Best budget large 3d printer


The Best Large 3D Printers in October 2022 (Every Price)

Some may be content printing within the confines of their small, desktop FDM 3D printer — but for big home projects, or large prototyping, size matters. For these bigger jobs, you’ll need a large 3D printer capable of printing the Goliath structures they need for their commercial business or hobbyist project.

So, whether you want to print large-scale figures, model cars or cosplay helmets as home projects, or large commercial prototypes, we’ve split this article into two sections covering both:

  • The best under $1,000 (the largest 3D printers for home use)
  • The best large-scale 3D printers for commercial use

Here are our top picks overall:

BUDGET PICK

Ender 5 Plus

Lowest cost reliable large 3D printer

Very versatile and upgradeable

Excellent 350x350x400mm build volume

Available at:

Creality hereAmazon here

MID-RANGE PICK

Anycubic Kobra Max

Even larger 450 x 400 x 400 mm print area

Upgraded accuracy and print speed

The largest 3D printer under $1000

Available at:

Anycubic hereAmazon here

PREMIUM PICK

Ultimaker S5

Fantastic 20-micron precision

Optional Pro Bundle adds on filament holder and air filter

Excellent for large part prototyping

Available at:

Dynamism hereMatterhackers here

Some inspired makers have even built enormous 850mm tall printers at home as DIY projects.

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This article includes the best large bed 3D printers, as well as buying guide with what factors to consider when buying a larger printer, tips and tricks for printing based on the elements that change as you scale up print bed size, and some FAQs on large-scale printing.

Brand and NameMax Print Size (mm)PriceWhere To Buy for Best Price?Alternative Purchase Option
Ender 5 Plus350 x 350 x 400$569Creality Store hereAmazon here
Anycubic Kobra Max450 x 400 x 400$589Anycubic hereAmazon here
Peopoly Phenom276 x 155 x 400$1,999Matterhackers here
Raise3D Pro2 / Pro2 Plus305 x 305 x 300 (605)$3,999 / $5,999Pro2 on Amazon hereDynamism Store here
BCN3D Sigma D25420 x 300 x 200$3,995Dynamism Store hereMatterhackers here
Modix Big-60 V3 Kit600 x 600 x 660$4,700Matterhackers hereDynamism Store here
Modix Big 40400 x 400 x 800$5,250Matterhackers hereDynamism Store here
Ultimaker S5330 x 240 x 300$5,995Dynamism Store here
BigRep Studio G21000 x 500 x 500QuoteBigRep

Large 3D Printer Reviews: The Criteria

In assessing which of the following huge 3D printers deserved to be on our ranking, we used the following criteria:

  • Size relative to price: a large print volume on a low-cost printer is relatively more impressive.
  • Quality of print: it’s irrelevant if you can print larger objects if they come out looking terrible. Only high-quality XXL 3D printers made the cut.
  • Enclosed or open build chamber: a large print area is more impressive on an enclosed 3D printer.
  • Reliability, versatility and ease of use: what materials does it support, how simple is the printer’s interface to navigate, and how prone is the printer to errors.

Best Large 3D Printer – 2022 Reviews

Ender 5 Plus – the best budget large 3D printer

  • Price: Check latest price at Creality here / Amazon here
  • Build Volume: 350 x 350 x 400 mm
  • Minimum Layer Height: 100 Microns
  • Max Nozzle Temperature: 260°C
  • Filament Compatibility: PLA, ABS, TPU, PETG

Lowest cost reliable large 3D printer

Very versatile and upgradable

Excellent 350x350x400mm build volume

Cons

Open air printer requires an enclosure for ABS to prevent warping in a more stable printing environment

A perennial favorite among makers that balances great value and large print capacity, the Ender 5 Plus delivers on its large-format promise with a roomy 350 x 350 x 400 mm build volume.

The capacity offered by the Ender 5 Plus opens the door to projects that simply aren’t on the cards with most standard-size printers: helmets, masks, cosplay props and accessories, tall vases, tabletop gaming terrain, and so on.

Size aside, the Ender 5 comes with other notable features. A pre-installed BLTouch automatic bed leveling probe makes easy work of calibrating the bed, while dual z-axis rods ensure smooth lead screw movement even when using the entire print bed for a huge print.

Speaking of axes, the Ender 5 uses a rather novel system whereby the Z-axis is responsible for lowering the bed. It’s bolstered by a beefy stepper motor that moves both belts on the Y-axis in unison for clean, precise movements that help reduce layer shifting.Ender 5 Plus printing a mech. Source: Twitter

Extras like print resume, a filament run-out sensor, and a removable tempered glass build platform, which delivers solid first-layer adhesion and ensures prints snap off cleanly with little effort, score points for ease of use.

If you’re partial to improving your printers through upgrades and modifications, the Ender 5 mimics its Ender 3 sibling with a wide array of upgrades available.

From 3D printed mods like cable strain relief brackets to extruder knobs all the way to purchased upgrades like an all-metal extruder, quiet mainboard, and why not a pivot to a direct drive system, there’s no shortage of ways to make the Ender 5 even better.


Anycubic Kobra Max – largest 3D printer under $1000

  • Price: Check latest price at Anycubic here / Amazon here
  • Build Volume: 450 x 400 x 400 mm 
  • Minimum Layer Height: 50 microns
  • Max Nozzle Temperature: 260°C
  • Filament Compatibility: PLA, ABS, PETG, TPU

Even larger 450x400x400mm area

Upgraded accuracy and print speed

Best large 3D printer under $1000

Cons

Open air printer requires an enclosure for ABS to prevent warping

The largest of Anycubic’s most recent batch of affordable large FDM printers, the Anycubic Kobra Max gives you a massive 450 x 400 x 400 mm – the largest build volume 3D printer under $600. That ultra-large build volume alone justifies a slot on our list, but there’s plenty more to like about the Kobra Max.

Despite the large capacity, the Kobra Max is made stable by the dual z-axis threaded lead screws, each with a dedicated stepper motor and two support rods to reduce wobble and keep things running smoothly.

With a 50-micron minimum layer height, the Kobra Max delivers solid precision and can theoretically crank sprint speeds up to a dizzying 180 mm/s.

It also has a tempered carborundum glass print bed, coated with Anycubic’s proprietary Ultrabase microporous coating.Kobra Max printing models: a skeleton (Source: Reddit) and a 280% scale sluggo (Source: Reddit).

Elsewhere, Anycubic has bundled in its in-house-developed LeviQ fully automatic bed leveling. We tested it ourselves on the Kobra and continue to be impressed with the accuracy and hands-off, set-and-forget ease of use it delivers. Anycubic is on to something special here, and it’s a delight to see LeviQ ported over the larger Kobra Max.

Other notable features include filament runout detection, the same responsive 4.3″ touchscreen display found on the smaller Kobra, adjustable belt tensioners, an E3D Volcano-inspired hot end, and reasonably quiet operational noise levels at 58 dB.

Overall, it’s definitely the largest 3D printer for home use, and a reliable FDM pick.


Peopoly Phenom — Large Resin 3D printer

  • Price: $1,999 — Available on Matterhackers here
  • Maximum build volume: 276 x 155 x 400 mm

Largest set of resin 3D printers for the price

Super fast bulk printing due to resin printers curing entire layers at once

Cons

XY resolution falls slightly if you purchase a larger Phenom model

The Peopoly Phenom is the only resin 3D printer that features on our ranking. Resin printers are not known for having large print areas, making the Peopoly Phenom’s large size all the more impressive.

Peopoly first made a name for themselves following their successful Kickstarter campaign to bring the Peopoly Moai to market. Now they have the Phenom range, using MSLA technology (combining LCD screens with LED lights) to build parts.Phenom on a 49-hour print job (Source: Reddit) and a sample print (Source: Reddit).

The idea for an LCD 3D printer with a huge build area is a very good one. LCD 3D printing involves solidifying a whole layer of resin at once, unlike FDM where the 3D printer’s extruder needs to trace each layer. Combining this ability to print multiple objects simultaneously with a large format 3D printing area opens up possibilities for truly scalable 3D printing. It’s very exciting.

The printer itself is very impressive. 72-um accuracy is precise and will offer better surface finishes than almost all FDM 3D printers. Peopoly recommends you use their Deft resin, but this large 3D printer kit is compatible with those made by other manufacturers.

If you already own a smaller, low-cost resin printer like an Elegoo Mars or AnyCubic Photon, upgrading to the Phenom is easy as it also runs on the CHITUBOX.

Read more: the best large build volume resin 3D printers


Modix Big-60 V3 Kit — huge 3D printer for heavy-duty use

  • Price: $4,700 — Available at Matterhackers here / Available at Dynamism here
  • Build volume: 600 x 600 x 660 mm

Excellent for large part prototyping

Premium parts – E3D hot ends and Duet3D controllers

Cons

Kit so needs to be assembled — rather than being plug’n’play

The Big-60 makes the previously mentioned printers look tiny, with its enormous 600 x 600 x 660 mm build volume able to print even the largest prototypes and parts in one large part. 

This is a huge advantage as you can print these large models without having to assemble them together – so surface finish isn’t affected by post-processing. 

It’s a large 3D printer kit, but experienced operators or 3D printing makers will have no trouble assembling the Model Big-60 V3, especially as it comes with such detailed instructions that take you through every step of the assembly process.  Big-60 V3 printing a model. Source: Modix3D

The Big-60 V3 kit features premium parts all around, for example, a high-quality E3D hot end, and Duet3D controllers as standard. Despite being designed for industrial, heavy-duty use, the Big-60 is designed also to be modular enough that you can easily install any upgrades tailored to your 3D printing needs.

These could be custom, third-party upgrades, or any one of a number of available upgrades you can buy with the printer, such as the enclosure kit, a super high-temperature nozzle for industrial material printing like PEEK or ULTEM, or a secondary print head.

Overall, it’s a large area 3D printer but at a much lower medium-range price, and it’s certainly a large 3D printer for big 3D printer projects.


Modix Big 40 – Best 400mm 3D Printer

  • Price: $5,250 — Available at Matterhackers here / Dynamism here
  • Build Volume: 400 x 400 x 800 mm
  • Minimum Layer Height: 40 microns
  • Max Nozzle Temperature: 340°C
  • Filament Compatibility: PLA, ABS, Carbon Fiber, Wood, Copper, Brass, Magnetic, PHA, PVA, HIPS, Nylon, TPE, TPU, PETG

Ideal for tall part production with 800mm z-axis height

Seamless workshop/small business workflow: 7” ergonomic touchscreen, accessible WiFi, 100-point auto-levelling system for fast calibration

Cons

Kit so needs to be assembled — rather than being plug’n’play

While the Modix Big 60 V3 pitches towards a large uniform build volume on all axes, the Modix Big 40 is all about giving makers and businesses extra height to produce tall parts and models.

To achieve this, it offers a 400 x 400 x 800 mm build volume. Even a 3D printer with 400 x 400 x 400 mm is considered large, but the Modix Big 40 doubles that again with higher z-axis.

The advantage is clear, with the Modix 40, you can print large pieces, such as leg prosthetics and towering prototypes, in a single print, removing the need to print in parts and assemble them post-print.

Turning to the Modix Big 60’s other specifications, it ships with Wi-Fi connectivity, 100-point mesh automatic bed leveling, a premium powder-coated laser cut chassis, and a 7′ inch touch screen.Printing with PVA. Source: Modix3D

Elsewhere it has a precise 40-micron minimum layer height, milled cast aluminum print bed, PEI print surface, and a proprietary Griffin print head consisting of a custom-made Bondtech extruder and an in-house developed hot end reaching up to 340°C with a heated bed to handle carbon fiber and other tough filaments.

Much like the Big 60 V3, the Modix Big 40 is all about options and additional upgrades, available when you order the printer. This suits small businesses with different needs and requirements, with upgrades including:

  • An enclosure
  • Second print head
  • High-temperature nozzles
  • An E3D Aero or E3D Volcano hot end
  • Magnetic beds, casters, air filters, and more

Raise3D Pro2 & Pro2 Plus — Large Build Area 3D Printer for Small Businesses

  • Pro2 Price: Check price on Amazon here / Dynamism Store here
  • Pro2 Plus Price: Check price on Amazon here / Dynamism Store here
  • Maximum build volume: 305 x 305 x 300 / 605 mm (300 mm for Pro2, 605 mm for Pro2 Plus)

Choice of standard or extra-large Pro2 Plus version

Excellent built-in analytics for in-depth real-time print analytics

Ideal prototyping 3D printer for industry

Cons

Newer versions are now available (but are more expensive)

Raise3D printers feature in our best 3D printer ranking as well as our best dual extruder 3D printer ranking — and for good reason.

It’s ideal for multi-material printing (for example, ABS with dissolvable HIPS supports) as well as standard large format printing — and we recommend it for any small business looking to print large prints and prototypes in-house.

Raise3D are a highly reputed 3D printing company whose printers are used by 3D printing services and small businesses as these large 3D printers can create big parts on demand. Expanded to a 605mm max part height, you should have no problems printing large structures with the Pro2 Plus.A Pro2 printing in vase mode (Source: Youtube) and a Pro2 Plus getting tuned up (Source: Reddit)

For a closed build chamber (with better temperature control), even the Pro2’s build volume is huge. But the Pro2 Plus expands it further, doubling the maximum height you can print up to a whopping 605 mm.

Not only is this colossal 3D printer large, but both the Pro2 and Pro2 have strong reputations for being reliable workhorses. And even if you do have a problem, Raise3D has a California-based support team to help solve your problems.

Raise3D cleverly appeals to the customer segments in between consumers and professional printers, offering industrial-grade quality on their large-format 3D printers but at lower than industrial prices. The 7-inch touchscreen and features offered make it feel like a factory-grade machine, when in fact even the Pro2 Plus costs the same as the Ultimaker S5.


BCN3D Sigma D25 — Large Workhorse 3D Printer

  • Price: $3,995 — Available on Dynamism Store here / Available on Matterhackers here
  • Build volume: 420 x 300 x 200 mm

IDEX dual extruder for multi-material, multi-color, or duplicate print options

Very reliable and well-known workhorse

Cons

Not as large as some other options on this list

Another very effective fused deposition modeling printer, Spanish industrial 3D printer manufacturer BCN3D have outdone themselves with their latest iteration of the Sigma range, the Sigma D25.

Featuring a dual extruder and immense print volume at 420 x 300 x 200 mm, the Sigma D25 still stands out for reasons other than just being a 3D printer with a large print bed. It’s extraordinarily versatile, happily printing with 3D printer filaments ranging from ABS and PLA to HIPS, ASA, and more.

However, this is no standard dual extruder — instead, BCN3D’s IDEX (independent dual extruder) system allows each of the extruders to move independently, vastly speeding up part production for similar parts, as well as allowing for multi-material printing and soluble filament printing, such as PVA.Newly set up Sigma D25. Credit: Al Dean

Perhaps most impressively, the Sigma’s duplication and mirror modes capitalize on its dual extruder to enhance the scalability of part production. Duplication mode prints identical models simultaneously, while mirror mode prints mirror designs to speed up part production.

The D25 has also been upgraded with a stainless steel frame to anchor down the X and Y axes and improve print quality and features E3D hotends and Bondtech extruders for extremely reliable and high-quality printing. It’s a large enclosed 3D printer- ideal for printing ABS and other high-temp filaments with a stable thermal environment.

The 5-inch touchscreen makes the Sigma D25 a very simple-to-use large-format 3D printer, with fantastic 50-micron minimum layer heights and very precise XY and Z resolutions for intricate part printing.

  • For more information on resolutions, we have a guide to resolutions in 3D printing.

Moreover, Sigma D25 is a BCN3D printer that now has WiFi printing capabilities as well as USB and SD card printing, and even updates itself automatically with the latest firmware for the latest developments.


Ultimaker S5 — Extremely precise large format 3D printer

  • Price: $5,995 — Available on Dynamism Store here / Available on Matterhackers here
  • Maximum build volume: 330 x 240 x 300 mm

The gold standard in high-quality desktop FDM 3D printing

Excellent, best-in-class precision and accuracy

Fits well into an existing workflow: Ultimaker offer software products for industrial needs and 3D printer factories

Cons

Not as large as some cheaper alternatives

The follow-up to the acclaimed Ultimaker 3, the Ultimaker S5 is the Dutch company’s launch into a higher price range, more industrial printer.

A large build volume 3D printer, the S5 is geared towards a more professional and industrial clientele, expanding the build volume and focusing on the scalability of rapid prototyping.S5 and some test prints. Source: Twitter

Though more expensive than its predecessor, clocking in at just under $6K, Ultimaker are not struggling for clients. The printer is said to be used by Volkswagen, showing just how highly rated Ultimaker’s printers are. It’s the best 300mm 3D printer around – though you may require larger build volumes than 330 x 240 x 300 mm offers.

While not enormous, the sheer precision, quality and reliability still earn it a place as one of the best large 3D printer ranges for professional prints. Its broad material compatibility is a plus (Ultimaker sell their own brand of high-temperature materials) for printing large objects in PP, CPE, Nylon, PC, and more.


BigRep Studio G2 — Gigantic 3D Printer!

  • Price: requires a quote
  • Build volume: 1000 x 500 x 500 mm

This behemoth is a huge 3D printer, one of the many immense beasts that German manufacturer BigRep sells to their industrial clientele. It’s quite possibly the largest FDM printer you’ll come across.

Used for prototyping and in the medical, automotive, and aerospace sectors, the BigRep Studio weighs in at over a quarter of a ton owing to its massive build volume.Studio G2 and some test prints: Source: Reddit

BigRep sells a number of custom materials for use in their large 3D printers, including commonly used printer filaments like PLA and PETG, as well as more niche materials such as flexible filaments, HT, and HS. The advanced air filtration system, completely enclosed build area, and tool steel nozzle makes it perfect for 3D printing carbon fiber filaments, ASA, and Polyamides like Nylon.

The Studio G2 works seamlessly with BigRep’s Blade 3D printer software, prints up to 100mm/s, and can print with up to 0.1mm minimum layer heights.

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Concept Laser X Line 2000R — Largest 3D printer in the world

  • Price: request a quote
  • Build volume: 800 x 400 x 500 mm

One of the world’s largest 3D printers and also one of the world’s most expensive, the Concept Laser X Line 2000R uses Direct Metal Laser Sintering to print strong and accurate metal parts, and costs millions. However, this machine is such an engineering feat that we felt compelled to include it, with large print volumes exponentially harder to achieve with metal 3D printing technologies.

Undoubtedly a leader in its sector — and you can also check out our metal 3D printer ranking — the ability to create metal parts up to 800 x 400 x 500 mm in size is an invaluable asset. If you’re not a billion-dollar company then you’re unlikely to buy one, but this machine is a lock-in for our large 3D printer list, able to print metal structures at sizes never achieved prior. 

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Tips for Large-Format 3D Printing

Keep time in mind

It’s important to remember how long it takes to print these enormous parts. In rapid prototyping, it’s common to leave your printer running overnight and come back to it the next day, but if you’re printing a 50 x 50 cm prototype with a 0.4mm nozzle and small-ish layer heights, it could take several days to print.

A natural solution is to replace the standard 0.4mm nozzle that comes on most large-scale 3D printers with a larger (0.8-1.2mm) nozzle. Then, if printing larger layer heights (200 – 400 microns) you massively increase print speed.

However, this opens another can of worms. Less powerful hotends can struggle to melt such a large amount of filament quick enough to extrude in time, so you may want to upgrade your hotend to print without issue. We have a guide to some great hotends here.

Is it worth buying a large 3D printer, or using a 3D printing service instead?

This is another question you should ask yourself. If you’re only planning on printing a few prototypes for the year, you might find it advantageous to instead outsource your printing needs to an external service.

It’ll be more expensive than if you were to just pay for the materials to print yourself, but if you don’t have much use for the large-scale 3D printer, it’ll sit there collecting dust in your workshop for the rest of the year.

This is a simple value judgment — do you think you’ll use it enough?

The answer could even be to keep/buy a standard smaller 3D printer, use that for day-to-day prototyping, and if you have an enormous printer project, outsource those. We have a ranking of some of the best 3D printing services.

1 big 3D printer, or multiple smaller printers for many small parts

A common line of thought is that buying one large 3D printer gives you the capacity to print many smaller parts simultaneously.

This is true, but not necessarily efficient. Yes, you can print 10-20 small pieces at the same time on a large 3D printer, but it’ll take 20 times as long as you could have printed these parts on 20 desktop 3D printers. So, if you’re planning on printing many small parts, consider instead going with a 3D printer farm.

That said, the best 3D printer for large objects is certainly one with a big print volume – it’s a hassle gluing multiple parts together, and affects the final part’s strength.

Large 3D Printer Applications

  • Large, single-part prototypes — for parts where surface finish is important, and where assembling multiple parts post-print would make this difficult. Also when time is not an issue it’s less hassle to just print one large part over time.
  • TV and movie props, and cosplays — Redditors have shown extensions they’ve made to their enormous 3D printers to print large cosplay parts, and the TV & film industry have begun using 3D printing for props and other appliances for sets.
  • Furniture — increasingly, large volume 3D printers are being used in similar ways to 4×8 CNC routers to create furniture like chairs, stools, and tables. We cover a variety of ways to do this in our feature story on 3D printed furniture.

Large 3D Printer FAQs

What’s the Biggest 3D Printer You Can Buy?

The largest 3D printer you can currently buy is the Massivit 10000. It offers a massive 1420 x 1110 x 1500 mm build volume and is roughly the size of a small room.

What 3D Printer Has the Biggest Bed Size?

The Massivit 10000 has a 1420 x 1110 x 1500 mm build volume, followed closely by the Industry Magnum, which has a 1500 x 1200 x 1200 mm build volume. Other notable mentions include the CreatBot F1000 with a 1000 x 1000 x 1000 mm build volume, and the BigRep Pro, which has a 1000 x 1000 x 1000 build volume.

How Much Does a Huge 3D Printer Cost?

A consumer-grade 3D printer with an ultra large-format build volume can cost as low as $600, such as the Anycubic Kobra Max and Ender 5 Plus. For an industrial-grade printer, prices sort well into the thousands of dollars, with some, such as the Industry Magnum, costing well above $100,000.

What Is the Biggest 3D Printer Out There and What Does It Print?

The biggest 3D printer out there is the Massivit 10000. It can print custom molds, tools, mandrels, jigs, fixtures, and plugs for the marine, rail, automotive, construction, sporting, and aerospace industries.

If you enjoyed this ranking, you may also be interested in:

  • Our ranking of the best small 3D printers
  • The best dual extruder 3D printers
  • The best 3D pens
  • How much does a 3D printer cost to buy and maintain?
  • 500x500x500mm 3D printers
  • Nylon 3D printer buyer’s guide

BIG volumes starting at $310

What’s the best large 3D printer when you’re on a low budget?

Build volume is generally an area where “bigger is better” if it’s within your budget. A large 3D printer will allow you to print anything from a TPU smartphone case to a full-sized stormtrooper helmet made from ABS.

As you can imagine, large build sizes are especially useful if you need to 3D print big objects. With a smaller desktop 3D printer, you’d have to break down your big 3D model into multiple parts and print them separately, to assemble or glue them together afterward. Big 3D printers are also great for printing a series of objects in one go.

Our guide focuses on 3D printers with a large build area that is available for under $1000. While some consider any printer beyond 250 x 250 x 250 mm to be in the oversized class for home use, our picks all exceed 300 x 300 x 300 mm.

Big, affordable 3D printers under $1,000

BrandProductBuild sizeCountryPrice

Approximate starting prices based on supplier-provided information and public data. Prices may vary by region, over time and do not include additional products or services (taxes, shipping, accessories, training, installation, …).

AlfawiseU20 (Kit)300 × 300 × 400 mm11.81 × 11.81 × 15.75 in$ 310315 €275 £46,207 ¥Contact
GeeetechA30320 × 320 × 420 mm12.6 × 12.6 × 16.54 in$ 330335 €293 £49,188 ¥Contact
TronxyX5S (Kit)330 × 330 × 400 mm12.99 × 12.99 × 15.75 in$ 360366 €319 £53,660 ¥Contact
Artillery 3DSidewinder X1300 × 300 × 400 mm11.81 × 11.81 × 15.75 in$ 399499 €354 £59,473 ¥Contact
JGAURORAA5S305 × 305 × 320 mm12.01 × 12.01 × 12.6 in$ 399406 €354 £59,473 ¥Contact
ANYCUBICChiron (Kit)400 × 400 × 450 mm15.75 × 15.75 × 17. 72 in$ 499507 €443 £74,379 ¥Contact
CrealityCR-10 V2300 × 300 × 400 mm11.81 × 11.81 × 15.75 in$ 519528 €460 £77,360 ¥Contact
ANYCUBICPredator370 × 370 × 455 mm14.57 × 14.57 × 17.91 in$ 588598 €522 £87,645 ¥Contact
WanhaoDuplicator 9500 × 500 × 500 mm19.69 × 19.69 × 19.69 in$ 649660 €576 £96,737 ¥Contact
CrealityCR-10 S5500 × 500 × 500 mm19.69 × 19.69 × 19.69 in$ 759772 €673 £113,134 ¥Contact
CrealityCR-10 Max450 × 450 × 470 mm17.72 × 17.72 × 18.5 in$ 1,1001 118 €976 £163,962 ¥Contact

Expand to see more specs

The products in the table are ranked by price (low to high).

ProductBrandBuild volumeBuild sizePrice

Approximate starting prices based on supplier-provided information and public data. Prices may vary by region, over time and do not include additional products or services (taxes, shipping, accessories, training, installation, …).

U20 (Kit)Alfawise36 L300 × 300 × 400 mm11.81 × 11.81 × 15.75 in$ 310315 €275 £46,207 ¥Contact manufacturer
A30Geeetech43.01 L320 × 320 × 420 mm12.6 × 12.6 × 16.54 in$ 330335 €293 £49,188 ¥Contact manufacturer
X5S (Kit)Tronxy43.56 L330 × 330 × 400 mm12.99 × 12.99 × 15.75 in$ 360366 €319 £53,660 ¥Contact manufacturer
Sidewinder X1Artillery 3D36 L300 × 300 × 400 mm11.81 × 11.81 × 15.75 in$ 399499 €354 £59,473 ¥Contact manufacturer
A5SJGAURORA29.77 L305 × 305 × 320 mm12.01 × 12.01 × 12.6 in$ 399406 €354 £59,473 ¥Contact manufacturer
Chiron (Kit)ANYCUBIC72 L400 × 400 × 450 mm15. 75 × 15.75 × 17.72 in$ 499507 €443 £74,379 ¥Contact manufacturer
CR-10 V2Creality36 L300 × 300 × 400 mm11.81 × 11.81 × 15.75 in$ 519528 €460 £77,360 ¥Contact manufacturer
PredatorANYCUBIC62.29 L370 × 370 × 455 mm14.57 × 14.57 × 17.91 in$ 588598 €522 £87,645 ¥Contact manufacturer
Duplicator 9Wanhao125 L500 × 500 × 500 mm19.69 × 19.69 × 19.69 in$ 649660 €576 £96,737 ¥Contact manufacturer
CR-10 S5Creality125 L500 × 500 × 500 mm19.69 × 19.69 × 19.69 in$ 759772 €673 £113,134 ¥Contact manufacturer
CR-10 MaxCreality95.18 L450 × 450 × 470 mm17.72 × 17.72 × 18.5 in$ 1,1001 118 €976 £163,962 ¥Contact manufacturer

Overview of the best large desktop 3D printers

Below you’ll find more details about each large 3D printer.

The Creality CR-10 S5 is one of the best large scale 3D printer options in this class with a build volume of 500 x 500 x 500mm. With only a few sections, it’s also one of the easier machines to assemble, and the build quality is a nice upgrade over the base model CR-10.

Dual Z rod screws ensure excellent accuracy along on this open-source machine, and the hot end can handle PLA, ABS, and TPE. As it’s essentially a larger version of the CR-10S, you can expect features like a heated bed, auto-resume, and filament runout detection as well.

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Wanhao is one of the more popular brands with makers looking for an affordable machine, and the Duplicator 9 500 (D9 500) is a large 3D printer with an array of excellent features. It’s well-built with an extruded aluminum frame and easy to use thanks to an integrated touchscreen display and auto-resume.

The MK10 full metal hotend is another highlight of this printer. It can reach 300°C, which allows you to print with a broader range of materials. Automatic bed leveling and a heated bed with an anti-backlash rolling system are also great features.

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The CR-10 Max is another new addition to Creality’s arsenal and a printer worthy of being in the large format class for average consumers. The spacious 450 x 450 x 470mm build volume gives you plenty of room to work, and several areas of this machine have seen a substantial upgrade over standard models in the CR-10 lineup.

Smooth prints on a large scale are possible with the CR-10 Max thanks to its unique Z-axis bracing system that Creality calls “the Golden Triangle”. Automatic bed leveling and the touchscreen-based UI are also great features to have on hand as well as the split-flow power supply, which heats up the bed in an instant.

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ANYCUBIC has several impressive 3D printers in their lineup, and they recently jumped into the large scale range with the Chiron. Given its price point and the build area compared to some of the printers on our list, it’s certainly an option for one of the best large 3D printer under $1000.

The ANYCUBIC Chiron keeps things simple with a classic design featuring a top-notch heated print bed and a 25-point leveling system. The single extruder and hot end are rated to work with ABS, HIPS, and TPU as well as PLA on this affordable big 3D printer.

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While a little smaller than the Chiron, the ANYCUBIC Predator is still one of the best big 3D printers under $1000. It’s just as capable as its larger sibling and is the perfect choice if you prefer Delta 3D printers to Cartesian-style machines.

The Predator offers up one of the largest build areas of any Delta printer in this range. It sports a quick heating Ultrabase Pro platform that can reach 100°C and has a 37-point auto-leveling system. An integrated touchscreen and filament sensors are also features to appreciate with the ANYCUBIC Predator 3D printer.

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TronXY is a company out of China that specializes in producing affordable machines. Their entry onto our list of the best large 3D printers under $1000 is the TronXY X5S. It’s a DIY kit with excellent reviews and a very stable structure.

The TronXY X5S is a CoreXY printer with a sturdy metal frame. That adds stability while you print and the auto-leveling system ensures accuracy. Filament runout detection, a heated bed, and a touchscreen are included, but their customer support isn’t quite up to the standards of other manufacturers in this class.

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Fans of the popular CR-10 will recognize this printer and appreciate the price. The Geeetech A30 is a big desktop 3D printer with a frame built from extruded aluminum parts. It prints materials like ABS, Nylon, and Woodfill with ease, which is ideal when you’re looking for a large 3D printer.

This large FDM 3D printer is a capable machine with an ample build volume and heated bed sporting a silicone carbine glass plate. Makers found the colorful 3.2-inch touchscreen a pleasure to use, although some had issues with software and offsets. Customer service and community support are both solid with this brand of 3D printer.

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The Alfawise U20 is a Gearbest 3D printer and a substantial upgrade over the previous model. It’s accurate and also one of the cheapest large 3D printers on our list, although missing a few features found on more expensive big 3D printers.

With a large build volume of 300 x 300 x 400mm, the Alfawise U20 can bring large creations to life whether you prefer PLA or TPU. It has all the standard bells & whistles, including a color touchscreen, but bed leveling is handled manually. Aside from a few awkward design decisions and a noisy fan, the U20 provides a lot of bang for your buck.

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Artillery has produced several popular printers over the past few years, including the Sidewinder X1. This sleek printer is quieter than other 3D printers with a large build area and has a heated bed capable of hitting its maximum temperature in around 2 minutes.

The Artillery Sidewinder X1 can print a wide range of materials with a direct drive extruder and Titan-style hot end. An extruded aluminum frame keeps the X1 stable regardless of your print speed, while the color touchscreen makes the machine a joy to use. Cable management and the synchronized Dual Z system are two additional perks of the X1.

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The Creality CR-10 V2 is one of the newest variants of the company’s extremely popular CR-10 3D printer. The new model shares plenty of similarities with the original but is a better option if you don’t need a printer quite as large as the CR-10 Max.

One advantage of the CR-10 V2 is the separate control box, which is ideal if you want to add an enclosure. The “Golden Triangle” design and aluminum frame ensure stability while 3D printing, and the dual-port hot end cooling fans help dissipate heat. Other noteworthy features include filament runout detection and auto-resume.

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The JGAurora A5S is a 3D printer that proves good things come in small packages. This machine leaves a smaller footprint behind than many of its competitors, but still has a large build volume for your creations at 305 x 305 x 320mm.

This 3D printer has a black diamond glass plate and a heated bed with a maximum temperature of 110°C. A 32-bit motherboard keeps things running smoothly, and we’re fans of discreet cable management system as well. Calibration is semi-manual, but the overall setup is quick and straightforward with the A5S.

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How to find the best large 3D printer for under $1000

There are a lot of exciting machines available at this price point, which makes it difficult to narrow things down. Here are a few key areas you’ll want to take into consideration before you choose your large 3D printer.

Construction

Build quality is important with any type of 3D printer regardless of the price. Well, it’s even more crucial with a large 3D printer as you’ll need a stable machine that can handle massive prints, which can take hours or days.

All of the key components– especially the mainframe– should be made from metal (ie. aluminum). Plastic 3D printed parts on budget-friendly printers are common, but can easily be reprinted and replaced whereas frames and aluminum parts are far more expensive to upgrade. Buying a printer that’s built like a tank is never a bad idea.

You also need to keep the overall size of the printer in mind, as 3D printers with large build areas are going to have a larger footprint. Check the dimensions of each machine if you are short on space, and keep in mind that some of them have separate control boxes that take up extra room.

Structure: cartesian, delta, or CoreXY

If you’re looking for a 3D printer in the $200 to $300 range, you’re typically limited to one style of printer. When it comes to large 3D printers under $1000, there are three main styles to choose from: Cartesian, Delta, or CoreXY 3D printers.

  • Cartesian (Prusa i3 type) – These machines are the most common, popular, and easy to alter. In this price range, they also tend to be the ones that offer the biggest volumes. The print head moves up and down, and from right to left, while the build bed goes forwards and backward.
  • Delta – This triangular type of 3D printer provides a cylindrical build volume, and is, therefore, taller than they are wide. The print head has more freedom to move as it is mounted at the center of three “arms”. The print bed stays in place, which eliminates wobbling issues that you can potentially find on an i3-type printer.
  • CoreXY – It is a kind of cartesian 3D printer, but it looks like a cube. The printer itself takes up less room than a Prusa i3 type 3D printer since the fixed bed doesn’t require space to move back and forth. These printers can be tricky to assemble and tweak.
Types of big FFF 3D printers, from left to right: cartesian (Prusa i3 type), CoreXY, and delta.

Material support

Material support comes down to two things – the hot end (nozzle) and the print bed. That means you need to consider the type of hot end that’s included with the printer as well as the temperatures it’s capable of reaching.

An all-metal hot end is the best choice for printing at higher temperatures or using exotic materials like LAYCeramic or Proto-Pasta’s conductive PLA. Nowadays, all-metal nozzles are a relatively standard feature on many large 3D printers.

However, if you do choose a printer with a brass nozzle, you won’t be able to print abrasive materials like carbon fiber without seriously damaging the hotend. Ordering a new nozzle and swapping the old one out isn’t too complicated though!

You will also find a heated bed find on the best big 3D printers, but how well they work and how quickly they will reach optimum temperatures can vary. A heated print bed will allow you to print with a wider range of materials too (TPU, Nylon, …) whereas without heating the platform you can pretty much only print PLA.

Features

With smaller machines, it’s not uncommon to find things like Wi-Fi connectivity or a dual extruder, but you won’t find either of those on large-sized 3D printers under $1000. These kinds of features generally don’t make the cut in order to help keep the price down.

That said, there are some other nice features that you can find on big 3D printers in this price range. Many of them are equipped with a touchscreen and SD card slot, and some also boast automatic or semi-automatic bed leveling.

Customer support

Excellent customer support is crucial when purchasing any technical device. Even the most highly rated machines can have issues, which is where a good customer support system comes in handy.

Given the fact that almost all of the largest 3D printers under $1000 come from China, it’s essential to know who will handle any issues if they arise with your new printer. Smaller brands may not have the best customer support but often make up for it with active users and forums or Facebook groups where you can find help quickly.

FAQ

How big can 3D printers print?

In the commercial range, there are printers with build volumes measured in meters, not millimeters. Printers with the big build size in the consumer class under $1000 typically come in under 500 x 500 x 500 mm.

Can I print with Carbon Fiber filament and other composites using a large 3D printer?

As long as the hot end meets the manufacturer’s recommended requirements for the filament, it’s possible. How well that exotic material actually prints depends on your machine and how well it’s dialed in, however.

How heavy is a large format 3D printer?

Great question, but it depends on the model. On average, you can expect the big 3D printers on our list to weigh between 24 and 35 pounds fully assembled.

Top 20 Inexpensive 3D Printers ($199 to $1000)

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