Large home 3d printer


Shop the Best Large Format 3D Printers in 2022 (Including Best Large 500mm 3D Printer)

Welcome to the Thomas guide to the best large format 3D printer 2022. Thomas has been connecting North American industrial buyers and suppliers for more than 120 years. When you purchase products through our independent recommendations, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Printing larger items with most at-home or small-scale 3D printers is possible but consists of separately printing different parts of the project and then connecting them all together afterward to make the much larger finished product. In this way, many 3D printing enthusiasts, such as cosplayers, for instance, are able to get past the 3D printing size limitations and use their machines for much larger products than the print bed will allow.

A large-format 3D printer in action

Image credit: Shutterstock/asharkyu

However, purchasing a large-format 3D printer can provide an increase in opportunities for creativity and a decrease in the amount of "putting together" necessary for those larger projects.

Large-Format 3D Printer—Buying Guide

With the average printing bed size of a 3D printer intended for general use being around 150–300mm, if you wanted to scale up the size of your 3D creations, a printer of 350mm–500mm would be ideal, and luckily, there are a few worthy large-scale models available on the market for you to choose from.

Benefits of a Large 3D Printer

Development in 3D printing technology means that we've recently been presented with 3D printed houses, cars, bikes, camper vans, life-size statues, and even sofas and other pieces of furniture.

Obviously, the "large format" we're referring to in this article is less about making grand-scale structures, and more about moving on from miniatures, ornaments, and other small objects or parts that an ordinary, non-industrial-sized 3D printer can produce.

Since you'll have a little more print bed area to play with, with a large-format 3D printer you can create detailed products that don't require a magnifying glass to really appreciate and also larger parts that would otherwise need to be printed in separate sections.  

Thomas’ Top Picks for the Best Large Format 3D Printer 2022

If you're ready to step up your 3D printing game, and have a blast doing it, here are some of the best large format 3D printers currently available to buy now.

Best Large 500mm 3D Printer: Creality CR-10 S5 Plus 3D Printer | Buy Now

Best Large 400mm 3D Printer: ANYCUBIC Chiron 3D Printer | Buy Now

Best Large 3D Printer Under $1000: Creality Ender 5 Plus 3D Printer | Buy Now

Best Industrial Large 3D Printer: Snapmaker 2.0 Modular 3-in-1 3D Printer | Buy Now

Best Large 3D Printer under $500: SUNLU S8 3D Printer | Buy Now

Best Cheap Large 3D Printer: LONGER LK1 3D Printer | Buy Now

Scroll down to see more on our top picks for the best large format 3D printer, according to many happy buyers.

*Prices listed in this article were as shown in US$ on Amazon. com (USA) and other online retailers as of February 2022

1. Best Large 500mm 3D Printer—Crealty Large 3D Printer 500x500x500mm

As one of the 3D printers with the largest printing beds currently available, the Creality CR-10 S5 3D printer has 500x500x500mm of printing space meaning you can really let your imagination run wild.

Installation is super quick and easy as the machine comes in three pre-assembled parts with clearly labeled wires and instructions. Other features include a resume-printing function in the event of loss of power, and you also get a one-year warranty from the manufacturer.

One buyer who gave this machine five stars helpfully mentioned that you need to have plenty of room to accommodate this huge printer, writing, "The main thing to consider is its sheer size. It requires over a yard, possibly a full meter of depth to move the build plate."

BUY NOW: US$719, Creality 3D

2.

Best Large 400mm 3D Printer—ANYCUBIC 3D Printer 400x400x450mm

A large-format 3D printer from a trusted brand, the ANYCUBIC Chiron is for anyone who doesn't mind spending some extra time and effort on leveling the bed or working out the settings.

Users have reported this as being rather tricky, but the trade-off is a great 400mm 3D printer with impressive capabilities, plus, a superb customer service department that helped with any and all issues pertaining to the printer, from setup to product completion. One fan wrote, "It took me a long time to dial in my settings and get high-quality prints but I was able to get the printer working and printing decent quality the same day I put it together."

Another happy user who has "completed more than 4,000 hours of printing" and "used many hundreds of rolls of filament," described, "The results I am getting are amazing even with some prints taking over 300 hours to complete. In fact, I have just started a seven-part 700-hour print which is going very well. "

BUY NOW: US$623.75, Amazon

3. Best Large 3D Printer Under $1000—Creality Ender 5 Plus 3D Printer 350x350x400mm

With pretty much the same capabilities as its equally highly-rated sister model, the Creality Ender 5 Pro, including an automatic bed leveling sensor, bed stabilizer, color touch screen, and easy assembly, the Ender 5 Plus has one major difference; its huge size which accommodates its large build plate.

This sturdy thing works straight out of the box, and in addition to great customer support, there is also a massive Creality community to quickly get any answers and assistance you may require.

"I have printed several large helmets with great results," one happy purchaser wrote, and another added, "I love having the bigger print bed for very big projects. There is some fine-tuning you will have to do but after that, you are ready to rock and roll."

BUY NOW: US$599 (Was US$649), Amazon

4.

Best Industrial Large 3D Printer—Snapmaker 3-in-1 3D Printer 320x350x330mm

For advanced hobbyists or pros who want to up their 3D printing game, the Snapmaker 2.0 will make a proud addition to your workspace and open up a world of 3D opportunity and creativity. In addition to its large printing capacity, it is fast, powerful, and also allows you to do much more than 3D printing, like engraving, cutting, and CNC carving.

At this price, it's a unit for those who are pretty serious about 3D printing, but for small businesses that rely on the craft, it will end up paying for itself in no time. One reviewer who bought this to enhance their graphic design business, wrote, "It's been a valuable asset so far. We are making our own business cards on metal which is super unique and our customers love the added services we can now offer."

Another happy buyer who raved about its versatility and build quality, added, "I have been making non-stop with this machine. .. [It] allows for the imagination to go absolutely wild with ideas!"

BUY NOW: US$1,799, Amazon

5. Best Large 3D Printer under $500—SUNLU S8 3D Printer 310x310x400mm Upgraded

Another good printer with a large print bed, and a tiny price to boot, the upgraded SUNLO S8 only weighs around 26 pounds so is not as much of a task to move as some of the other large 3D printers.

At under US$300, you get many features like high stability, accurate printing, filament runout detection, a Z-axis dual linear rail, and simple assembly. There's also a resume printing function for power failures.

"This printer provides great value for the cost," one buyer explained. "Not only is the print size large enough to do just about anything you can think of, but at 310x310x400 it is the largest in its price class." Another happy customer wrote, "Awesome printer for the price. Can't beat it. It's open-source so it's super easy to add upgrades if you want. Huge build size."

BUY NOW: US$279.99, Amazon

6. Best Cheap Large 3D Printer—LONGER LK1 3D Printer 300x300x400mm

With an even smaller price tag, the Longer LK1 3D printer is another option for those wanting to dabble in 3D printing but unsure whether to fork out the big bucks just yet.

It provides plenty of features to learn the art, and the customer service is helpful with any questions you may have. The leveling is not the best, but it is easy to assemble and users have been satisfied with the print quality.

"This is an awesome entry-level printer," one satisfied shopper explained. "I was pleasantly surprised, how easy it was to set up... If you're looking for bang for your buck and [to] familiarize yourself with 3D printing, then don't go wasting money on expensive printers; this one works great."

BUY NOW: US$270.39, Walmart

The Best Large Format 3D Printer—Summary

With one of the largest printing beds currently available for a non-industrial 3D printer, the Creality CR-10 S5 3D printer (US$719, Creality 3D) provides an impressive 500x500x500mm of printing space. The Anycubic Chiron (US$623.75, Amazon) is another large-format printer with impressive capabilities and has a superb customer service department too.

We hope our review of the best large format 3D printer has been helpful. For more 3D printers and other 3D printing suppliers, including 3D printer filaments suppliers, additive manufacturing suppliers, 3D photographic printing services, and 3D sand printing additive manufacturing, consult our additional guides, or visit the Thomas Supplier Discovery Platform.

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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.

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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.

Get a quote*

*One of our trusted partners will be in touch following a quote request.


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. 

Get a quote*

*One of our trusted partners will be in touch following a quote request.


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

Desktop 3D printers for the home

Anet Anycubic Creality3D CreatBot Dremel Elegoo Felix FlashForge FLSUN Flying Bear Formlabs IBRIDGER imprinta MakerBot Peopoly Phrozen PICASO 3D QIDI Raise3D Tiertime Ultimaker Uniz Voxelab wanhao XYZPrinting ZENIT Zortrax

Availability

In stock

Manufacturer

Phrozen Raise3D Creality wanhao FlashForge

PICASO 3D Anycubic Formlabs Tiertime Flyingbear QIDI Uniz CreatBot Dremel DigiLab Felix Zortrax XYZprinting Ultimaker imprinta Elegoo MakerBot Anet FLSUN IBRIDGER Peopoly snapmaker Voltera Voxelab ZENIT

Delivery

Assembled printer Assembly kit

Application

Architecture For large objects For beginners The medicine Education

Orthopedics Production prototyping Reverse engineering Advertising, exhibitions Sculpture Dentistry Hobby jewelry

Print technology

DLP/LCD/SLA FDM/FFF LFS

Thread diameter

1. 75 mm 2.85 mm 3.00 mm

Material type

ABS PLA PETG Photopolymers Flex

Nylon (Nylon) ASA Carbon HIPS PC PEEK PP TPU other Metal (Ultrafuse 316L, Ultrafuse 17-4PH)

Number of extruders (print heads)

Heating table

Yes Not

Wi-Fi or other wireless network

Yes Not

Country of origin

China Russia USA Taiwan Hong Kong

Netherlands Poland

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Construction area size 220x220x250 mm
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Construction area size 200x200x200 mm
Number of extruders (print heads) 1
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Manufacturer Flyingbear
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Construction area size 255x210x210 mm
Number of extruders (print heads) 1
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Manufacturer Anycubic
Construction area size 102x57x165 mm
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Manufacturer Anycubic
Construction area size 197 x 122 x 245 mm (5. 9 l)
Chamber volume 5.9 l
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Manufacturer Phrozen
Construction area size 134x75x130 mm
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Construction area size 165x72x180 mm
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Construction area size 198 × 123 × 210 mm
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Manufacturer QIDI
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Construction area size 270 x 200 x 200 mm
Number of extruders (print heads) 1
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Manufacturer Phrozen
Construction area size 200x125x220 mm
Country of origin Taiwan

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Manufacturer Flyingbear
Construction area size 325*325*350 mm
Number of extruders (print heads) 1
Country of origin China

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Manufacturer Wanhao
Construction area size 500x500x500 mm
Number of extruders (print heads) 2
Country of origin China

3D printing is one of the most promising areas of technological development in the 21st century. Having gone a long way from bulky and heavy boxes to compact desktop devices, 3D printers have ceased to be something inaccessible to a wide range of users. The era of mass additive manufacturing has already arrived, and every home can now house a real desktop factory.

You can buy a 3D printer capable of printing small models and prototyping of medium complexity today at the price of an entry-level laptop. The price of PLA or ABS plastic, which acts as a consumable, also no longer seems exorbitant. In a word, if you have long dreamed of getting to know the world of 3D printing and joining the ranks of makers, the right moment has come!

To save you time and make it easier to select equipment, we have collected in one section all desktop 3D printers optimized for home and office use. These are the real "workhorses" with the perfect balance of functionality, quality and price. Even a beginner can understand the settings, mount and calibrate a 3D printer, and as he gains experience, he will be able to print more and more complex three-dimensional models.

How to choose a home 3D printer?

Until recently, 3D printing machines were rare and cost fabulous money - not everyone could afford a modern miracle device. Now a desktop 3D printer can be easily ordered both in our country and in foreign online stores: both ready-made options and prefabricated constructors are sold. A large selection of models, as usual, brings certain difficulties: how to choose a device for your own purposes, not overpay for unnecessary functions and buy a really reliable device. To get competent advice, we turned to experts - our partners who are engaged in the production or sale of 3D equipment. They were asked to speculate on the topic: "What to look for when choosing a home 3D printer?". And here's what came out of it.

Alexander Kornveits, General Director of Tsvetnoy Mir

1. To choose a 3D printer that is right for you, you first need to decide what you will print. This will determine which model of 3D printer is best for you for these purposes.

It is important to understand that a desktop 3D printer is not a mass production machine. It is a tool for creating models, prototyping, designing or printing small batches of small parts. A 3D printer is a great hobby that can even make you an income.

2. If you already know what you will be printing, you need to determine which plastic is best suited for printing the models you need.

Today, all plastics can be conditionally divided into 2 groups: ABS and PLA.

For ABS printing, a fully enclosed build chamber and a heated bed are essential, such as in the FlashForge Dreamer or UP BOX+ 3D printer. In these printers, you have the opportunity not only to set the temperature of the platform, but also to maintain a high temperature in the entire working chamber, up to 90℃ . Under such conditions, the risk of delamination of the model during the printing process is reduced and the quality of the finished model will be higher.

A heated pad is optional for PLA printing. But at the same time, good airflow of the model during printing is very important. Printing with PLA is in many cases much easier for a beginner. An example of such printers is the MakerBot Replicator + or the budget Chinese Wanhao Duplicator i3 models.

Also, when choosing plastic for your tasks, you need to pay attention to the post-processing of models. Different materials have different properties not only during printing, but also in finished products, for example, ABS plastic can be easily sanded or polished in an acetone bath, and PLA is well suited for priming and subsequent painting. If you want to print with different types of materials, then you need a versatile 3D printer that can handle any task. Such models also exist, such as Raise3D N1 Dual or FlashForge Creator Pro. These printers come with a completely closed chamber, which is very important for printing with ABS plastic, but with a few easy movements you can transform it into a completely open state, great for PLA plastic.

3. Selection of construction area.

The larger the working chamber, the higher the price, so it's worth deciding whether you need a large chamber or a medium or small chamber for your needs. You also need to understand that printing large models will take a very long time, in some cases up to two days. It may be better to print the model in parts and glue it together from the medium-sized printed parts.

4. To print multiple colors or print solvent supports, you will need a printer with two extruders. Having a second extruder can help with printing some models, but it's important to understand that printing with two extruders is a more complex process and you can run into a lot of difficulties in the process. When choosing a printer, try to focus on the tasks that are right in front of you. If experiments are your path, do not hesitate to choose a printer model with two extruders. This gives many additional possibilities for creating complex models.

Renat Gainutdinov, General Director of Irvin (Magnum)

I would suggest paying attention to the following things:

1. First of all, reliability in general, high-quality metal construction.

2. Easily accessible and easily disassembled extruder, as often have to be serviced.

3. The availability of high-quality technical support for users, because beginners often have questions about printing and equipment operation.

Everything I've written above applies very well to Magnum 3D products. Also, our printer can be purchased and connected to attachments for laser engraving and an attachment for printing with plastic materials (dough, chocolate paste, potatoes, etc.), which is important and simply interesting for home use.

Yulia Efimova, marketer at Fabbers

Of course, there are several criteria by which you can choose a 3D printer for your home:

1. First of all, you should decide for what purpose you decided to buy this equipment at home, because the printing technology and, accordingly, the type of material you will use (as well as the building volume, print resolution, the number of extruders and etc. ). As a rule, FDM machines are used for the home, as they are most suitable for "home" work, such as: making missing (broken) decor elements, parts, hobbies, design, etc.

2. Then you need to decide on the type of printer: open or closed.

  • Open is the easiest. And for simple tasks, it may well be enough, but a number of other nuances should be taken into account: in particular, you need to provide a well-ventilated, but draft-free room or use a material that does not emit harmful substances when melted, such as PLA.
  • If you are going to use ABS or other more professional materials all the time, then you should consider a model with a closed chamber and an exhaust air filtration system. Plus, the output quality is better in a closed chamber, as a uniform temperature is maintained all the time. Do not forget about safety: the closed chamber of the 3D printer will limit access to the heating elements, which is important if there are children in the house.

3. Pay attention to the convenience of using a 3D printer, the presence of auto-calibration of the printing platform, the screen, intuitive software, the ability to work without a PC (from flash memory or via wi-fi), etc. Although having all these "bells and whistles" increases the cost of the machine, they can make the user's job much easier.

4. An important point is the choice of the manufacturer (trademark). A good manufacturer is almost always the guarantor of the best value for money. For our customers at home, we recommend machines of such brands as Felix printers, Lulzbot, Makerbot, Cybermicro, Cubicon. Unlike inexpensive models, they use high-quality parts in their machines, so by purchasing such a printer, you will save your money, time and nerves.

Maxim Kondratov, General Director of MyShop3D

.

In order to make a choice, you should ask yourself a few questions. This will help you avoid disappointment and get the most out of your decision to purchase 3D equipment.

1. The first question you should ask yourself before buying is “What will I 3D print?”. If the answer to this question is “something for the house” or “various life hacks”, then in principle any working unit for your money will do.

If you need a device for work, hobby or study, and you have high hopes for it, then first you need to find out what shapes and dimensions the printed models will have. This will help you weed out some of the printers on the market with a print area that is not suitable for your needs. Agree, it will be a shame if a 3D printer purchased to create flower vases has an insufficient height of the print area for these vases. The result is money thrown to the wind, a dusty 3D printer and disappointment in additive technologies.

2. The next important question you should ask yourself is “What types of consumables should my 3D printer support?”

Any FDM printer prints with PLA plastic, but not everyone is able to work with ABS, and even fewer printers support printing, for example, FLEX or rubber-like materials. Of course, if you are a level 80 design engineer, then with a special desire this will not be a problem for you and you can make even a printer box print with flexible plastic! But if you do not have such skills, and PLA and ABS do not fully satisfy your needs, then you will have to pay attention to printers whose design does not contradict the ability to use the material you need for your tasks. If you are unable to determine this yourself, please consult your dealer or the manufacturer directly.

3. The next question to ask yourself is "Do you have small children or even a place for a printer that a child will never get to?"

If there is a child, but there is no such place, then you will have to think about the safety of your child and give priority to 3D printers with a closed and protected case. Because the principle of operation of FDM printers is based on the melting of plastic under the influence of high temperatures, your child may harm his health when in contact with some elements of the device. And a child, especially when his safety and health is at stake, should be a fundamental factor when choosing a home 3D printer. By the way, safety is not the only advantage of a closed case. Paired with a heated table, it will reward you with the ability to print with ABS plastic, minimizing the chance of marriage.

4. After you've answered the above questions, it's time to decide on the 3D printer manufacturer and budget.

Conventionally, all 3D printers can be divided into three groups:

- Russia

The advantage of Russian manufacturers is that you live on the same territory and speak the same language. Those. you will not have language barriers when contacting technical support, service repairs or maintenance will be less troublesome. And forget about the biased attitude towards domestic products - Russian 3D printer manufacturers have good potential and experience in this area. The leaders of the Russian market, in our opinion, are such manufacturers as Picaso, 3DQuality, IMPRINTA and Magnum.

- China

The main advantages of Chinese 3D technology are simplicity, availability, price and versatility. Parts from one Chinese 3D printer almost always fit another Chinese 3D printer. This technique is easily modified, spare parts for them can be ordered not only in China, but also in any store with accessories for 3D printing. These 3D printers are disassembled and assembled using a set of hexagons and screwdrivers without special instrumentation skills, and the price is the lowest on the 3D market. The main disadvantage is the quality of assembly and raw materials for components, which is inferior in all respects to global competitors. Therefore, if you have already decided to opt for a Chinese manufacturer, then choose from the world leaders in this industry, such as WANHAO LLC or Up (Tiertime). Otherwise, you run the risk of getting only a device that looks like a 3D printer, which will not be able to fully cope with even the simplest task. As the saying goes, a miser pays twice.

- West

Most Western 3D printers boast excellent build quality and components. The latter are usually made from high quality materials. Due to this, this group of manufacturers has a high class of reliability and shelf life. But these advantages are the cause of such disadvantages as the high cost and inaccessibility of spare parts. And due to the low level of service and the lack of specialists, a small breakdown can easily turn into a big problem that will not only hit your wallet, but also take a lot of time and nerves. The generally recognized leaders are Ultimaker, 3DSystems, Makerboot and Raise3D.

Irina Solomnikova, Commercial Director of IMPRINTA

knowledge to assemble and configure equipment? Do you have enough free time to complete the build, or is it just a box of parts?

2. Print quality. Even if the printer is taken for the home, poor print quality can completely discourage you and your family from working on the printer. The printing process is certainly exciting, but the result is also very important in order to put the resulting product in the most visible place, and not send it to the trash can like an unnecessary piece of plastic.

3. Equipment quality and certificates. When purchasing equipment for home, you need to remember about safety. It is worth paying attention to the quality of the wires, moving parts, heating elements. It is also necessary to keep in mind the availability of certificates or declarations for equipment - this confirms the reliability of both the equipment and the manufacturer.

4. The use of a 3D printer is not limited to the manufacture of toys, and even when choosing a 3D printer for home, you need to consider its capabilities, such as printing with various materials, the ability to change the nozzle (this affects both print speed and quality, and printing materials with various additives - wood, metal, etc.).

Representative of 3D-Store

1. Software quality. Now almost all home FDM printers come with software based on a few free products (Cura, RepetierHost, etc.), so you should be very careful about how much attention the hardware manufacturer has paid to optimizing standard software products for their hardware. ". In the worst case, the tasks of such optimization can fall on the shoulders of the consumer, who will have to manually set and select all the parameters of the printer. Good manufacturers supply software that is ideally configured to work with a specific printer immediately after its installation, it is enough to load models, select material and press just one button to start.

2. Advanced hardware. If from the point of view of the reliability of drives, mechanisms and electronics it is now difficult to single out someone in the middle and upper price segment of home 3D printers (the quality of the components here is sufficient for everyone not to worry about the performance of your printer for many years), then in terms of the wealth of technologies, making life easier for the user, there is a clear separation. The functions of automatic checking of the starting gap and tilt of the table in 2017 became, as they say, a “must have”. Some of the more advanced low-cost models have begun to be released with an automatic build platform leveling feature. In addition, as an additional useful option - control of the supply of material through the extruder. It can save a lot of plastic and nerves, especially if you plan to leave the printer to work on its own without human supervision during long printing.

But the last two functions have not yet received mass distribution, and in those models where they have already appeared, this has had a rather negative impact on the cost of the printer. For now, it would be reasonable to limit ourselves to really important functionality at a moderate price (as an example, Zortrax M200, which has everything you need for comfortable work, and you don’t have to overpay for “luxury” innovations).

3. Building platform. The success of each print depends very much on how your material "makes friends" with the build platform. Different platform materials have their own characteristics of working with them: glass provides a smooth bottom surface, but often requires the use of glue or a special film, while a perforated metal platform, although it allows printing models on a plastic substrate, requires some preparation of the platform before printing plastics with low shrinkage (like PLA) disappear completely. And when such a platform is covered with a solution of ABS plastic and due to uniform heating, it becomes almost inseparable at the time of printing, even with the most unfriendly filament grades.

Andrey Zakharov, manager of Top 3D Shop

1. Decide on the technology. FDM is more affordable, but less accurate, SLA produces excellent print quality, but both the printers themselves and the material are more expensive. Although, now there is Wanhao D7 - this is a stereolithographic printer for a very reasonable price.

2. Take into account when choosing the print area, available materials. All this is reflected in the price.

3. Important warranty and availability of service, spare parts. The choice of the country of origin also depends on their availability and conditions. Although, when contacting an authorized dealer, this problem is largely removed.

4. Purpose of buying a 3D printer: For some, it is important to buy the cheapest printer, sort it out yourself as a hobby. Others want it to print out of the box. These are different approaches, different models and prices. For some, the ability of the printer to print with two materials at the same time is important, models with two extruders are suitable here.

5. When buying a printer for the home, many people also care about the external dimensions of the printer, ease of assembly and installation, and for some, the appearance. These qualities also differ in different models.

Evgenia Kurochkina, Development Director of ZENIT 3D

First of all, ask yourself the question: “Why do you need a 3D printer?”, And if you clearly know the answer to it, determine the psychological price threshold and boldly proceed with the choice devices.


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