Home > 3D Printer > 3D Printer Buyer's Guide > Best Budget 3D Printer

Best Budget 3D Printer

Below, you’ll find the best 3d printers on a budget as well as a buyer’s guide and the answers to some frequently asked questions.
Last Updated on August 19, 2022
Creality Ender 3 Pro

3D printers truly show us how far technology has come. Only ten years ago, they were industrial fixtures costing thousands, and now you can find your average printer sitting on a desk and available for just hundreds of dollars.

No matter what your budget, it’s easier than ever to find an excellent 3D printer that suits your needs without breaking the bank. A discount printer doesn’t necessarily mean forgoing quality. After all, there is nothing worse than spending hours on a project, only for it to warp, the plastic to melt, and your studio to stink of the burnt material. Nobody wants that!

Below, you’ll find some quality printers that not only come under budget but deliver great results too.

Products at a Glance

Our Recommended

Best Budget 3D Printer

1
PROS
  • Resume printing function
  • Easy and quick assembly
  • Advanced extruder technology
  • Safety protected power supply
CONS
  • No set-up instructions

The Creality Ender 3 is the godfather of low-cost 3D printers. Its longevity comes from the fact it’s easy to use, as well as being budget-friendly. Its heated bed measures 220 x 220 x 250mm and it can resume a print even after losing power.

2
PROS
  • Takes only 5 minutes to heat up
  • Smaller and lighter model, but with bigger print volume
  • Powerful extruder
CONS
  • Doesn’t have a heated bed

Despite not having a heated bed, PLA is still able to print and the excellent BMG extruder more than makes up for the lack of a bed.

3
PROS
  • 32-bit board with TMC2225 silent drivers for quiet printing
  • All-metal extruder enables smooth extrusion and longevity
  • Reversible bed so you can print on both sides
CONS
  • Instructions not detailed

Since the company behind Biqu is BigTreeTech (a brand that is known for developing useful modifications for Creality printers), it’s no surprise that the Biqu 1 is Ender 3’s biggest rival.

4
PROS
  • Quick to assemble
  • High print precision
  • Large build volume
  • Patented heat bed
CONS
  • Bed is a bit too smooth

You know what they say – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Anycubic knows this too, not making any changes to the Mega X but scaling it up to three times larger than its predecessors. This printer is reliable, easy to use, and produces excellent prints.

Buyer’s Guide

With 3D printers, the possibilities of what you can create are endless. You can create everything from your own custom phone case to musical instruments. 

As you can see from our above selections too, there are plenty of 3D printers out there to choose from. But before you buy one, there are a few important aspects to consider, such as what you will be using the printer for, what materials and equipment you’ll need, and, most importantly, safety. 

Materials

The two materials used for 3D printing are Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS). These are thermoplastics that soften and become malleable when heated, or freeze when cooled. They are sold as 2.2lbs spools of filament and usually cost around $30.

PLA: A plastic derived from corn starch, PLA is excellent for beginners and is great for creating small, simple household items. It is also biodegradable and cools quickly, and is available in solid and translucent colors. However, its low melting point may cause models to deform in high temperatures, and is difficult to work with if you require joints and interlocking parts.

ABS: A petroleum-based plastic, ABS is popular due to its strength and flexibility. It also has a higher melting point, making your creations less likely to deform under high heat. However, it does take longer to cool than PLA, and models are prone to warping. It also emits fumes during printing. 

So which one to choose? Well, you need to know which material is suitable for your final product and then you’ll know what type of printer you should buy. Keep in mind that not all printers will accept both materials, some will only work with one type. 

Whether 1.75mm or 3mm in diameter, filament size doesn’t matter. It won’t affect the overall quality of the end product. However, most popular printer brands accommodate 1.75mm so we would recommend that.

Safety

There are three main safety concerns with 3D printing – heat, fumes, and plastic.

Heat: Always keep in mind that you are working with heated plastics. Extruders, plastics, and even the print bed itself can get very hot and can lead to severe burns if you are not careful. Also, some printers have no enclosure around the print area, so be extra careful when using these printers.

Fumes: You should always keep your 3D printer in a well-ventilated room. We have already mentioned that ABS plastic emits fumes during printing, and can be quite overwhelming. However, no research states it has an impact on general health. But if you plan on using your printer a lot, it is good practice to take the necessary precautions.

Food-grade plastic: While you can use 3D printers to create pretty much anything, it is advised to hold back on creating kitchenware with them. While ABS and PLA are generally food-safe, any additives added in may not be. Also, products created with FDM-type 3D printers have porous surfaces which bacteria can collect in.

Obtaining a 3D Model

There are two ways to get a 3D model. You can either create it yourself or download a pre-made model blueprint. 

There is a variety of software out there to create your own model, both free and commercial, and plenty of resources available to learn 3D modeling.

Learning to model in a computer is a fairly difficult task though, that takes a lot of practice and time. But if time is not on your side, there are plenty of websites that provide models of many different items.

What is the right volume for a 3D printer?

A 3D printer’s build volume is the maximum dimensions (HWD) of a part that it can print. The smallest build volume of any 3D printer is usually 3.9 by 3.9 by 4.9-inches. Medium printers are usually 10 by 10 by 10-inches, and any printer with at least one build dimension of more than 10-inches is considered large.

Usually, budget-friendly 3D printers have small build volumes, while more expensive ones tend to be larger. But this also depends partly on the type of printer. Closed-frame 3D printers tend to have small build volumes, while open-frame printers (that are not as sturdy) often have relatively large build volumes. Importantly, the right build volume will depend on what you want to print.

Should I get an open-frame or closed-frame 3D Printer?

Closed-frame 3D printers are boxlike devices with a rigid base, walls (with a transparent door at the front), and top. They muffle noise, reduce odor from any melted filament, and they are safer if you have any children or pets around who might accidentally touch the hot extruder. However, they are smaller than open-frame printers.

Low-cost 3D printers are available in both open-frame and closed-frame models. If you’re after a larger build volume, then you may get more value for money with an open-framed model. However, they tend to be noisy, emit odors when certain plastics are melted, offer little protection, and some may require assembly and more maintenance to keep them running smoothly.

What should I look for in 3D printer software and connectivity?

3D printing software performs three main functions. It processes an object file (moving, rotating, resizing, and duplicating it), slices it (into virtual layers), and finally, prints it. This is almost always universally combined into a seamless process. Some high-end printers have software that supports an even wider range of settings. 

Connection options from model to model may vary with cheaper sets, however. They almost all have a USB Type-A port to fit a thumb drive for printing from document files, and a USB Type-B port for connecting directly to a computer. Some also offer Wi-fi as an alternative, and some even let you connect via Ethernet to share a printer across a local network.

Some printers let you store 3D files on an SD or microSD card. Most 3D printer manufacturers (even budget-friendly ones) have a mobile app to launch and monitor print jobs, and some let you access cloud services for you to print from.w

Our Verdict

Creality Ender 3 Pro

Best Budget 3D Printer