Best Budget 3D Printers in 2024
As the years go by, more and more people are embracing 3D printers and all they can do. This is indeed a smart thing to do. However, beyond making the smart decision to take advantage of all that 3D printers can do, many newbies to this technology are unwilling to spend a lot of money to get a 3D printer.
Do you fall into the category of people looking to get a 3D printer but are on a budget? You do not have to settle for a bad product. There are several good and affordable 3D printers, and we have put together some of them.
Below are the best budget 3D printers in 2024.
Products at a Glance
How We Picked the Best Budget 3D Printers in 2024
We considered quite several factors when selecting the budget 3D printers in this article. One major thing we looked into is online reviews. Additionally, we considered ease of use.
Lots of beginners settle for affordable printers. So, they get good value for money when they buy a printer that is easy to use.
Have you got a larger budget? Why not check out the best 3D printer under $1000? Or if you are new to 3D printing, head over to our best 3D printer for beginners piece.
Product Reviews
- High-resolution print quality
- Integrated air filtration
- Closed -frame design
- Sturdy
- Loud
If you are looking to get a 3D resin printer for SLA printing, it is good enough to get the job done and is also very affordable. If you need a 3D printer that is affordable and you can rely on for SLA printing, this printer is one you need to consider.
It has a closed-frame design and weighs 13.67 pounds. With this printer comes a monochrome LCD screen and very good HD resolution. The implication is that you will not struggle to view what you intend to print. This printer is very fast and can create each layer of a design in just 2 minutes.
When it comes to the leveling process, an inconvenient feature of the Mars 3 is its z-axis movements. Expect to have to press the Up button a number of times to send the plate to the top.
This device has a sturdy appearance and build. Also, it comes with a guarantee of one year.
- Already set up
- Fast print speed
- Affordable
- No USB
- Extruder nozzle is hard to reach
- Modest print volume
This 3D printer is one that people new to the 3D printing world should get if they are not keen on spending so much money.
It weighs 22.1 pounds and is easy to use. You do not need to have prior 3D printing experience before getting the best out of this printer. That’s not all. It has a plug-and-play design which ensures you can use it without having to go through the process of assembling it – unlike DIY kits.
As much as this printer works very well for beginners, it is not limited to just beginners. If you have picked up a great deal of experience while 3D printing, is on a lean budget, and are looking to buy a 3D printer, this is one you can try out.
- Easy set up
- Child-friendly
- Easy to use app interface
- Relies on internet
This affordable 3D printer might not get the job done for adults as it was designed to meet the 3D printing needs of children. It features a one-touch control which goes a long way in ensuring that children do not get bored while using it. As soon as this device begins running, you will not need to make any adjustments.
The implication of this is parents or guardians do not need to spend so much time watching over their children while they get busy with this 3D printer. That’s not all. It is quite small. So, handling it is not challenging.
One thing that stands this 3D printing out from other 3D printers in this article is its toy catalog. It has a huge toy catalog that you can trust to keep your children occupied for a long time.
- Come with stencils
- Rapid drying
- Dual
- Patented heat bed
- Reloading is complicated
The 3Doodler Create Plus 3D printer is not just affordable. It is also very profitable. So, if you need to move from place to place with your 3D printer, you should settle for it.
This device’s approach to 3D printing is quite different from what lots of people are used to. It has a pen design and uses dual-drive technology, significantly making things faster and improving the prints’ quality.
The pen that comes with this device heats up plastic really quickly. Thereby making it possible for users to create doodles and 3D drawings.
What’s more? When you use this 3D printer, you get to create custom-made images that you will struggle to create with other devices if there is the slightest possibility of this even happening.
- Easy to assemble
- Can create detailed high-quality prints
- Accuracy could be improved
- Sticky build plate
- No automatic bed leveling
If you’re looking for a budget 3D printer, you can’t go wrong with Creality’s Ender series. This collection is a popular option for newbies as it is user-friendly and comes with an affordable open frame. The newest option, the Ender 3 S1 is an excellent option. It can handle high-temperature printing and you can produce high-quality detailed prints using its 0.4 mm nozzle.
Creality’s dedicated 3D printing software, Creality Slicer is pretty easy to navigate. You will be able to manipulate and visualize your 3D object on the print bed before embarking on your print. You’ll also be happy to hear that it is a breeze to setup this kit, as it comes mostly assembled for you.
Whether you are a newcomer or an experienced hobbyist, the Creality Ender 3 S1 is an excellent choice for anyone seeking an affordable 3D printer.
Things to Consider in the Best Budget 3D Printers in 2024
Getting the best budget 3D printer does not seem like a lot of work. However, it is not the easiest of things to do. If you must go about this the right way, there are factors you should consider. Some of them are;
Your Budget
This is perhaps the most important factor that anyone looking to buy a budget 3D printer in 2024 should have in mind. Once you have a budget in place, you need to look out for good quality 3D printers that fall within this budget. Next, check out other features and choose a product based on the most appealing features.
Portability
Not everyone is keen on moving their printer from place to place. However, if you are looking to move around with your 3D printer, you have to consider its portability.
Connectivity
Every 3D printer has different connectivity options. Preferably you will want to find a 3D printer that can run over WiFi although other options that work over USB or SD card are not complete deal breakers.
FAQs
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.
Our Verdict
The 3D printers in this article are not just some of the most affordable. They are also some of the best. If you are looking to buy or upgrade your 3D printer but are not exactly looking to buy an affordable printer, it is okay if you settle for any of the printers we already stated.