Best 3D printers (March 2023): top choices for work and home use

The best 3D printers have become more affordable, and the 3D printer market is growing at an explosive rate, with new brands and styles of printing making an appearance each year. Where many 3D printers used to be huge, expensive machines, developments in technology and production now mean that many of the best options you can buy are increasingly affordable and can sit on a desk in your home without needing workshop space.

Naturally, this means there’s now a massive choice of 3D printers that cater to all sorts of user needs and budgets. While this choice is excellent, picking the best 3D printer for your specific needs can be difficult. However, this guide can help, as we pick some brilliant 3D printers for all uses and budgets, with clear buying advice to help you determine which one you should buy.

Printing hardware has taken off in recent years, so while a handful of filament printers (otherwise known as FDM printers) were all that was once available, there’s now a wide variety of different styles to suit your needs across a range of budgets.

Unlike office-style printers that print ink onto paper, 3D printers turn digital models into real-world objects made from plastic, metal, and wood. FDM printers now come in all shapes and sizes and are well-suited to prototyping and crafting larger objects. At the same time, resin-based (SLA, MSLA, and DLP) allow for much greater detail, typically at a smaller scale, making them a fantastic buy for anyone looking to design jewelry or create tabletop miniatures.

You can use 3D printers to build complete products, make spare parts, or create things you’ll find helpful for your home, office, and workshop. And, since 3D printing technology is within the grasp of just about anyone, you don’t have to utilize one to your advantage.

Whether you’re just getting your feet wet or are an expert, here are the best 3D printers ranges to consider. We’ve compared these printers across size, functionality, and use case, so there should be something for you, whatever it is you’re looking for. We also looked at their print resolution, build platform, filament type, and pricing.

Remember that the more expensive choices are better suited for professionals, while the best cheap 3D printers are ideal for those just starting.

The best 3D printers of 2023 in full:

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The best 3D printers

Original Prusa MINI

(Image credit: Prusa)

1. Original Prusa MINI+

Small, affordable, and remarkable 3D printer

Our expert review:

Specifications

Print technology:

Fused Deposition Modeling

Build Area:

18 x 18 x 18cm

Minimum layer resolution:

50 microns

Maximum layer resolution:

200 microns

Dimensions:

33 x 33 x 38cm

Weight:

4.5kg

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Reasons to buy

Great value for an FDM printer

Easy to use

Supports a variety of filament types

Reasons to avoid

–

Reel sits separately

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Imperfect print quality

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Calibration can be tricky

This affordable open-frame 3D printer is small enough to sit on your desk and easy enough to assemble yourself without expertise. It comes in kit form and uses FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) to turn popular modeling materials such as PLA, PETG, ASA, ABS, and Flex into accurate printed products.

There’s a Network LAN and USB port for simple connectivity and a user-friendly interface. The 2.8-inch 65k colour screen makes navigating the options and settings easy, and on first starting the machine, it takes you step by step through the set-up process. This entry-level printer should be the first choice for crafters, modelers, and engineering enthusiasts.

The Original Prusa MINI+ is a replacement for the Original Prusa MINI (minus the plus), the key advantage being that it now comes with a superPINDA sensor, which is not temperature dependent allowing the first layer calibration to be faster and more reliable.

Read the full review: Original Prusa MINI.

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CEL-UK RoboxPro

(Image credit: CEL-UK)

2. CEL-UK RoboxPro

Best 3D printer for commercial printing

Our expert review:

Specifications

Print technology:

Fused Deposition Modeling

Build Area:

210 x 300 x 400mm

Minimum layer resolution:

50 microns

Maximum layer resolution:

500 microns

Dimensions:

513 x 508 x 605mm

Weight:

26kg

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Reasons to buy

Swappable print heads

Dual Extruder and auto bed leveling

Network ready, no wired needed

Reasons to avoid

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Large scale printer, not ideal for home use

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Can be difficult to load filament

CEL-UK is a leader in 3D Printer innovation, with the original Robox printers introducing many new features to the world of FDM 3D printers. The RoboxPro is Robox on a large scale with a feature set that reads like a 3D print wish list; auto filament loading, auto bed leveling, Wi-Fi, network printing, and swappable tool heads.

The main focus of the machine is quality and reliability, designed for anyone wanting a printer that can realize product ideas and get them to market. The enclosed design makes it an ideal choice for commercial and educational use.

There’s a sizable touchscreen panel built into the front of the machine. It displays the current materials and can be used to navigate settings and print directly from USB or other external drives.

Read the full CEL-UK RoboxPro review.

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Creality Ender-5 S1

(Image credit: Creality)

3. Creality Ender-5 S1

An ideal 3D printer for any 3D print enthusiast or small business on a budget

Our expert review:

Specifications

Print Technology:

Fused Deposition Modeling

Build Area:

220 x 220 x 280mm

Minimum Layer Resolution:

0.05mm

Maximum Layer Resolution:

0.35mm

Dimensions:

425 x 460 x 570mm

Weight:

12.1kg

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Reasons to buy

Incredible value

Robust design

High-quality tool head

Reasons to avoid

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Not a true CORE XY printer

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Large footprint

–

No enclosure for enhanced materials (Optional extra)

Having a predecessor with a decent reputation instantly puts pressure on the new model to perform. From the small amount of initial construction needed to build the printer to the outstanding bed leveling technology, the Ender-5 S1 proves to be a decent upgrade and on a completely different level of quality to the original Ender-5.

The cubed design might not be a true CORE XY printer, but the robust frame and tool head design’s and precision enables a print quality that pits this printer against models that are at least twice the price.

The design is refined, the tool head completely overhauled, and with upgrade options such as an enclosure and laser head, there is plenty of scopes to expand your creativity. This is a printer designed for both enthusiasts and small business users.

Read our full Creality-5 S1 review.

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TRILAB DeltiQ 2

(Image credit: TRILAB)

4. TRILAB DeltiQ 2

Distinctive delta design for professional 3D printing

Our expert review:

Specifications

Print technology:

Fused Deposition Modeling (FMD)

Build area:

25 x 25 x 30cm

Minimum layer resolution:

50 microns

Maximum layer resolution:

Variable

Dimensions:

41 x 50 x 81cm

Weight:

10kg

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Reasons to buy

Elegant design

Easy expansion

Reasons to avoid

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Not suitable for all materials

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Fully open design

This elegant delta design should get your attention if you’re looking for a professional 3D printer for fairly large and complex projects. It uses FDM technology to build 3D models from rolls of filament. Still, instead of the more common cartesian printers, the TRILAB DeltiQ 2 has a fixed round build plate with the extruder suspended between three arms that move the print head along three axes. It gives this model a fairly small footprint, while its high tower design ensures it can print some quite large pieces.

And unlike most 3D printers, it has two extruder options, one for standard PLA and PETG and the other for flexibles. It just requires a little retooling to swap between them. The TRILAB DeltiQ 2 uses some of the best components available in its construction, and the interface is a smartphone running a dedicated app. This handsome, high-end workshop printer would sit well in any laboratory, studio or classroom.

Read our full TRILAB DeltiQ 2 review.

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Original PRUSA SL1S SPEED

Original PRUSA SL1

(Image credit: PRUSA)

5. Original PRUSA SL1S SPEED

The best MSLA printer just got better

Our expert review:

Specifications

Print technology:

Stereolithography

Build area:

320 x 450 x 500mm

Minimum layer resolution:

25 microns

Maximum layer resolution:

100 microns

Dimensions:

400 x 237 x 225 mm

Weight:

4.5kg

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Reasons to buy

Rapid printing

Great build quality

Reasons to avoid

–

High maintenance

–

Limited build volume

Prusa Research revolutionized the FDM 3D printer market, and this model looks set to do the same for SLA printers. While this printer uses stereolithography technology, it’s a slight variant known as MSLA.

This uses a monochrome LCD and UV LED to expose the resin, which is cheaper than precision lasers but just as accurate. The SL1S SPEED replaces the outgoing SL1, and as you might have guessed from that model name, it’s faster – around ten times faster and with a vastly improved print quality.

The SL1S’s design hasn’t physically changed a great deal over the SL1. It features the same touchscreen LCD on the front, which is again good and responsive.

The speedy new model looks set to lead the SLA market with support from the excellent PrusaSlicer software and a huge open-source community.

Read our full Original Prusa SL1S 3D printer review.

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Anycubic Vyper on white background

Anycubic Vyper

(Image credit: Anycubic)

6. AnyCubic Vyper

The best beginner friendly FDM 3D printer

Our expert review:

Average Amazon review:

☆

Specifications

Print technology:

Fused Deposition Modeling

Build area:

245 x 245 x 260mm

Dimensions:

508 × 457 × 516mm

Weight:

10kg

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Reasons to buy

Built-in accessories drawer

Reliable automatic bed-leveling

Great value for the features you get

Reasons to avoid

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Excessive initial stringing

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Questionable build quality in places

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Cura profile needs fine-tuning

If the world of 3D printing ever seemed too intimidating for you, look no further than the AnyCubic Vyper. While perfect for beginners with its auto-leveling feature and minimal assembly, seasoned printing hobbyists will also appreciate what it can offer, albeit with a few adjustments.

As the ‘automatic leveling’ might imply, the AnyCubic Vyper removes the need to align your build plate manually should you want to move the machine to a different location. It’s fast and accurate, saving time when setting up your first print, which makes setting up and getting started a breeze.

The touchscreen control panel is satisfyingly fast and easy to use, but we found that the estimated print completion time was consistently incorrect. Once the printer is properly optimized, you’ll enjoy impressive print quality.

Read our full AnyCubic Vyper review.

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Raise3D E2

(Image credit: Raise3D)

7. Raise3D E2

The best workhorse 3D printer

Our expert review:

Average Amazon review:

☆

Specifications

Print technology:

Fused Deposition Modeling

Build area:

330 x 240 x 240mm

Minimum layer resolution:

20 microns

Maximum layer resolution:

250 microns

Dimensions:

607 x 596 x 465mm

Weight:

35kg

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Reasons to buy

High-resolution print capability

Innovative ouch screen interface

Dual Extruder system can work independently

Reasons to avoid

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Huge and heavy, not ideal for home use

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Careful placement of bed required

–

Needs manual assistance for filament loading

3D printing has come of age, and machines like the Raise3D E2 bring high-end FFF printing to the home, education, and business. This dual extrusion printer goes head-to-head with the RoboxPro and will fulfill most companies’ design and development needs with slick business and network integration.

The printer display is vast and detailed, and you can swiftly access all the printer settings through the fast and responsive touchscreen interface. You can print directly from a USB key, wired connection, network, or Wi-Fi, making it ideal if several people are utilizing the printer. You will also find many step-by-step videos for many of the printer’s features.

Home and educational users will benefit from a simple interface and near-faultless reliability. The only drawback of this machine is its size and weight.

Read the full Raise3D E review.

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Anycubic Photon M3

(Image credit: Anycubic)

The Anycubic Photon M3 is the ideal entry-level resin printer to introduce you to 3D printing. It’s relatively easy to set up and operate, and the box includes everything you need to get started except for the UV resin. This compact model will fit easily on your desk in a well-ventilated room, though the build volume is somewhat limited at 180 x 163.9 x 102.4mm or 7 x 6.5 x 4-inches.

This modest machine can turn out surprisingly detailed models for printing small plastic parts or artistic pieces. The interface is a 7.6-inch panel, and the software will help you print your project and slice it. If you want to make larger models, you should consider one of Anycubic’s larger 3D printers, but this is a great place to start for $299 (about £275 / AU$480).

Read our full Anycubic Photon M3 review.

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Snapmaker 2.0 A350

(Image credit: Snapmaker)

9. Snapmaker 2.0 A350

Best 3-in-1 3D printer

Our expert review:

Specifications

Print technology:

Fused Filament Fabrication, CNC, Laser

Build area:

350 x 350 x 350mm

Minimum layer resolution:

50 microns

Maximum layer resolution:

300 microns

Dimensions:

645 x 480 x 580mm

Weight:

29kg

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Reasons to buy

3D printer, CNC, and Laser cutter in one

Solid design and build quality

Easy to understand software

Reasons to avoid

–

Switching between uses takes time

–

Enclosure purchased separately

–

Very noisy when printing

A true 3-in-1 machine makes sense because 3D printers, CNC, and Laser cutters all use the same basic mechanics and technology. The original Snapmaker has a dedicated following, so it is no surprise that Snapmaker 2.0 builds on its predecessor’s reputation and features.

The SnapMaker boasts excellent build quality and comes with clear assembly instructions. The assembly takes around 20 minutes. There’s a 5-inch (720x1280px) touchscreen on the machine that can be used to select options, preview models, calibrate and open stored files. The touch screen is a powerful addition to the usability of the machine — it runs on Android OS and features a Quad-Core A7 CPU @1.1GHz.

The A350 is the largest of three models and proves proficient in all disciplines. Swapping between the three heads and beds does take time to reconfigure and calibrate, but for the price and features, it’s worth it.

Read the full Snapmaker 2.0 A350 review.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a 3D printer?

A 3D printer is a machine that creates three-dimensional objects using computer-created designs (like a digital 3D or CAD model).

These machines rely on an additive manufacturing process to build objects layer by layer.

How to choose the best 3D printers for you?

To select the best 3D printer, you’ll need to consider what you’re going to do with it. If you’re going to be printing small objects, then a small-size printer is apt, but a large printer is naturally the best option for bigger creations.

For printing high-quality objects with fine details, you’ll need a high resolution printer, but these prints will cost more and take more time to get ready.

Look out for the printer’s interface and the overall ease of use, along with other aspects like the kind of software it uses, the type of filament, build platform, and pricing.

The best 3D printers: How we test

3D printers are tested using a collection of bespoke benchmarks that help show the strengths and weaknesses of each model that, after time, can be compared against other products. These will differ depending on printer type, but a filament printer will be tested for stringing, bridging, and speed, as well as additional commentary on detail, achieved, and noise levels.

This will be done fairly, with dues given to different materials and printer types, with resin printers being subject to smaller, more detailed models to replace the stringing test. Design, price, and performance will also be explored as sections within the reviews.

All our tests are conducted from the perspective of the printers target market where possible, so expect to see a lot of tabletop miniatures and figurines alongside the usual ‘benches’ (test models that are also dubbed as ‘torture tests’ to see where a printer needs to be better optimized for future prints).