Top 10 3d printers under 300

The 9 Best 3D Printers under $300 in 2023 – Clever Creations

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Best overall

Anycubic Kobra

• Easy print removal
• Intuitive user-friendly touch screen
• Easy assembly process

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Best on a budget

Sovol SV06

• Silent operation
• Auto leveling sensor
• Excellent print quality for the price

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Best budget resin

Anycubic Photon Mono

• Budget-friendly and for beginners
• Reproduces fine details with accuracy
• Good community support

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The lower prices of 3D printers have made 3D printing accessible for many. There are lots of options available in the budget 3D printer segment that are great for anyone who’s looking to get into the hobby. However, with so many options to choose from, it can easily get confusing to find the budget printer that best suits your needs.

In this article, we’ll go over our favorite picks for the best 3D printer under $300. We’ve classified these printers into various categories and listed some things that you should consider when making your purchasing decision.

Best 3D printers under $300 in 2023

Anycubic Kobra

Best overall

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The Anycubic Kobra is the basic model of Anycubic’s new Kobra series of FDM 3D printers. It comes in a brand new industrial design and is equipped with advanced features to keep it up to date with current 3D printing standards.

Anycubic’s self-developed automatic bed leveling helps you with the initial bed leveling process. It makes sure that you get a smooth first layer and that your prints stick to the bed with ease. The direct extruder gives you increased control over the filaments and lets you print with flexible materials such as TPU and TPE.

Its PEI coated spring steel build platform is designed for improved adhesion and the easy removal of your 3D prints. The large 4.3-inch vertical touch screen lets you easily interact with the 3D printer and makes navigating through the user interface a smooth experience.

For $300, it is an bargain and a step above the Creality Ender 3 V2. It is a good choice for beginners, students, and hobbyists who need a budget FDM 3D printer that delivers good printing quality.

Recommended:

Anycubic Kobra Review: The Best Budget 3D Printer?

Standout Features

• 25-point automatic bed leveling
• Direct drive extruder
• Spring steel platform

Technical Details
Print volume	220 x 220 x 250 mm
Bed leveling	Automatic
Heated print bed	Yes
Filament diameter	1. 75 mm
Max hotend temperature	260 °C

What We Like

• Easy print removal
• Intuitive user-friendly touch screen
• Easy assembly process
• Wide material compatibility

Could Be Better

• Noisy operation
• Limited slicer support
• Plasticky feel

Find Anycubic Kobra at

AmazonAnycubicAliExpress

Sovol SV06

Best on a budget

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Sovol

Being the sixth iteration in the SV series, the Sovol S06 packs a rich set of features that provide excellent utility under $300. It’s strikingly similar to the Prusa i3 printers and follows a similar design philosophy in its offerings.

The dual Z-axis design on the SV06 neatly fits a modest build area of 220 x 220 x 250 mm, which is adequate for printing most 3D printing models with ease. The PEI metal build plate has excellent print adhesion and goes well with the included inductive auto-bed leveling sensor on the SV06.

Sovol has integrated a high-temperature hot end and coupled it with a planetary gear direct extruder. The all-metal hot end can reach temperatures up to 300 °C, while the planetary gear arrangement exerts a high force on the filament, leading to good grip and improved extrusion performance.

However, the machine is not without its faults. In our SV06 review, we found the default part cooling on the printer is slightly weak. Furthermore, the build quality of the SV06 leaves some to be desired.

If you can put aside these minor shortcomings, the Sovol SV06 is one of the best budget 3D printers with many valuable features. It’s capable of delivering good 3D printed parts and, for the price, certainly makes a good choice for beginners, hobbyists, and first-time 3D printer users.

Recommended:

Sovol SV06 Review: The Best Prusa Clone?

Standout Features

• Planetary Direct Drive Extruder with all-metal hot end
• 32-bit controller with TMC 2209 drivers
• Sensorless homing
• Auto Z Align

Technical Details
Print volume	220 x 220 x 250 mm
Bed leveling	Automatic
Max. nozzle temperature	300 °C
Max. bed temperature	Up to 100 °C
Supported slicers	Cura, Simplify3D, PrusaSlicer, etc.
Filament diameter	1.75 mm

What We Like

• Silent operation
• Auto leveling sensor
• Excellent print quality for the price
• Solid safety features

Could Be Better

• No touch screen
• Print bed paint comes off at high temperatures
• Limited print cooling performance

Find Sovol SV06 at

Sovol

Anycubic Photon Mono

Best budget resin

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AmazonAnycubicGeekbuyingAliExpress

The cost of resin 3D printers has come down drastically within the last few years and 3D printers like the Anycubic Photon Mono are a testament to this. The Photon Mono is a cheap, entry-level resin 3D printer from Anycubic.

It comes with a sharp 2K resolution monochrome LCD screen, which allows you to reproduce fine details. The Photon Mono has a decent build volume of 130x80x165 mm. This is less than the other options in the 3D printers under $300 segment, but that is to be expected of a printer that uses 3D printer resin instead of filament.

To guarantee precision and stability during the printing process, it comes with a quality linear rail for the Z-axis.

The main advantage of resin 3D printers is the superb print quality that they offer. If you are interested in 3D printing (D&D) minis and figurines, you are best off with a resin 3D printer. If that’s what you’re looking for, and you don’t want to spend too much, the Anycubic Photon Mono is a great choice.

Standout Features

• Small and compact size
• 2K resolution monochrome LCD screen
• Easy to replace FEP film

Technical Details
Price	$239
Print volume	130x80x165 mm
Bed leveling	Manual
Supported slicers	Anycubic Photon Workshop
Material	405nm UV Resin

What We Like

• Budget-friendly and for beginners
• Reproduces fine details with accuracy
• Good community support

Could Be Better

• Proprietary slicing software
• Small touchscreen

Find Anycubic Photon Mono at

AmazonAnycubicGeekbuyingAliExpress

Creality Ender 3 V2

Most aftermarket upgrades

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AmazonCreality3DComgrow

Until the release of the Anycubic Kobra, we considered the Creality Ender 3 V2 to be the best 3D printer under $300. It is a worthy successor to the popular Ender 3 and comes with an updated look and brand new spec sheet that suits the current 3D printing standards.

The Ender V2 has a sturdy aluminum body with a generous heated bed of 220 x 220 mm. It comes with a color screen with an updated UI, which lets you navigate the various functions of this budget 3D printer with ease. The addition of a toolbox, XY belt tensioners, and an extruder knob are some of the neat little things that make the Ender V2 stand out.

The Ender V2 features an updated 32-bit motherboard with TMC 2208 stepper motor drivers. It also comes with a UL-certified power supply for added safety and faster heat times.

On top of that, you can find great community support with tons of tutorials and guides available for upgrading your Ender 3 V2. In short, this printer has everything you would expect from a sub $300 3D printer and then some.

Recommended:

Creality Ender 3 V2 Neo Review: A Welcome Refresh

Standout Features

• Color screen with redesigned UI
• TMC 2208 stepper motor drivers
• 350W Meanwell Power Supply

Technical Details
Price	$279. 00
Print volume	220x220x250 mm
Bed leveling	Manual
Heated print bed	Yes
Supported slicers	Cura, Simplify3D, PrusaSlicer, etc.
Filament diameter	1.75 mm
Max hotend temperature	240°C

What We Like

• Easy to use and beginner-friendly
• Great print quality out of the box
• Components can be upgraded with ease

Could Be Better

• Limited material compatibility
• Lack of enclosure

Find Creality Ender 3 V2 at

AmazonCreality3DComgrow

Flashforge Finder

Best for beginners

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AmazonFlashforge

The Flashforge Finder is a plug-n-play kind of 3D printer. It takes less than maybe 30 minutes to set it up and start 3D printing. The features and ease of use make the Finder a great fit for beginners in 3D printing.

The Finder has a closed frame with a sturdy build, which gives it a nice boxy look. The filament spool is neatly tucked inside the printer body. This makes it an ideal 3D printer to use in a classroom setting and as a printer to carry around anywhere with ease.

This 3D printer under 300 comes with a user-friendly touch screen with a neatly laid out interface. It makes it easy to control the printer and is especially easy for kids and people with disabilities to use.

One limitation of the Flashforge Finder is that it uses its proprietary slicing software – Flashprint – for preparing models. However, this software is finely tuned to the Finder and optimized so that it’s easy to use. In it, you can find preloaded profiles to prepare a file, or you can fine-tune some of the major settings to your needs. Flashforge has optimized the entire user experience of the Finder for people who are just getting started with 3D printing.

Standout Features

• Responsive touchscreen
• USB and Wi-Fi connectivity
• Slide-in build plate

Technical Details
Price	$279
Print volume	140x140x140 mm
Bed leveling	Manual
Heated print bed	No
Supported slicers	Flashprint
Filament diameter	1.75 mm
Max hotend temperature	220°C

What We Like

• Quick setup with minimal preparation
• Safe to use around kids
• Easy to use

Could Be Better

• No heated build plate
• The built-in spool holder is small
• Limited functionality in the Flashprint software

Find Flashforge Finder at

AmazonFlashforge

Anycubic Mega S

Best material compatibility

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Typical 3D printers under $300 have limited material compatibility because of the hotends that they use. These hotends reach relatively low maximum temperatures and limit the 3D printing materials that they are compatible with to PLA and sometimes ABS. The Anycubic Mega S 3D printer’s hotend, on the other hand, can reach a maximum temperature of 260°C.

The higher hotend temperature makes the Anycubic Mega S compatible with PLA, ABS, TPU, HIPS, PETG, and even wood filaments. To complement this, it has a solid metal body with a large build volume of 210 x 210 x 205 mm. You also get an easy-to-use touchscreen and a Titan extruder, which is almost unheard of for 3D printers under $300.

The Titan extruder offers more precise extrusion and allows you to print better with flexible filaments. Overall, when compared to its competitors in terms of filament compatibility, what you get with the Anycubic Mega S is definitely a step above the competition.

Standout Features

• Easy assembly
• Touchscreen for easy navigation
• Filament sensor

Technical Details
Price	$249
Print volume	210x210x205 mm
Bed leveling	Manual
Heated print bed	Yes
Supported slicers	Cura
Filament diameter	1. 75 mm
Max hotend temperature	260°C

What We Like

• Compatible with many filaments
• Easy to set up and use
• Compact and sturdy construction

Could Be Better

• No automatic bed leveling
• Lack of Wi-Fi connectivity

Find Anycubic Mega S at

AmazonAnycubicAliExpressGeekbuying

Creality Ender 3

Best value

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AmazonCreality3DComgrow

While the Ender 3 V2 is still a good contender for the best 3D printer under $300, its predecessor, the Creality Ender 3, is a great budget 3D printer in this price class. Even though it’s several years since it was first released, the Ender 3 remains a popular choice.

The Ender 3 has all the functionalities that you would expect from a basic 3D printer. It comes with a build volume of 220x220x250mm and a heated print bed with a sticky Buildtak-like printing surface. It is beginner-friendly and provides a decent printing quality from the start.

Since it is a popular 3D printer, there are tons of user guides, tutorials, and community forums for the Ender 3. There are many mods and upgrades available for the Ender 3, which makes it a versatile option.

If you’re on a budget, want a good 3D printer, and are open to fiddling a little to get good results, the Ender 3 is a great choice for you.

Standout Features

• Heated build plate
• Sticky print surface
• Beginner-friendly

Technical Details
Price	$189
Print volume	220x220x250 mm
Bed leveling	Manual
Heated print bed	Yes
Supported slicers	Cura, Simplify3D, PrusaSlicer, etc.
Filament diameter	1.75 mm
Max hotend temperature	240°C

What We Like

• Lots of community support
• Compatible with aftermarket upgrades
• Great value for the money

Could Be Better

• Open frame design
• Cheap plastic extruder

Find Creality Ender 3 at

AmazonCreality3DComgrow

Sovol SV01

Largest print area

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AmazonSovol3D

The Sovol SV01 is probably the 3D printer under 300 that comes with the largest build volume: 280x240x300 mm. This allows you to print large-size objects in one go, without having to split them into multiple parts. For 3D printing things like cosplay props, this is ideal.

The Sovol SV01 has a direct drive Titan-style extruder that makes 3D printing flexible filaments a breeze. It also has a dual Z-axis set up with a sturdy and solid aluminum frame for maximum stability during the 3D printing process. This extra stability is useful on larger 3D printers, which can get unstable. But it also helps you increase the maximum printing speed to get your parts printed more quickly without visual artifacts.

And to top it off, there are some neat safety and quality of life features built in the SV01, like filament detection, a resume printing function for protection against a power outage, and thermal runaway protection.

It comes partially assembled (~95% done), making it fairly easy in terms of getting it up and running. This comes in contrast to some other 3D printers under 300 that come as a kit that needs to be fully assembled.

The large print volume of the Sovol SV01 might not be for everyone. But if you 3D print helmets, 3D print armor, or other cosplay props, the SV01 offers you plenty of build volume at an affordable price.

Recommended:

Sovol SV06 Review: The Best Prusa Clone?

Standout Features

• Large print volume
• Direct drive extruder
• Dual Z-axis movement

Technical Details
Price	$299
Print volume	280x240x300 mm
Bed leveling	Manual
Heated print bed	Yes
Supported slicers	Cura
Filament diameter	1. 75 mm
Max hotend temperature	260°C

What We Like

• Easy to assemble, even for beginners
• Excellent safety features
• Easily upgradeable with various accessories

Could Be Better

• Loud fans
• Impractical placement of filament sensor

Find Sovol SV01 at

AmazonSovol3D

Artillery Genius

Most silent

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The Artillery Genius is arguably the most silent 3D printer under $300. It comes with an MKS Gen L V1.0 motherboard along with a set of proprietary stepper motor drivers. This makes it one of the quietest 3D printers on the market. This means that you can easily use it in your workspace without being disturbed by the constant noise of the stepper motors. For small business owners, this is ideal.

Asides from being offering quiet operation, the Artillery Genius comes with several other neat features. It has a proprietary Z nut coupler that reduces layer artifacts on 3D printed parts. The cable management on the Genius is also unique. Instead of the wires flying around, all cables are neatly tucked inside a flex cable for added safety and aesthetics.

The sturdy aluminum body comes with a solid base that is easy to put together. You get a color TFT touchscreen for easy navigation through the various functions. Although the print quality is not amazing right out of the box, with some fine-tuning you will have a high-quality printing experience on a sub-$300 budget.

Standout Features

• Silent operation
• Neat cable management
• TFT touchscreen

Technical Details
Price	$299
Print volume	220x220x250 mm
Bed leveling	Manual
Heated print bed	Yes
Supported slicers	Cura, Simplify 3D, PrusaSlicer, etc.
Filament diameter	1.75 mm
Max hotend temperature	240°C

What We Like

• Easy assembly
• Synchronized Z-axis reduces layer artifacts
• Quick and reliable after-sales support

Could Be Better

• Needs some tweaking to get good quality prints
• Quality control needs improvement

Find Artillery Genius at

AmazonAliExpressGeekbuying

Monoprice Mini Delta V2

Best Delta printer

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Amazon

It can be tricky to find 3D printers under $300 that offer a high print speed and come with features like automatic leveling of its heated bed, and Wi-Fi connectivity. The Monoprice Mini Delta V2, however, is one of the few options that give you just that. The Mini Delta V2 is the successor to the original Mini Delta and one of the most versatile printers under $300 with a small form factor.

The Delta V2 comes with an updated color touchscreen, with a new look and a neatly designed user interface. This upgraded version offers automatic bed leveling to make your first layers stick perfectly to the build platform. On the connectivity side of things, it has a USB port, SD card slot, and inbuilt Wi-Fi to let you control your 3D printer remotely from your smartphone.

The self-diagnostic features are also unique to see in this category. The Delta mini runs an extruder heat check and checks the movement of all three axes when you turn it on. This helps prevent failed prints and wasting valuable filament.

A major downside of the Delta V2 is the small printing area and slightly reduced print quality because of the higher print speed. This is circumventable by turning the print speed down, but that does mean your 3D prints take longer.

Ultimately, the Delta V2 is an excellent beginner Delta 3D printer in a compact package at an attractive price.

Standout Features

• Auto bed leveling
• Touchscreen controls
• Wi-Fi connectivity

Technical Details
Price	$179
Print volume	ø110 x 120 mm
Bed leveling	Automatic
Heated print bed	Yes
Supported slicers	Cura, Simplify 3D, PrusaSlicer, etc.
Filament diameter	1.75 mm
Max hotend temperature	260°C

What We Like

• High printing speeds
• Easily diagnoses issues
• Remote control and monitor prints

Could Be Better

• Small build volume
• Limited upgradability

Find Monoprice Mini Delta V2 at

Amazon

What to pay attention to when buying a 3D printer under $300?

When looking for a 3D printer under 300 dollars, there are a few things you should pay attention to. The first is the build volume. This is the maximum size of an object that the printer can create. You should also check the materials that the printer can use. Some printers can only use a single type of material, while others can use multiple types. You should also consider the print quality. Some printers produce higher quality prints than others.

Because 3D printers under $300 are guaranteed to cut corners in several areas, we will go into more detail on the things to look for in this section.

Pre-assembled vs a kit

To lower the 3D printer price, manufacturers often ship 3D printers as a DIY assembly kit. This has its own set of pros and cons. A pre-assembled kit is great for beginners and allows you to get started with  3D printing right away. You don’t need to figure out assembly manuals or decipher instructions to get that first 3D print going.

A DIY assembly kit, on the other hand, can be tedious to put together. If you’re a novice, it can take hours just to assemble the 3D printer. However, as a part of this assembly process, you get familiar with every component of the 3D printer and are better able to resolve any future issues.

So, if you want to get started right out of the box and don’t want to deal with the initial fine-tuning, a pre-assembled kit is best suited for you. But if you’re keen on understanding the little details of the 3D printer and love the DIY stuff, a 3D printer kit should be your go-to option.

Build quality

The build quality of any 3D printer plays a crucial role in the quality of the parts created on it. For example, the earlier generations of 3D printers, such as the Anet A8 or Tevo Tarantula, used acrylic materials in their frame design. This ultimately affected the quality of the printed parts and the reliability of the 3D printer itself.

3D printer manufacturers have now figured out a way to introduce strong metal 3D printers while still keeping the costs low. For example, the Creality Ender 3 V2 series uses 20 x 20 aluminum extrusions in its frame design. Even the small Monoprice Mini Delta V2 uses a steel and aluminum body design.

Using aluminum and steel in 3D printer frames gives them extra rigidity. This makes the frames stiffer and limits flexing during printing. All of this directly translates to improved quality in prints and the long-term durability of the 3D printer.

Build volume

A 3D printer’s build volume is often a major consideration point while buying a 3D printer. The build volume dictates the size and the quantity of the objects that you can 3D print. Also, a bigger build volume means a bigger 3D printer footprint, thus occupying more space on your worktable or desk.

We often assume that a large build volume is a good thing to have. Of course, if you’re going to print large objects, or run multiple 3D prints at once, a bigger build volume is your friend. But you need to consider that a bigger build volume also comes with more frame rigidity and inertia issues. You’ll need to print a little slower to get the best results.

Rather than going extremely small, or extremely big, a decent build volume such as the Ender 3 V2’s is perfectly suited for a lot of cases. You can easily carry the 3D printer around. It doesn’t take up much space and you can print at higher speeds without sacrificing quality.

Filament support

Some 3D printers under $300 are limited in terms of their filament support. This is because of the relatively low maximum extruder temperature and the lack of heated beds. Some 3D printers solely support only PLA, while others with a heated bed can also 3D print ABS and PETG.

Recommended:

PETG vs ABS: Which Filament Should You Use?

If you’re going to do just some basic level 3D printing, PLA filament might be enough for your needs. However, it’s always better to have that extra level of material compatibility with your 3D printers. ABS, PETG, and TPE/TPU are some materials that can be used in practical applications, such as gears, watch straps, bracelets, and snap-fit parts.

Recommended:

The 10 Best PLA Filaments for 3D Printing

If you take the Flashforge Finder, for example, it lacks a heated bed, and can only print with PLA. Whereas, the Anycubic Mega S or Ender 3 natively support a lot of materials and you can even upgrade them to be compatible with a lot of other materials as well.

Recommended:

The Best Filaments for the Ender 3

This brings us to the next point of aftermarket upgrades.

Aftermarket upgrades

To keep the costs down, manufacturers of 3D printers under 300 dollars can’t include every feature in their 3D printers. Some manufacturers just include the basic features, while others give the option to upgrade using third-party components.

The flexibility to upgrade your 3D printers, later on, is a win-win situation for both the manufacturer and you as well. You don’t have to pay for the features which you might never use, and the manufacturer saves on a considerable amount of costs, thus keeping the prices down.

3D printers such as the Sovol SV01 and Artillery Genius have the option to add a probe for auto bed leveling. The Ender 3 and the Ender 3 V2 are also known for their wide range of aftermarket upgrades that you can use to add features.

Of course, these aftermarket upgrades are not always fully compatible with a specific 3D printer. If you run into any issues, the lack of direct support could be a potential problem. So, if you’re planning on upgrading your 3D printer, it’s always better to choose a 3D printer that has a proven track record and has good community support available.

Community support

It is easy to overlook the importance of community support in the 3D printing world. Good community support is even more crucial when you’re considering getting a 3D printer under $300.

Usually, manufacturers do not support these budget 3D printers very well. When it comes to 3D printers, there are simply too many details to cover. Even if some firms try to provide support for their machines, they may not be aware of everything there is to know about them. So, having a community of 3D printer users who have tried and tested everything saves you a lot of hassle.

You don’t have to fiddle around trying to figure out everything. You can glance up the issue and get your solution. Good community support also means that there will be a lot of community upgrades and forums for your particular 3D printer.

For example, most of the updates that you find in the Creality Ender V2 result from feedback from the community on the original Ender 3. So, it’s always beneficial to ensure that whichever 3D printer you plan to buy has good community support.

FAQ

Are 3D printers under $300 worth it?

Yes. 3D printing technology has come a long way since the 80s and even more so after the expiry of patents in 2009. Lots of manufacturers have developed good-quality 3D printers while still keeping costs down. This low price has also led to mass adoption of technology, which has led to an incentive to develop reliable 3D printers at a low cost.

Something to keep in mind, however, is that you won’t have everything with a 3D printer under 300. If you are looking to have automatic bed leveling, a resume printing function, removable build plate, high-quality titan extruder, large build volume, filament spool holder, and more in one single 3D printer, the sub-$300 price range is not going to offer you that.

It is, however, always possible to upgrade your 3D printer later. There is a plethora of Ender 3 upgrades available, such as the BLTouch leveling sensor that removes the hassle of manually leveling the print bed.

Similarly, you aren’t going to find an enclosed 3D printer at this price point. The costs of a closed frame are simply too high to fit into this budget category.

If you are interested in printers that are loaded with features, a 3D printer under $500 or a 3D printer under $1000 will better suit your needs.

How long will a $300 3D printer last?

There’s no definitive answer to this question. If you carry out regular maintenance of your 3D printer, there’s no reason for it to not last at least five to ten or even more years. In terms of upgradability too, if your 3D printer supports external upgrades, you can upgrade your 3D printer to keep with the latest trends.

Can you use a $300 3D printer for professional purposes?

Yes, and no. If you’re looking for a purely professional use case scenario, 3D printers under $300 might simply not be suitable for your workflow. They’re designed for a wide populace and will lack the necessary features for a professional setting.

If you are a small business owner looking for small productions and you don’t mind fiddling around with settings, a $300 3D printer will suit you just fine until you have the need to upgrade to something better.

Conclusion

Considering everything that we’ve discussed so far, it’s easy to figure out the best 3D printer under $300. The Anycubic Kobra is the easiest to use and has the most advanced features printers at the $300 price point and is a clear winner. The Sovol SV06 and the Anycubic Photon Mono are the runner-ups as budget and resin picks.

The Anycubic Kobra checks almost everything that you’d expect from a 3D printer in this category. It’s easy to assemble, supports a lot of filaments, has a good build quality and you can even upgrade it with  aftermarket components. These undoubtedly make it the best choice under $300.

Let us know your thoughts on this list. If you feel we’ve missed out on anything, let us know in the comments below.

1. Best 3D printers under $300 in 2023

2. What to pay attention to when buying a 3D printer under $300?

3. FAQ

4. Conclusion

Best 3D Printers Under $300 in 2023 (All Uses)

We’re not quite at a stage where 3D printers are in every home like computers or smartphones, but you can now get a great 3D printer for under $300. With so many options out there, we’ve narrowed it down to our top $300 3D printers. But first, here’s what you can expect from a 3D printer under $300.

Name	Price	Where to buy
Creality Ender 3 V2	$249	Creality Store here	Amazon here
Qidi Tech X-one2	$249	Amazon here
Anycubic Photon Mono 4K	$299	Anycubic Store here	Amazon here
Geeetech A10M	Check	Amazon here
Anycubic Mega S	$249	Anycubic Store here	Amazon here
Flashforge Adventurer 3 Lite	$299	Amazon here

What to expect in a 3D printer under $300

Naturally, you can’t expect the world for $300. More premium printers will offer better precision, stability, consistency, a wider material range, and better temperature control.

Resin pick

4.3

Amazon here

Top Pick

4.6

$279.99

Amazon here

Enclosed pick

Flahforge Adventurer 3 Lite

4.5

Amazon here

$300 3D printers almost always feature an open print area rather than a built-in enclosure — though some can be fitted with enclosures — are often 3D printer kits you need to build yourself, and are mostly restricted to filaments like ABS, PLA and TPU. 

However, there are still some really effective low cost 3D printers for $300 on the market right now, famed for their reliability and workhorse qualities. We’ve listed some of our top recommendations below.

Best 3D Printers Under $300 in 2023 – Reviews

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Creality Ender 3 V2 — best 3D printer under $300

• Price: $279 — Available on Creality Official Store here / Available on Amazon here
• Build volume: 220 x 220 x 250 mm

As the world’s current most popular 3D printer under $300, the Ender 3 has really made its mark as an affordable printer suitable for hobbyists and home makers across the world.

Its combination of good build volume size, precise printing, reliability and upgradeability has won it legions of fans worldwide, with Creality upgrading a few parts for the newer Ender 3 V2.

The changes are subtle but make for a steadily improved 3D printer that costs less than $300 still, despite being more than $50 more than the original Ender 3. Perhaps most notably, the firmware has been overhauled for a more powerful, yet quieter, 3D printing experience.

Known for its reliability in a price range where most 3D printers fail prints often and break, the Ender 3 can’t do many things that $500 or $2,000 3D printers can, but what it does do, it does well. It can print basic models in PLA and other simpler filaments effectively, precisely, and consistently.

Other notable features are the carborundum glass build plate that makes finished prints easier to remove once finished, and improves adhesion during the printing process. The 4.3-inch color touchscreen is a nice touch that many will appreciate, and overall, if you want piece of mind and a reliable printing experience in one of the best 3D printers under $300, the Ender 3 V2 is for you.

Anycubic Mega S — reliable 3D printer for $300

• Price: $249 — Available on Amazon here / Available on Anycubic Official Store here
• Build volume: 210 x 210 x 205 mm

Possibly the easiest 3D printer kit to build in its price range, the Anycubic Mega S can be built with just a few screws and cables — even the greenest beginners should have no problem building their own.

This simplicity is key in a 3D printer under $300, with most hobbyists looking for a hassle-free 3D printing experience where their 3D printer doesn’t break down every five minutes, and just prints consistently and reliably. The Mega S is that printer, featuring everything you need to print without hassle — and not much else. Barebones yet reliable, it’s built with a sturdy and stable metal structure to prevent the vibrations from printing causing shaky lines in the print.

The 210 x 210 x 205 mm print volume should be enough for most hobbyist projects, and if you’re a small business looking to get started with rapid prototyping on basic materials like PLA, ABS or TPU, the Mega S should work for smaller parts.

• And if the build volume isn’t enough, upgrade to the Mega X for another $100 — On Amazon Here

All Mega models feature Anycubic’s patented Ultrabase print surface which makes for better adhesion — creating stronger and less error-prone prints — as well as making them easier to remove when finished, so you won’t need to scrape around and potentially damage your print while trying to remove it.

As with most 3D printers under $300, it has a basic touchscreen, offers good precision, and if you want to get more ambitious, you should also be able to 3D print wood filaments, PETG, and HIPS. Overall, it’s a reliable and consistent $300 3D printer.

Anycubic Photon Mono 4K

• Price: Check on Anycubic Official store here / Amazon here
• Build volume: 132 x 80 x 165 mm

Despite only launching at the tail end of 2021, the Anycubic Photon Mono 4K is already proving to be a disruptive force in the competitively-priced high-resolution resin printer range. It’s abundantly clear that Anycubic focused on delivering where it matters while cutting costs in areas that don’t impact the printer’s overall performance.

As an iterative upgrade to the popular first-gen Photon Mono, the 4K version comes with several improvements, not least the ability to dabble in 4K printing thanks to a 6.23-inch 4K monochrome LCD and finer 35-micron resolution.

The build volume remains unchanged at 132 x 80 x 165 mm; you can batch print, but this is by no means a productivity printer. While we can’t describe the Anycubic Photon Mono 4K as a speed demon, it holds its own with print speeds of 50 mm/hour, itself a significant improvement over the original Photon Mono.

These specifications make the Anycubic Photon Mono 4K particularly adept at printing modestly-sized detailed miniatures, models, and figurines. The printer should appeal to those partial to sprucing up their weekly Dungeons & Dragons bash with homemade pieces, for example.

For this price, the level of detail exceeds what you’d expect, with a particular proficiency for creating articulated parts and complex textures. Skin pores render well, and details on, say, a shield or the intricate mesh of chain mail are fantastic.

Anycubic’s Photon Workshop slicer does the job well enough, with some sleek features like anti-aliasing. Compatibility with Lychee and ChiTuBox give options if Anycubic’s in-house developed software leaves you cold.

Overall, if you’re looking to take those tentative first steps into resin printing and are in the market for an inexpensive entry-point, the Anycubic Photon Mono 4K is an ideal place to start.

Qidi Tech X-ONE 2

• Price: Check on Amazon here
• Build volume: 145 x 145 x 145 mm

It’s in Qidi Tech’s habit of decking out its wares with features usually found on pricier FDM printers without sacrificing a deadset commitment to affordability that the Qidi Tech X-One2 sets itself apart from the competition.

The Qidi Tech X-One2 impresses with features such as a heated bed, 50-micron layer height, direct-drive single extruder, resume function, and a parameter-rich 3.5-inch touch screen interface. For us, the near fully enclosed chamber rises to the surface as the star of the show, bestowing the Qidi Tech X-One2 with just the right, toasty environment to steward temperature-sensitive ABS filament into decent prints.

Pop open the acrylic covers, and the Qidi Tech X-One2 is equally at home with PLA. With the proper settings and temperature tweaks, TPU, flexible filaments, and PETG aren’t out of the question, either.

The print quality falls roughly where you’d expect at this price with a slightly above average surface finish. Sufficiently smooth and detailed prints should please hobbyists but won’t cut the mustard for commercial ends.

If you can overlook the tight build volume, a slim 145 x 145 x 145 mm, and don’t mind well-guided manual bed leveling, we have no qualms about recommending the Qidi Tech X-One2 to fresh-faced beginners in need of a gentle introduction to the world of FDM 3D printing.

The Qidi Tech X-One2 is a budget printer with ease of use at its heart, versatile and capable when working both ABS and PLA while still channeling the DIY tinkerer roots of hobby 3D printing with scope to upgrade and modify to your heart’s content.

Geeetech A10M — Dual Extrusion $300 Option

• Price: Check on Amazon here
• Build volume: 220 x 220 x 260 mm

A few years back, the suggestion of dual extrusion capabilities on a 3D printer under $300 would have seen you laughed out of printing circles. Until recently, dual extrusion FDM printing was a technology restricted to pricey, pro-grade printers. The Geeetech A10M embodies an emerging trend of bringing the technology into the realm of affordability and strapping it onto a growing spread of budget-level printers.

Print quality is surprisingly good, even when toying with color gradients or prints sporting reasonably complex patterns. Much of this is down to efforts on Geeetech’s part to limit the trade-offs for dual extrusion.

The Geeetech A10M boasts a sufficiently spacious print volume of 220 x 220 x 260mm for a range of hobbyist applications from multi-color models to household items like pen holders and wall hooks.

The spec list extends to include features you’d expect sided with a heftier price tag. These include a silicon carbide glass bed that does wonders for adhesion, filament detection, 360-degree ventilation, and a break-resume function.

Getting to grips with Geeetech A10M’s idiosyncrasies won’t appeal to all; it’s one for the tinkerers and modders. Taming the Geeetech A10M to perform at its best involves time and dedication. If that resonates with you, the modular design, slicer-agnostic functionality, and vast adjustment possibilities will be music to your ears. Experienced makers could upgrade the spool holders for efficiency, or install a magnetic, removable bed with relative ease.

Flashforge Adventurer 3 Lite

• Price: Check — Available at Flashforge Official store here / Available on Amazon here
• Build volume: 150 x 150 x 150 mm

You could easily take a look at the stats and compare them to say, the Ender 3 V2 or Anycubic Mega S, and dismiss it. It has a far smaller build area, and it’s more expensive? We hear you say.

Yes, but build volume is restricted because it’s an enclosed 3D printer, a rarity in a 3D printer under $300, which comes with many advantages. An enclosure makes for far better temperature maintaining while printing, especially useful for printing filaments like ABS, as slowing down the cooling of parts prevents warping and cracking of parts that can render your finished models useless. 

So, if you’re not looking for a huge 3D printer, but rather a smaller 3D printer you can trust to print models in ABS that don’t crack under pressure, the Flashforge Adventurer 3 Lite could be the one for you. 

It can print a variety of types of PLA filament, as well as ABS, and metal or wood-filled filaments. The 150 mm print area and cubic design makes it a neat machine that can fit on most desktops, and it’s simple to use with the full-color touchscreen.

The heated bed can be easily removed for easy removal of finished prints, and it’s quiet, for those who want to run it overnight on larger or more complex 3D printer projects. Overall, if you’re looking for an enclosed 3D printer, it’s certainly one of the best 3D printers for under $300.

Advantages of a 3D Printer Under $300

3D printers under $300 feature all the essentials needed for effective 3D printing at a price that won’t leave you destitute. $300 is accessible for most. They generally keep their value. So a second-hand resale is on the cards if the tech fails to capture your imagination.

Beyond their financial appeal, 3D printers under $300 stand out as excellent starter options. For those setting out on their wild and wonderful 3D printing journey, they’ll provide everything required to get over that initial steep learning curve. Straightforward setup and operation are common, which helps in that respect, too. At a stretch, 3D printers under $300 are a great starting point for small businesses testing out small-batch print runs.

Buyer’s Guide – What to Consider For a 3D Printer Under $300

Printing Technologies

The best sub $300 3D printers typically use one of two printing technologies: FDM and resin printing.

FDM, or Fused Deposition Modeling, is likely what springs to mind when you think of 3D printing. A heated extruder melts filament before depositing it layer by layer to construct a 3D part. The current offering of FDM printers in the $300 range push layer heights anywhere from 50 to 100 microns, gearing them towards larger, less detail-rich parts.

Resin printing, or Photopolymerization, employs a light source or laser applied to liquid light-sensitive in cured layers to create a 3D print. Most $300 resin 3D printers are based on LCD curing. Cheap resin 3D printers deliver high-resolution parts at lower layer heights with finer details, textures, and smoother parts than FDM printers.

Build Volume

Build volume is the maximum part size a particular printer can produce. There’s a correlation between cost and build volume. Budget printers, a category which 3D printers under $300 fall into, carry build volumes that fall on the lower end. This is more pronounced in the case of resin printers, which have smaller build volumes designed for high-precision parts. We suggest around 150 mm cubed as a baseline expectation for a cheap FDM 3D printer. This allows the printing of both small and relatively large parts.

Filament and Material Types

Contrary to expectations, 3D printers under $300 cover a decent range of filament and materials types. Models capable of working well with 3D printing pillars ABS and PLA, both low-cost options, along with resin and even more adventurous materials like PETG, flexibles, and TPU, are common. Each has its own distinct set of properties. Here’s a quick breakdown of the two most popular:

PLA

Polylactic acid is a flexible plastic filament prized for its non-noxious fumes, low printing temperature, biodegradability, and low cost. PLA is a strong choice for decorative items and prototyping.

ABS

Acetonitrile Butadiene Styrene is a durable and rigid filament that prints at high temperatures. Prone to producing strong odored fumes, it hits its stride in applications such as functional parts able to withstand the elements or heavy, repeated use.

Print Speed

Print speed refers to the time it takes a printer to complete a print, usually measured in mm/s. While this parameter is helpful to get a sense of printers capabilities, print length is a complex affair that encompasses several factors.

The right print speed, a setting generally open to adjustment on 3D printers under $300, pertains to a careful balancing of print type and size, the quality desired, and the materials in use.

For PLA and ABS printing, we recommend printers capable of speeds between 40 and 60 mm/s, a happy middle ground between speed and overall quality.

Assembly

3D printers under $300 are available in one of three assembly states – kit form, semi-assembled, or pre-assembled. For $300, you’ll more than likely find a kit printer

Those that like to get hands-on with their tech will feast on the tinkering aspect of piecing together a kit printer. We’re a long way from the shambolic DIY roots of a decade ago, and though these printers require assembly, the process is often relatively intuitive and straightforward, requiring no more than an hour. For under $300, you’re more than likely buying a kit printer.

On the other hand, pre-assembled printers ship ready to go and work out-of-the-box. Semi-assembled printers sit between the two, offering an easy way to dabble in printer assembly without being overwhelmed.

Enclosed Chamber or Open Design

Open design 3D printers under $300 suit makers planning to print primarily with PLA. The filament fares best with plenty of ventilation, especially during the cooling process, to avoid stringing and unsightly artifacts.

By their capacity to retain heat and create a stable thermal environment, enclosed chambers allow ABS filament to thrive. ABS also produces fumes with noxious properties in sufficiently large quantities. A robust enclosure with an air filter system, ideally a HEPA filter, is a must to ensure a safe printing experience even around $300.

Overall, it’s likely you’ll end up with an open printer, as only a select few models under $300 sport enclosed chambers. As such, 3D printers under $300 are best suited for PLA in the majority of cases.

What Not to Expect From a 3D Printer Under $300

You’ll need to adjust and, possibly, rein in your expectations when buying a 3D printer under $300. These are modest printers aimed at hobbyists and first-timers wanting a low-cost path into 3D printing. The printing performance is commensurate with these aims; you can expect decent results and hours of fun, but $300 3D printers are a far cry from professional-level printers.

If your heart is set on advanced features like auto-bed leveling, Wi-Fi connectivity, touchscreen functionality, or you want to play with exotic filament types, a 3D printer under $300 won’t deliver the goods. It’s highly unlikely you’ll find any of these features on $300 printers. Rethink your budget and spend a bit more on a higher caliber printer if you desperately need any of these.

Other price ranges of 3D printers you may be interested in:

• Best 3D printers under $200
• Best 3D printers under $500
• Best 3D printers under $1000
• Best 3D printers under $2000

Best 3D printers under $300 in 2022 (all uses)

We haven't reached the stage where 3D printers will be in every home like computers or smartphones, but now you can get a great 3D printer at price less than $300. Because there are so many options, we've narrowed down the list of the best 3D printers under $300. But first, here's what you can expect from a 3D printer under $300.

Contents

1. What to expect from a 3D printer that costs less than 0
2. Best 3D Printer Under $300 2022
3. Creality Ender 3 V2 - Best 3D Printer Under $0
4. Qidi Tech X-ONE 2
5. Geeetech A10M - Dual Extrusion Option 0
9 Lite0 08 Adventurer 07 Flashforge07 Benefits of a 3D printer under $300
6. Buyer's guide - what to look for when choosing a 3D printer under $300
7. What not to expect from a 3D printer under $300
8. 0008

What to expect from a 3D printer that costs less than $300

Naturally, you can't expect the whole world for $300. Higher end printers offer higher accuracy, stability, consistency, a wider range of materials, and better temperature control.

$300 3D printers almost always have an open print area rather than a built-in case - though some can be fitted with cases - are often kits of 3D printers that need to be assembled by yourself and are mostly limited to materials such as ABS, PLA and TPU.

However, there are still some really efficient low cost $300 3D printers on the market today that are renowned for their reliability and workhorse qualities. Below we provide some of our top recommendations.

Best 3D Printer Under $300 2022

Creality Ender 3 V2 - Best 3D Printer Under $300

• Price: $279
• Assembly volume: 220 x 220 x 250 mm

creality ender 3 v2 one of the best 3D printers under $300

As the world's most popular under $300 3D printer, the Ender 3 has truly become an affordable printer for hobbyists and DIYers around the world.

Its combination of good build volume, accurate printing, reliability and upgradability has won legions of fans around the world. Creality has updated a few parts for the new Ender 3 V2.

The changes are subtle, but allow for a consistently improved 3D printer that still costs less than $300 despite being $50 more than the original Ender 3. Perhaps most notably, the firmware has been redesigned for more powerful yet quiet 3D printing.

Known for its reliability in a price range where most 3D printers often fail and break, the Ender 3 can't do a lot of the things $500 or $2000 3D printers can, but what it does, it does well . It can print basic models from PLA and other simpler materials efficiently, accurately and consistently.

Other notable features include a carborundum glass plate that facilitates removal of finished prints and improves adhesion during printing. The 4.3-inch color touchscreen is a nice touch that many will appreciate, and overall, if you want to be confident in the reliability of a 3D printer, then the Ender 3 V2 is the way to go.
Anycubic Mega S - Rugged $300 3D Printer

• Price: $249
• Assembly volume: 210 x 210 x 205 mm

Possibly the easiest 3D printer kit to build in its price range, the Anycubic Mega S can be assembled with just a few screws and cables - even the greenest of beginners can easily build their own printer.

This simplicity is key for a sub $300 3D printer, as most hobbyists are looking for a worry-free 3D printing experience where their 3D printer doesn't break down every five minutes, but just prints consistently and reliably. The Mega S is exactly the kind of printer that has everything you need for hassle-free printing – and nothing more. Simple yet reliable, it features a solid and stable metal construction to ensure that vibrations during printing do not result in flickering lines on the printout.

A print volume of 210 x 210 x 205mm should be enough for most hobbyist projects, and if you're a small business looking to start rapid prototyping with base materials like PLA, ABS or TPU, the Mega S is fine for small parts.

All Mega models feature Anycubic's patented Ultrabase print surface, which provides better adhesion for stronger, less error-prone prints, and makes them easier to remove when you're done, so you don't have to scrape and potentially damage your print when trying to remove it.

Like most 3D printers under $300, it has a basic touch screen, good accuracy, and if you want more ambitious tasks, you can print with wood filament, PETG, and HIPS. Overall, this is a solid and stable $300 3D printer.

Anycubic Photon Mono 4K

• Price: Look at the official store
• Case volume: 132 x 80 x 165 mm

Even though the Anycubic Photon Mono 4K was only released at the end of 2021, it has already proven to be a disruptive force in the competitive price range of high resolution resin printers. Clearly, Anycubic has focused on delivering results where it counts, cutting costs in areas that don't affect the overall performance of the printer.

As an iterative upgrade of the popular first generation Photon Mono, the 4K version features a number of improvements, not least the ability to print in 4K with a 6.23" monochrome 4K LCD display and a finer 35 micron resolution.

Assembly volume remains the same - 132 x 80 x 165 mm; you can batch print, but this is by no means a productive printer. While we can't call the Anycubic Photon Mono 4K a speed demon, it holds its own with a print speed of 50mm/hr, which is a massive improvement over the original Photon Mono.

These characteristics make the Anycubic Photon Mono 4K especially suitable for printing detailed miniatures, models and modest-sized figurines. The printer should appeal to those who are partial to the weekly Dungeons & Dragons game, like homemade figurines.

For the price, the level of detail is beyond expectations, especially the hinged details and intricate textures. The pores of the skin are drawn well, and the detail of, say, a shield or an intricate chain mail mesh is simply fantastic.

Anycubic's Photon Workshop slicer does the job quite well, with some neat features like anti-aliasing. Compatibility with Lychee and ChiTuBox gives you a choice if Anycubic's own software leaves you cold.

Overall, if you're looking to take your first hesitant steps into resin printing and are in the market for low-cost entry-level devices, the Anycubic Photon Mono 4K is the perfect place to start.

Qidi Tech X-ONE 2

• Price: Check on Amazon here
• Assembly volume: 145 x 145 x 145 mm

It is Qidi Tech's habit of equipping its products with features normally found in more expensive FDM printers without sacrificing its commitment to affordability that sets the Qidi Tech X-One2 apart from the competition.

Qidi Tech X-One2 impresses with features such as heated bed, 50 micron layer height, direct drive single extruder, resume function and rich 3.5” touch screen. We think the almost completely enclosed chamber is the star of the show, providing the Qidi Tech X-One2 with the right, warm environment to process temperature-sensitive ABS filament into worthy prints.

Open the acrylic lids and the Qidi Tech X-One2 is equally at home with PLA. With the right settings and temperature changes, the use of TPU, flexible threads and PETG is not excluded.

The print quality is about where you would expect at this price, with a slightly above average surface quality. Sufficiently smooth and detailed prints should please hobbyists, but they will not be suitable for commercial purposes.

If you can ignore the narrow build volume (145 x 145 x 145 mm) and don't mind well controlled manual bed leveling, we would not hesitate to recommend the Qidi Tech X-One2 to novice users looking for a gentle introduction to the world of 3D FDM printing.

The Qidi Tech X-One2 is a budget printer that is easy to use, versatile and able to work with both ABS and PLA, while retaining the roots of DIY hobbyist 3D printing with the ability to upgrade and modify to your own discretion.

Geeetech A10M - Dual Extrusion Option $300

• Price: Check Amazon here
• Assembly volume: 220 x 220 x 260 mm

A few years ago, the suggestion of dual extrusion on a sub-$300 3D printer would have caused laughter in printing circles. Until recently, dual extrusion FDM printing was a technology limited to expensive, professional-grade printers. The Geeetech A10M embodies the emerging trend of bringing technology into the realm of affordability and fitting it into a growing number of budget printers.

Print quality is surprisingly good, even with color gradients or prints with fairly complex patterns. Much of this is due to Geeetech's efforts to limit trade-offs when using dual extrusion.

The Geeetech A10M has a print volume of 220 x 220 x 260 mm large enough to be used in a wide range of applications from multi-color models to household items such as pen holders and wall hooks.

The list of specifications expands to include features that you would expect at a higher price. These include a silicon carbide glass substrate that does wonders for adhesion, filament detection, 360-degree ventilation, and a break-resume feature.

Getting used to the idiosyncrasies of the Geeetech A10M will not appeal to everyone; this device is for those who like to tinker and do modding. Taming the Geeetech A10M for the best results takes time and dedication. If that's your thing, then the modular design, slicer-independent functionality, and extensive customization options will be music to your ears. Experienced craftsmen can upgrade the spool holders for greater efficiency or install the magnetic detachable bed with relative ease.

Flashforge Adventurer 3 Lite

• Price: Yes - Available in the official store
• Assembly volume: 150 x 150 x 150 mm

You can easily look at the stats and compare them to, say, Ender 3 V2 or Anycubic Mega S and reject that model. Does it have a much smaller build area and is it more expensive? We hear what you have to say.

Yes, but build volume is limited because it is an enclosed 3D printer, which is rare for sub-$300 3D printers, and has many benefits. The case allows much better temperature maintenance during printing, which is especially useful when printing with materials such as ABS, as slowing down the cooling of parts prevents them from warping and cracking, which can render finished models unusable.

So, if you're not looking for a huge 3D printer, but rather a small 3D printer that you can trust to print ABS models that won't crack under pressure, Flashforge Adventurer 3 Lite might be the one for you.

It can print with various types of PLA filaments as well as ABS, metal or wood filaments. The 150mm print area and cubic design make it a neat machine that can fit on most desktops, and it's easy to use thanks to its full color touchscreen.

The heated bed is easy to remove for easy retrieval of finished prints, and it's quiet for those who want to work overnight on larger or more complex 3D printer projects. Overall, if you are looking for an indoor 3D printer, then this is definitely one of the best 3D printers under $300.

Benefits of a 3D printer under $300

3D printers under $300 have everything you need to efficiently 3D print at a price that won't leave you without a livelihood. $300 is affordable for most. As a rule, they retain their value. Therefore, if the technique does not capture your imagination, you can resell it used.

Aside from the financial appeal, 3D printers under $300 are a great starter option. For those just getting started on their wild and amazing 3D printing journey, they provide everything you need to get past the initial steep learning curve. Easy setup and operation is common, which also helps in this regard. 3D printers under $300 are a great starting point for small businesses testing small runs.

Buyer's Guide - What to Look for When Buying a 3D Printer Under $300

Print technologies

The best 3D printers under $300 usually use one of two printing technologies: FDM and resin printing.

FDM, or Fused Deposition Modeling, is what comes to mind when you think of 3D printing. A heated extruder melts the filament before applying it layer by layer to create a 3D part. Currently, FDM printers starting at $300 offer layer heights of 50 to 100 microns, making them larger and less detailed.

Resin printing, or photopolymerization, uses a light source or laser to act on liquid photosensitive layers to create a 3D print. Most $300 resin 3D printers are based on LCD curing. Cheap resin 3D printers deliver high detail resolution at lower layer heights with finer detail, textures, and smooth details than FDM printers.

Assembly Volume

The Assembly Volume is the maximum size of a part that a particular printer can manufacture. There is a correlation between cost and build volume. Budget printers, which include 3D printers under $300, have a smaller build volume. This is more evident in the case of resin printers, which have a smaller build volume dedicated to high-precision parts. We suggest around 150mm cubic as a baseline expectation for a cheap FDM 3D printer. This allows both small and relatively large parts to be printed.

Filament and material types

Contrary to what you might expect, sub-$300 3D printers cover a decent range of filament types and materials. Models capable of working well with ABS and PLA 3D printing pillars, both inexpensive options, along with resin and even more adventurous materials such as PETG, flexible materials and TPU, are common. Each of them has its own set of properties.

Here is a brief description of the two most popular:

PLA

PLA is a flexible plastic valued for its absence of harmful fumes, low printing temperature, biodegradability and low cost. PLA is an excellent choice for making decorative items and prototypes.

ABS

Acetonitrile Butadiene Styrene is a strong and rigid material that prints at high temperatures. Prone to producing strong odorous fumes, it is most effective in applications such as functional parts that can withstand exposure to the elements or heavy, repeated use.

Print speed

Print speed is the time it takes the printer to complete printing, usually measured in mm/s. While this setting helps you get an idea of ​​the printer's capabilities, print length is a complex task that involves several factors.

Proper print speed—a setting that can typically be adjusted on sub-$300 3D printers—depends on a careful balance between print type and size, desired quality, and materials used.

For PLA and ABS printing, we recommend printers with a speed of 40 to 60 mm/s, which is the golden mean between speed and overall quality.

Assembly

3D printers under $300 are available in one of three build options - kit, semi-assembled or pre-assembled. For $300 you will most likely find the printer as a kit.

Those who like to tinker with technology will enjoy the assembly process of the printer from the kit. We've come a long way from the playful DIY's of a decade ago, and while these printers require assembly, the process is often relatively intuitive and easy, taking no more than an hour. For less than $300, you are most likely buying a complete printer.

On the other hand, pre-assembled printers come ready to go and work out of the box. Semi-assembled printers are in between these two types, offering an easy way to try your hand at building a printer without being overwhelmed.
Closed chamber or open design

Under $300 open design 3D printers are suitable for manufacturers looking to print primarily on PLA. To avoid filament formation and unsightly artifacts, it is best to print with adequate ventilation, especially during the cooling process.

Due to their ability to retain heat and create a stable thermal environment, closed chambers allow ABS filaments to flourish. In large enough quantities, ABS also emits vapors with harmful properties. A robust case with an air filtration system, ideally with a HEPA filter, is a must for secure printing, even at around $300.

In general, you're more likely to get an open printer, as only a few sub-$300 models have closed cameras. So 3D printers under $300 are best for PLA printing in most cases.

What not to expect from a 3D printer under $300

When buying a 3D printer under $300, you will need to adjust and possibly moderate your expectations. These are humble printers aimed at hobbyists and beginners looking for an inexpensive path to 3D printing. Print performance meets these targets; you can expect decent results and hours of fun, but $300 3D printers are far from professional grade printers.

If you're dreaming of advanced features like automatic bed leveling, Wi-Fi connectivity, a touch screen, or want to play around with exotic filament types, a sub-$300 3D printer won't get you everything you need. It's unlikely that you'll find any of these features in $300 printers. Reconsider your budget and spend a little more on a higher end printer if you're in desperate need of any of these features.

purchase and selection guide

Disclosure : Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means that if you click on one of the links and buy an item, I can earn a commission. However, all opinions are mine.

Rapid prototyping technology is changing rapidly and prices for 3D printers for home use have plummeted. Thanks to this, many large-scale 3D printers are now on the market.

Larger 3D printers have more space so you can print large projects at the same time. You don't have to separate the models or do anything else to fit them on the build platform.

The large format 3D printer also has a large print platform that makes it easy to print many things at once.

We've compiled a list of the best large format 3D printers on the market right now because they're not the same.

We think the Creality CR-10 Smart Pro is a good choice for most people if they want a quick solution.

But if you want to know about all the wide format 3D printers on the market, keep reading!

We'll detail build scope, features, pricing and more so you know everything you need to know.

What is a large 3D printer made of?

We can roughly divide 3D printers into three main groups based on how much they can print: small, medium and large.

We use these categories to sort different print volumes. They are not hardcoded anywhere. The build area of ​​most small 3D printers is 8 liters or less.

In practice, this means that the largest print you can make is 200 mm by 200 mm.

Flashforge Finder 3, Monoprice Mini Delta V2 and Snapmaker 2.0 A150 are all good examples. Medium-sized 3D printers have a working area of ​​8 to 27 liters.

The biggest you can build here is 300 x 300 x 300mm. The Ender 3 S1, Prusa i3 MK3S+ and Phrozen Sonic Mighty 4K are popular in this group.

Most 3D printers under $300 and under $500 are mid-sized.

These are often used for general purpose 3D printing, so it's not surprising that 3D printer manufacturers focus on this category when building their machines.

We call a 3D printer large if it has a build volume of more than 27 liters or a print area of ​​more than 300x300x300mm. The Creality CR series includes the most famous large format 3D printers.

Big 3D printers cost more than small ones, but that's no surprise. However, this does not mean that every expensive 3D printer has a large printable area.

Check price

Anycubic Cobra Max

• A more durable design and higher accuracy
• Detection of a thread of thread 9,000,000 9000

Sidewinder X2 Artillery

• Intelligent Power Supply
• Dual Z 9 Synchronized System0172 best large 3D printers .
  1. Crealy CR-10 Smart about

  Crealy CR-10 Smart about

  Features

  • Remote 3D printer with HD-frame
  9000 home and school DIY

  Buy now

  Creality's CR-10 series has always been a favorite among 3D printer fans due to its large build area and low price.

  Creality CR-10 Smart Pro continues the tradition. It has some of the best specs in its class, making it one of Creality's best large format 3D printers.

  For example, it has a large build volume of 300 x 300 x 400 mm, which is enough to fit a full face helmet in one piece.

  It has features that make it stand out, such as Wi-Fi connectivity, remote monitoring and control of your 3D prints.

  You can also use the Creality cloud app to upload, cut and send your 3D models directly to the printer.

  The CR-10 Smart Pro can print high temperature materials up to 300°C because its hot end is made of metal. The PEI-coated flexible print bed is also the first in the CR-10 series.

  It has excellent bed adhesion for easy removal of finished prints. You also get a CR-Touch leveling sensor and manual leveling with help so your first layers are perfect.

  One problem is that its 350W power supply seems too small for such a large printer. Because of this, the machine has a longer heat-up time for the print platform.

  But if you're only 3D printing large objects, the extra minutes you have to wait for the bed to warm up may not matter much.

  All in all, the CR-10 Smart Pro is a complete package that meets almost all the criteria for the best large format 3D printer.

  If you have the money and are willing to spend almost $800 on all the features of the Creality CR-10 Smart Pro, this is a great large format press.

  🔥 Get the Creality CR-10 Smart Pro now

  2. Anycubic Cobra Max

  Anycubic Cobra Max

  Features
  • Anycubic LeviQ function of its own development
  • A more durable design and higher accuracy of 9000,9000

  Buy Now

  The Anycubic Kobra Max is a great choice for those on a budget who want their first large scale 3D printer. 9The 0003

  Kobra Max costs $529 and comes with a number of features that make it a strong competitor to other major 3D printers.

  It has one of the largest build sizes on the list at 400 x 400 x 450mm. This gives you the freedom to 3D print just about anything.

  In addition, it features a dual Z-axis design to improve stability and reduce print artifacts caused by Z-axis wobble.

  According to Anycubic, the Kobra Max is capable of printing at 180mm/s, twice the speed of most 3D printers. - FDM printers. That's almost as fast as the best Delta 3D printers can print.

  This high speed makes it easy to print large 3D objects and can significantly reduce print time. Kobra Max also has a feature that allows you to continue printing where you left off.

  This is important for large prints where a power outage can waste hours of time and paper. The printer comes with Anycubic's LeviQ auto platform leveling system.

  This system uses an inductive sensor to level the layer. In real life, this probe works exactly like the Anycubic Kobra.

  Kobra Max also has useful features such as a large touch screen, PEI print bed and runout sensor. But you can see that it doesn't have an all-metal hot end, which limits the materials it can print on.

  Also, the inductive sensor can only be used on metal beds. So if you want to switch to a glass bed in the future, for example to 3D print flexible filaments like TPU, you will run into problems.

  On the other hand, the Anycubic Kobra Max has all the important features and delivers reliable prints. This is a good choice for beginners and hobbyists who want a big 3D printer but don't want to spend too much. Get Anycubic Kobra Max now0007 Homemade Motherboard

• Cable Manager Update

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The Sidewinder X1 was a great competitor to the Creality CR-10 series, but it had a lot of new features, which caused some problems.

Sidewinder X2 is a big improvement over the previous version of Artillery. The X2 is an easy-to-use 3D printer for beginners that can print a lot.

X2 automatic bed leveling is assisted by a leveling sensor that looks like a BLTouch. There is also a tempered glass print surface and a heated build platform that is heated by AC power.

The glass top helps get a smooth first layer and the AC bed heater heats the bed up to 130°C in two to three minutes.

Titan style extruder with Volcano hot end is the best way to move large amount of filament at the same time.

With a maximum nozzle temperature of 240°C, you can only 3D print with low temperature filaments.

Another problem with the machine is that its XZ portal is not supported by any frame reinforcements.

This means that Z-banding or Z-wobble problems are more likely to occur when 3D printing at high altitudes. This is a big problem compared to the CR-10 Smart Pro.

It comes with great safety features and can be quickly folded right out of the box. This makes it a great large 3D printer for beginners.

Artillery X2 is also a great partner for educational institutions and people whose work is less professional. It costs less than $500, making it a good choice for many hobbyists on a budget.

🔥 Get the artillery Sayvinder X2 now

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4. Creativity CR-6 Max

Creativity CR-6 Max

Features

• 3D Printer FDM Starter No Leveling
• Automatic Bed Leveling
• Improved Heatsink and Extruder
• TMC2209 Drivers
• 4.3" Touch Screen

It has a large build area of ​​400 x 400 x 400mm.

With the CR-6 Max, Creality hopes to offer a low cost alternative to other large scale 3D printers.

Its main frame is made of aluminum profiles with V-slots, and like the CR-10 Smart Pro, it has tie rods that reinforce the structure.

When 3D printing at high speeds, the pulls reduce z-wobble and banding, making the frame triangular.

Automatic alignment with the CR-6 Max nozzle eliminates the need for an external sensor. Instead, the print bed is leveled using a nozzle and load cell.

This makes both a lightweight printhead and a perfectly flat bed.

The

CR-6 Max still lacks an all-metal hot end, and the open frame design makes it difficult for the print bed to heat up.

But the printer is a good choice for hobbyists and printers who will mainly use basic 3D printing materials and can make full use of its large print volume.

🔥 Get Creality CR-6 Max now

5. ANYCUBIC Photon M3 Max Resin 3D Printer

AnyCubic Photon M3 Max.

Features

• Amazing print volume
• 7K High resolution
• 13.6-inch screen and screen protector
• Fast printing and powerful light
• Auto resin

Buy now

The Anycubic Photon M3 Max is the largest of the three M3 (third generation) Anycubic Photon resin printers. It is also the first large resin 3D printer built by Anycubic.

The resin 3D printing subculture is gaining popularity as people want to produce more than one part at a time and in large quantities.

There are only a handful of large resin 3D printers on the market today, and the M3 Max is the latest.

Large build volume, 7K LCD display, and some cool features like automatic resin filling and matte texture resin baths make the Max well suited for printing large parts.

Plus, the M3 Max does it all at a price that most people can afford. In fact, this is the cheapest way to start 3D printing with lots of resin right now.

ANYCUBIC Photon M3 Max Resin Printer can print up to 13 "x 11.7" x 6.5"/30 x 29 models.8 x 16.4 cm, and the high print volume allows you to create larger models and print more at once, making printing more efficient.

The LCD screen of this 7K UV Resin 3D Printer provides very high resolution (6,480 x 3,600 pixels).

Screen contrast up to 450:1. Print models with sharper edges and corners to improve the quality and success of your print job.

ANYCUBIC Photon M3 Max's new smart resin filling features are now available! This helps the resin fill intelligently and stop intelligently after sufficient time has elapsed.

And the resin 3D printer laser engraving platform adheres well, making it more likely that printing will work.

🔥 Receive Anycubic Photon M3 Max right now

6. Official 3D printer Crealy Ender 3

Official Creality Ender 3

Features

9000 Easy and fast assembly

Buy now

The Creality Ender 3 Pro is one of the most popular filament 3D printers. It is popular with both beginners and people who want to do things on a budget.

The device comes unassembled and its open source design allows for easy modifications. But this printer is easy to use because it has great customer service and good print quality.

The Creality Ender 3 Pro is one of the best 3D printers you can buy, whether you're looking to buy your first printer or want to set up a fleet of 3D printers for production.

You get everything you need to build and run the Creality Ender 3 Pro without assembly.

Along with printer parts are hex keys, microSD card, zip ties, flush wire cutter to cut filament, scraper, small spool of PLA filament, microSD-to-USB reader, and a few parts. for assembly included.

All bolts are supplied in sets packed in bags and marked with their dimensions, which is very convenient for assembly.

🔥 Get the Official Creality Ender Printer Now

7. 3D printer Flashforge Adventurr 3

Adventurist FlashForge 3

Features

• A removable and flexible working plate with a heating 9000,000
• Noise Level 45 decibels

Buy

This is a great choice if you want something closed, easy to use and won't break the bank.

This fully enclosed printer is great for classrooms and other places where you need to keep prying hands away from the hot end and other moving printer parts.

It has good print quality and a good range of features, but customer service isn't always the best. What's more, it's also a fairly inexpensive choice.

FlashForge makes an FDM/FFF 3D printer called the Adventurer 3. This small desktop system is the first in the company's Adventurer series.

Along with the Creator 3, Guider IIS, Inventor IIS and Explorer Max 3D printers, it was unveiled at CES 2018.


After more than a year on the market, the Adventurer 3, with build dimensions of 150 x 150 x 150 mm, has become known as cheap, lightweight and easy to use system that both creators and teachers can use.

Although it costs $449, this 3D printer has a built-in 2MP camera, a detachable extruder structure, and the ability to print 3D objects from the cloud.

Because FlashForge Adventurer 3 is a filament printer, we tested it with both PLA and ABS.

We used several different test patterns, each designed to test different types of geometry that filament printers can have a hard time handling.

FlashForge Adventurer 3 made good prints, so it scored above average.

🔥 Download FlashForge Adventurer 3 now

Buyer's Guide: What to look for when choosing a large 3D printer?
1. Volume up

With a large print volume, you will have more options for choosing the sizes of the 3D models you want to print.

If you want to print large parts or many small parts at the same time for mass production, it is useful to have a large assembly area.

The size of the printer and its cost, after all, depend on how much it prints. A large machine will take up a lot of floor space, and due to the fact that it is made up of larger parts, it will cost more.

Even with large format 3D printers, a build area of ​​300 x 300 mm to 400 x 400 mm should be sufficient for most large prints.

If you don't care about price and want a big 3D printer, Raise 3D Pro 3 Plus and Vivedino Troodon are two of the biggest ones on the list.

In addition, both the Creality CR-10 Smart Pro and Anycubic Kobra Max have many features at a low price and can print decent volume.

2. Heated housing

The printing environment is separated from the environment by a barrier.

This improves productivity and print quality. With a 3D printer body, it's easier to print with filaments that heat up.

Temperature changes make these yarns, such as ABS and nylon, more prone to warping and twisting.

If your 3D printer is closed, drafts and other external factors cannot change the temperature of the working area.

Even a slight change in temperature can warp or curl large prints, so it's best to protect them with a protective cover.

In addition, the case helps protect against 3D printing smoke that the printer emits during operation.

When you add a heated cabinet to it all, you have a printer that is child-safe and delivers the best results on most types of media.

In enclosed 3D printers, the heated build plate helps to passively heat the printer, making it a stable place to print.

Some of the best examples of wide format fully enclosed 3D printers are the BCN3D Epsilon W50, Raise 3D Pro 3 Plus and Vivedino Troodon.

3. Filament compatibility

When you can use a wider range of filaments, you can use your printer for a wider range of applications.

A 3D printer must have at least an all-metal hot end capable of reaching up to 300°C and a heated bed capable of reaching 100°C so that it can work with different materials.

As we said, the printer's ability to print well with high-temperature plastics is also helped by the closed working area.

With Ultimaker S3 and BCN5D Epsilon W3, you can print metal and fiber filaments on a 50D printer.

Both the Raise 3D Pro 3 Plus and the CR-10 Smart Pro have a high temperature hot end and platform heating so you can use a wide range of filaments with them.

However, the second one does not have a case, so it cannot print either.

4. Rigidity

Large i3 style 3D printers need to move a large print platform quickly.

This movement can cause your 3D printed models to have ghosting, ringing, Z-banding and wobble.

Similarly, CoreXY 3D printers need a stable design so they can print at high speeds without degrading part quality.

To do this, the frame of the 3D printer must be rigid enough so that the printer does not shake too much. To reduce the effect of inertia on fast moving parts, the design must also be stable at high speeds.

You can see that the Creality CR-10 Smart Pro, Anycubic Kobra Max and CR-6 Max have traction bars that make printing more stable.

3D printers with these frames can print tall objects at high speeds and have a stable triangular frame.

5. Print speed

How long it takes to print depends on how fast you print. It takes a lot of time to make large 3D printers on a 3D printer.

Even small accelerations of 10–20 mm/s can make a big difference when printing large models.

In most cases, i3 3D printers are not known for their print speed. And especially with large 3D printers, there is a lot of weight on the print platform.

This high load makes it difficult for these printers to print at high speeds without degrading print quality.

On the other hand, the CoreXY 3D printer is better for fast printing. The bed remains mostly stationary, with the print head being the only fast-moving part of the 3D printer.

The Ultimaker S5, Vivedino Troodon and Raise 3D Pro 3 Plus are some of the best 3D printers out there because they print faster without sacrificing quality.

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Large 3D printers allow you to print large models at once or many models at once, which is called "batch 3D printing".

The size of the printer doesn't stop you from doing a lot, and you can print most 3D prints without breaking them into pieces that need to be put back together.

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