3 is one of the best options out there at the under $1000 price-point, and debatably beats out our top overall pick, the R QIDI X-Plus. However, for the Prusa to reach its full potential this machine requires an operator and builder who rejoices in getting through the weeds that are a major part of its construction, and making it out the other side. This is a printer for tinkerers and DIY makers, and when it’s well understood and loved, it can do wonders.

Best budget: Creality Ender-3 S1

Why It Made The Cut: Markedly more affordable than the rest of the printers on this list, the Ender-3 offers some pro level prototyping features, in an upgradeable build that’s priced for beginners.

Specs:

• Print technology: FDM
• Build size: 8.6 x 8.6 x 10.2 inches
• Supported materials: PLA, TPU, PETG, ABS
• Best slicer software: Open source (No preferred), Cura, Simplify3D, PrusaSlicer

Pros

• Open sourced and upgradeable
• Very precise extruder with dual lift
• 16 point auto level
• Easy assembly

Cons

• Loud prints
• Limited feature set compared to more expensive options

Our pick for the best 3d printer under 500, the Creality Ender-3 S1 is still worth a look, even if your possible budget could maybe allow for something pricier. Alongside Prusa, Creality’s Ender series is ever recognizable, and potentially the best known series for beginners. This open-source and expandable system gives you more room to print with than some systems that cost twice as much. With an extruder that hits 500 degrees Fahrenheit it’s also not that restrictive in comparison. Sure it won’t take care of more technical materials, but it does better than most, and if you’re new that might not matter.

One of the S1’s standout features is a 16 point auto-leveling system that makes sure your print bed is up to the challenge every time, it also features a removable spring steel-plate, a power-loss recovery feature, and a filament sensor. It delivers solid precision, with a dual-motor design.

While the S1 doesn’t have some of the top features found in models that retail closer to $1000, it’s still an exceptional hobbyist’s 3D printer that’s capable of doing a lot. It’s a great foundation that can be expanded on significantly with mods.

FDM, or fused deposition modeling 3D printers are usually the cheapest, both in terms of up front cost and the cost to replenish their filament over time. They use an additive manufacturing process whereby they apply layers of molten thermoplastics onto a heated tray.

The best 3D printer under $1000 for most users is the R QIDI X-Plus. Arriving pre-assembled, this partially enclosed FDM printer is easily serviceable, precise, good for high-quality prints, and is capable of printing a wide array of filaments. QIDI also delivers great customer support.

There are lots of great 3D printer brands. Creality does a great job with powerful hobbyist printers for affordable prices. Prusa makes incredible open sourced printers with some of the best tech around. QIDI is known for precise, easy to use printers with excellent customer support. ANYCUBIC makes exceptional high-res SLA printers. ELEGOO also makes wonderful SLA printers. The best brand is the brand that brings the feature set you need.

As with any craft business, 3D printer craft can turn a good profit, however, how profitable it will be will depend upon your business practices. Before you invest in a business based on a 3D printer, consider all the factors that will contribute to your business.

Yes, there are many excellent printers that can be acquired for under 1000. There are even some good ones that cost less than $200.

In some form, you do need a computer for a 3D printer. However, some work-arounds are possible. If you want to buy a 3D printer and can’t afford a computer as well, consider downloading files from your library or school computer and using an SD card to print them on your 3D printer at home.

In some instances enclosed 3D printers are better. Many enclosed 3D printers come preassembled and are easy for beginners to plug in and get started with. Also, 3D printers can emit harmful fumes and light. Most SLA printers, which use bright curing LCDs and / or lasers, feature a UV shield. FDM printers can also benefit from the protection and structural integrity that enclosures provide.

With so many features and advanced processes spun into one functional system, the best 3D printers under $1000 offer astounding feats of engineering, synergized to work together, to bring wildly powerful tools of creation into your workshop. They are used by everyone from design firms who might be prototyping a new invention, to hobbyists building a fleet of figurines. For the best DIY maker’s tool in its class, we recommend the Original Prusa i3 MK3S+ kit. If you’re looking for top notch resolution, you can’t go wrong with the ANYCUBIC Photon Mono X 6K, which is the best SLA 3D printer at its price point. If you want something that’s a little on the cheaper side, the Creality Ender-3 S1 is the best for beginners, and offers a large build space and solid tools. Finally, if ease of use is your prerogative, we recommend the R QIDI X-Plus, as the best overall 3D printer for most users — it might not offer as much tweakage potential as the Prusa i3, but with the X-Plus you’ll be printing great materials within two hours of the package arriving at your door.

Best 3D Printers Under $1000: Ranked (2022)

Feeling jittery about splashing out $1000 on a 3D printer? We’ve been there. Pooling those bad experiences and morphing them into something entirely more positive, we’ve pulled together a list of the best 3D printers under $1000, all certified winners sure to delight.

With $1000 in hand, you’re strutting confidently in prosumer territory. These are feature-rich, versatile machines, brimming with printing potential and broader material compatibility than your race-to-the-bottom variant printers. However, so much choice can murk the waters and feed indecisiveness.

With our guide in hand, you’ll hopefully be equipped to decide on a 3D printer to improve your prototyping, realize your fun home print goals, improve your workshop, or start a business.

The Best 3D Printers Under $1000 in 2022

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Flashforge Creator Pro 2

• Price: Available at Flashforge Official store here / Check price on Amazon here
• Build volume: 200 x 148 x 150 mm (with dual extruder)

A duly wrought upgrade of the original Creator Pro, the Flashforge Creator Pro 2 brings the expansive possibilities of Independent Dual Extrusion to a price point we can just about stomach. We’d generally expect to pay double for the chance to juggle different materials, colors, and support structures along with all manner of fancy dual print modes.

Put to the test, the Flashforge Creator Pro 2 reliably delivers first-rate prints, with a particular on neat splits when feeding different materials and colors through the IDEX. The print quality persists whether you’re using in PLA, HIPS, PVA, or ABS, with heat-sensitive filament fairing exceptionally well thanks to the fully enclosed chamber and the 120°C heated bed.

The build volume feels a tad cramped, especially in light of the IDEX setup, tallying up to 200 x 148 x 150 mm. Running two prints simultaneously effectively halves the printing area, hindering the production of large mirror parts, for example. But, the IDEX system makes up for this in droves.

Another minor gripe that needs pinpointing is FlashForge’s decision to tie the Creator Pro 2 to its functional, if a bit limiting, in-house FlashPrint slicer. As manufacturer slicers go, FlashPrint is among the better ones. However, we always feel underserved when we can’t fire up Cura or another third-party slicer teeming with advanced features.

Overall, makers who’ve grown beyond a starter printer, or first-timers in the market for some cost-effective printing thrills afforded by IDEX, will find the Flashforge Creator Pro 2 a worthwhile purchase.

Read more: the best dual extruder 3D printers

Prusa i3 MK3S+

• Price: $749 kit / $999 preassembled — Available at Prusa store here
• Build volume: 250 x 210 x 210 mm

Clad in distinctive orange and black, the Prusa i3 MK3S+ is a sophisticated yet easy-to-use printer that’s a regular feature atop best-of lists.

The Prusa i3 MK3S+ is a force in the 3D printing market, blending industry-leading hardware, integrated fail-safe tools and sensors that take much of the guesswork out of the trickier aspects of 3D printing, and reliable, exquisite print quality whatever the application.

You’ll find advanced mesh bed leveling courtesy of a SuperPinda probe and sleek power loss recovery should your power drop unexpectedly. The printer has coveted hardware like an E3D V6 hot end, an MK52″ heat bed, and removable PEI magnetic steels sheets textured to suit different materials.

These are just a slice of the tech and convenience features baked into the Prusa i3 MK3S+ that grant compatibility with PLA, ABS, flexibles, PETG, nylon, and more. The machine’s 250 x 210 x 210 mm build volume yields sufficient room for all the most common 3D printing applications, like hobby projects, prototyping, small-scale batch printing, and more.

Beginners may recoil at the steep asking price, but if you want to hit the ground running accompanied by a vibrant community of users and benchmark-setting customer support eager to help, the Prusa i3 MK3S+ plays in a league of its own.

There are enough advanced features and plenty of printing power roosting under the Prusa i3 MK3S+’s surface-level ease-of-use to delight more experienced makers and even professionals.

Qidi Tech X-Plus

• Price: Check price on Amazon here
• Build volume: 270 x 200 x 200 mm

The Qidi Tech X-Plus earns its keep alongside the best 3D printers under $1000 for combining affordability with the kind of versatility usually reserved for more expensive printers. The machine may be a tad short on the sophisticated flair found on competing printers but works so well with trickier materials it deserves more than a passing nod as exceptional value for money.

A clever dual interchangeable extruder setup is responsible for much of the Qidi Tech X-Plus’ versatility. It allows you to print equally well using PLA, PETG, TPU, and the like as heat-sensitive materials like ABS and nylon by fine-tuning each extruder to the correct temperature settings.

A double-sided reversible heated bed matches those attributes, each surface textured for either low-temperature materials or geared to offer the right adhesion for temperature-sensitive filament. The processing of different materials also extends to the enclosed chamber design: closed it maintains stable temperatures for ABS; with the covers removed, PLA has all the airflow needed for reliable prints.

A color touch screen, Wi-Fi connectivity, a dual Z-axis design, an air filtration system, well-guided assisted bed leveling, a decent 270 x 200 x 200 mm for medium-to-large parts, in-built dual spool holders, print resume, and more: the Qidi Tech X-Plus’ features tick many of the right boxes.

These make the Qidi Tech X-Plus an ideal printer for semi-professional power users searching for a good balance of affordability and versatility.

Pulse XE – great 3D printer under $1,000 for abrasive filament printing

• Price: $999 — Available at Matterhackers here
• Build volume: 250 x 220 x 215 mm

A hulking beast of a machine, the Pulse XE is a slugger primed and ready to make easy work of even the trickiest, toughest, and most demanding and abrasive materials like NylonX, carbon fiber, brass, and more.

In many ways, it’s the seasoned maker’s modded dream machine, boasting the best in hardware and features without any time-consuming after-purchase tinkering at what is a reasonable price. Among them, the Pulse XE has an E3D V6 hot end, a 300°C heated bed with a genuine LayerLock Garolite surface, BLTouch bed leveling probe, Bondtech extruder, and a stocky all-metal frame.

Put to the test, it’s incredible just how easily the Pulse XE prints quality parts using exotic filaments. The machine just works, pumping out consistent prints day-in, day-out, fully deserving of its reliable workhorse reputation.

Although the Pulse XE is built to last and tackle the roughest printing projects, the physical footprint remains reasonable, balanced with an average 250 x 220 x 215 mm build volume. That printable area, while nothing extraordinary, should be enough for maker staples such as models, toys, functional household parts, light prototyping, and simultaneous multiple small part printing.

If you plan to churn out challenging parts and need a 3D printer that can keep up, we have no issues recommending the Pulse XE. It’s a machine that will likely take center stage in your printing setup in no time at all.

AnyCubic Photon Mono X 6K

• Price: $659 — Available at Anycubic official store here / Amazon here
• Build volume: 192 x 120 x 245 mm

The AnyCubic Photon Mono X 6K remedies one of the main drawbacks of resin printing by combining an exceptionally detailed 6K LCD with one of the biggest build volumes among desktop resin 3D printers with no decline in print quality. Successfully supersizing resin printing without any trade-offs is the AnyCubic Photon Mono X 6K’s biggest appeal and solidifies its spot among the best 3D printers under $1000.

The 9.25-inch 6K monochrome LCD delivers an ultra-slim print resolution of 34 microns and a pixel resolution of 5760 x 3600. Over on the build plate, the AnyCubic Photon Mono X 6K gives you 192 x 120 x 245 mm of printable area to create decently-sized parts. Crank up the speed, and the printer can confidently cure up to 80 mm/h. In other words, the AnyCubic Photon Mono X 6K is no slouch when it comes to churning out parts.

AnyCubic has fostered a well-deserved reputation for selling resin printers with best-in-class print quality. The AnyCubic Photon Mono X 6K follows that lead, delivering truly exceptional parts, beautifully illustrating subtle features with a near-flawless finish. And, like its Photon siblings, the Mono X 6K is well-built and very easy to use, even though it lacks automatic bed leveling.

For makers looking to print large, high fidelity prints, the AnyCubic Photon Mono X 6K is a wise purchase, bound to deliver whether you’re a hobby model aficionado, tabletop gamer, professional prototyper, or small business.

Read more: the best resin 3D printers

Creality Ender 6

• Price: Check price at Creality official store here / Amazon here
• Build volume: 250 x 250 x 400 mm

Creality Ender 6’s arrives as a spiritual successor to the popular Creality Ender 5, mixing things up with a Core-XY machine outfitted to deliver considerably higher print speeds than most sub $1000 FDM printers. Pushed to the limit, the Creality Ender 6 prints at 150 mm/h for a 100-micron layer height, ideal for hobbyist and semi-professional applications.

Construction diverts from what you’d expect from FDM printers with a boxy all-metal frame surrounded by acrylic covers except for the top for a semi-enclosed chamber. Improvements over the Ender 5 include beefing up the build volume to 250 x 250 x 400 mm, which means more variety in the type of parts and models the Ender 6 can tackle.

Creality has also opted for a heated Carborundum glass platform, which helps with that finicky first layer adhesion. Quality of life features like a filament run-out sensor, print resume, touchscreen, and a silent motherboard chipset make it a user-friendly printer, too.

The Creality Ender 6 offers a solid basis for quality prints and plenty of scope for tinkering and modifications. For that reason, it hits our list as a top pick for veteran printers looking for a solid foundation to build on.

Read more: the best enclosed 3D printers

And: the best CoreXY 3D printers

Buyer’s Guide – What To Expect From a 3D Printer Under $1000

Intended Use

Be sure to choose a printer that will deliver on your printing plans and aims. If you want to create high-detail, high-fidelity miniatures, veer towards a high-resolution resin printer like the AnyCubic Photon Mono X 6K.

If you want a reliable prosumer printer you can use daily to experiment and print a wide variety of parts, then a versatile printer such as the Prusa i3 MK3S+ or Qidi Tech X-Plus is a solid pick. A speedy printer like the Creality Ender 6 makes more sense for a small business prototyping or batch printing parts for sale.

Build Volume

There’s generally a correlation between build volume and price; up either of these, the other follows. Fortunately, spending $1000 represents a sweet spot of sorts as the overwhelming majority of printers around this price have generously-sized build volumes.

If you plan to print more imposing parts or models in one sitting, then it’s worth considering printers with larger build volumes like the Qidi Tech X-Plus and Prusa i3 MK3S+.

Material Compatibility

At $1000, you should expect a printer to confidently tackle low-temp materials like PLA, PETG, and flexibles as standard with the possibility of ABS printing. Compatibility with both low and high-temperature grants more application variety. Look for printers with a mandatory enclosed design and possibly dual extruders for convenience if you want to print with a broader range of materials.

As for resin printers, you are tied to one material type, so there’s nothing, in particular, to look out for here other than decent support for third-party resins.

Print Speed, Resolution, and Layer Height

Print speed bundles together many factors, but look at mm/h on the spec sheet to get a sense of a printer’s capabilities.

On the upper end of the scale, you’ll find printers like Creality Ender 6 capable of a blistering 150 mm/h.

For resin printers, 60-80 mm/h is a solid starting point in the sub $1000 3D printer category, and should keep most print times to hours rather than days.

Dual Extruder

Though not exactly standard, printers with dual extruders or IDEX systems priced around $1000 are available such as the Qidi Tech X-Plus and Flashforge Creator Pro 2. They make printing with different material types and colors a breeze, removing the need to flush out an extruder and swap out filament.

If your plans involve complex, multi-color parts, mirroring printing, duplicate printing, and the like, we highly recommend dual extruder printers for the convenience factor.

Automatic Bed Leveling

Automatic bed leveling takes much of the frustration out of the unavoidable task of bed leveling, a crucial step in the setup process.

For $1000, the likelihood is that a printer sports automatic bed leveling or, at the very least, well-guided and straightforward assisted bed leveling. If the thought of hands-on leveling worries you, opt for a printer with no fuss auto-bed leveling like the Prusa i3 MK3S+ or Pulse XE.

Read more: the best auto-leveling 3D printers

Kit vs Pre-Assembled

3D Printers priced under $1000 generally ship pre-assembled, sometimes requiring a few simple maneuvers to complete the build. That said, you’ll find similarly priced kit printers such as the DIY version of the Prusa i3 MK3S+.

If you’re up for the challenge and want a crash course in the hardware underpinning a 3D printer, we highly recommend the kit route. Kit printers are also cheaper, so there are savings to be had there, too. If this is your first printer and you’re uneasy about manual building, you may want to find a printer that works out-of-the-box with little to no assembly.

Safety Functions

If you’re looking to acquire a printer for schools or other educational settings, it’s worth considering a printer’s safety features.

Top of the list are features such as an enclosed chamber that provides a barrier between the hot parts and fingers, an air filtration system to filter out toxic fumes, especially when printing ABS, and quality-of-life niceties like a print resume function, automatic filament feeding, and a filament runout sensor.

These are all standard features in the best 3D printers under $1000, but you may need to shop around to find a printer with just the right assortment of safety features to suit your needs. A shut-off sensor that triggers when the lid is removed should come as standard on a resin printer.

FAQ

What Is The Best 3D Printer Under $1000?

Our top pick has to be the Prusa i3 MK3S+. Prusa has channeled years of know-how into an iterative upgrade of its flagship printer. It looks great, prints even better, and has a trove of fail-safe features that greatly simplify the 3D printing experience.

What Is The Best Resin 3D Printer Under $1000?

Although there are many excellent resin 3D printers priced under $1000 thanks to a shift towards affordability spearheaded by machines like the Elegoo Mars and Phrozen Sonic series, there’s logic in making the most of the money by buying an AnyCubic Photon Mono X 6K. It manages to balance out exceptionally detailed print quality with a generous build volume, solving the one trade-off hampering resin printers.

What Is The Best 3D Printer Kit Under $1000

Running the risk of sounding like a broken record, we’d once again pinpoint the Prusa i3 MK3S+ as the best 3D printer kit under $1000. Not only do you get one of the best 3D printers on the market and pay less for the kit than the pre-assembled version, but piecing the machine together gives you valuable hands-on experience to ease future upgrades and modifications.

Other 3D printer price range articles you may be interested in:

• Best 3D printers under $200
• Best 3D printers under $300
• Best 3D printers under $500
• Best 3D printers under $2000
• Best 3D printers under $5000

Best 3D Printers Under $1000 in 2021 (Review and Buyer's Guide)

Nowadays, 3D printing technology is becoming more and more accessible to any user. Not only because they are being made more intuitive and user-friendly, but also because their prices are significantly reduced to match the economic opportunities of a wide audience in the market.

The thing is, 3D printer prices vary a lot, and if you ask us, we will definitely choose printers under $1,000 but no less than $250. This is the ideal price point where you can find many 3D printer models that can compete with other high quality models. They usually come with a lot of impressive features that might surprise you. For example, the Creality Ender 5 Plus has an astounding maximum build volume of 350 x 350 x 400mm. At this price, it's a very pleasant choice that makes it popular with enthusiasts and professionals who are interested in printing huge models. If you're familiar with the YouTube videos we've reviewed, you've probably come across this model more than once. We often see it being chosen by various generalists and 3D artists for printing life-size helmets onto masks and more.

Of course there are many other options to consider; especially now, when every year there are many, many new models from leading brands. Some of them come from Flashforge, ANYCUBIC, FLSUN and Snapmaker. The fact is that choosing a 3D printer is not just a game of picking aesthetically pleasing fruit from a low tree. This requires you to evaluate your knowledge as a 3D printer user and the features that will benefit you the most. For example, while the Creality Ender 5 Plus is a great choice, it's not exactly 101% beginner-friendly. For best results, adjustments and correct (AND DETAILED) tuning are required. The same goes for the ANYCUBIC Photon Mono X, which is famous for its detailed prints.

There are also certain technologies you might be interested in. If you're tired of regular FDM printers, a delta model like the FLSUN QQ-S Pro might be a good choice. There are models that are equipped with amazing features such as a laser engraver and Snapmaker Original 3-in-1 CNC carving features. The IDEX Flashforge Pro 2 system also deserves attention.

In order to provide you with more detailed information about them, we conducted a study with the help of our team's experts. After what seemed like an eternity of arguing about which 3D printer is the best, we have prepared a comprehensive review for you. After a series of comparisons and personal observations of the devices, we hope to give you their best moments to help you decide which one to choose. Let's get started:

The best 3D printers up to $ 1,000 in comparison and rating

1.

for 97%

for 9000

Functions

. for 96%

ease of use

for 99%

value for money

Pros of :

• Offers better print volume.
• Offers a great feature set at a great price.
• Comes with a stable print platform and the print quality is consistent.
• The glass print platform is great.
• Can serve larger projects.

Cons:

• Very loud printer.
• Not for beginners; its setup is quite complex and some tweaking (electronics and tubes) is needed to achieve the best results.

Final double:

To get the Creality Ender 5 Plus on our list, our team had a hard time comparing it to the brand's newer model: the Creality Ender 6. It's true that its successor offers more striking aesthetics, but when it comes to practicality, we really think that The Creality Ender 5 Plus offers a higher value.

First, the Creality Ender 5 Plus has a more impressive and exceptionally high print volume. It offers a maximum build volume of 350 x 350 x 400mm, which is relatively better than the Ender 6's 250 x 250 x 400mm build volume. With it, you can print large models in the Ender 5 Plus, such as helmets and busts, which seems to be simply not possible in other small 3D printers.

They have almost all the same parts like 1.75mm filament diameter, 110°C max print bed temperature, 260°C max extruder temperature, filament types, slicing software and more. Printing accuracy and quality of both models are also practically the same. Apart from the fact that both have a printing accuracy of 0.1 mm, they are also the same in terms of layer thickness from 0.1 to 0.4 mm.

However, in terms of speed, the Ender 6 is a step ahead as it is 3 times faster than the Ender 5 Plus. The latter has a maximum print speed of 200mm/s, which drops to 80mm/s when set for precise models. The Ender 6, on the other hand, delivers a solid print speed of 150mm/s, which is absolutely fast and still acceptable for high quality prints. Hence, if speed is not an issue for you, the Creality Ender 5 Plus is still a good choice.

What's more, the Creality Ender 5 Plus offers a better feature set that we feel is far more convenient than what the Ender 6 offers. speed up printer setup. This is contrary to manually leveling the Ender 6 using the adjustment screws. That being said, if you already have a Creality Ender 5 Plus, there really is no need to upgrade to Ender 6. And if you're planning on choosing between the two, we'd still recommend the Ender 5 Plus because of its amazing features.

Print speed

100mm/s max.

for 98%

performance and quality

for 98%

Functions

for 97%

Ease in use

for 9000

The cost and quality 9000

pluses pluses.

• Supplied fully assembled and the rest of the case is easy to work with.
• The lid is plastic, but there is a solid metal frame underneath that is undeniably durable.
• Has a compact design.
• Has a maximum print speed of 100mm/s.
• You can print two identical models at once.
• Still available with compact body.