Best 3D Printer Under $1000 in 2023
3D printers are truly taking the world by storm. There are a bunch of benefits to buying one – if you’re running out of something at home, you can simply print more of the item in question! Of course, it’s natural to assume that you need to spend a lot of money to reap the benefits of these fantastic modern machines.
Thankfully, technology has come a long way, meaning that you can enjoy one of these machines without spending your entire life’s savings to buy it. It’s just a matter of knowing where to look! In this guide, we’ve highlighted some of the best 3D printers available for under $1000 so you can let your creative flag fly thanks to the power of 3D printing!
Products at a Glance
How we picked
We’ve put our hearts and souls into finding only the best 3D printers under $1000 that money can buy. That means we’ve put a lot of thought into the products that we’ve reviewed here today. We’ve considered a few key things. For starters, we explored the different styles of 3D printers on the market, and how they may be useful to specific kinds of users. We’ve also considered things like how well built the machine is, and what sorts of safety features it comes with. In addition to all of this, we have checked what other features the printer has, like touchscreen interfaces and the resolution.
Best 3D Printer Under $1000 in 2023
- Two extruders
- Comes fully assembled
- Works with WiFi SD card
- Doesn’t work with many filaments
Finding a 3D printer on a budget is no easy feat, but you do not need to look any further. The Flashforge Creator Pro is one of the best 3D printers on the market for less than $1000, and it’s got a lot to offer.
This is a closed unit, which is handy since the temperature remains consistently the same whenever it’s in operation. You don’t need to worry about ventilation as a result of this too, which is always useful. When you take it out of the box, the printer has already been completely assembled. Thanks to this, you don’t need to spend ages attempting to put it together. The printer comes with two extruders, and this is incredibly helpful since it means that you can make extra supporting structures too. It works perfectly for beginners that are just getting started with 3D printing.
One of the other great things about this printer is that it can work with a WiFi SD card. It will also connect with SD and USB cards. If you aren’t happy with the product, you’ll also get a one year warranty and a 30 day money back guarantee. Perhaps the only issue is that you’re limited in the number of filaments you can use, but this isn’t a huge problem for many beginners.
- Works with a range of materials
- Quiet operation
- Improved cooling system
- Not the most affordable option on our list
The Qidi Tech X-Plus is a powerful machine on a small budget. Thanks to this, you can enjoy the excitement of 3D printing without wasting your life’s savings. You can use this to make a wide range of fantastic objects, simply and effectively.
There are a number of things worth noting about this particular machine. For starters, it comes with two interchangeable extruders, which are ideal for maximum versatility. You can even work with a range of different materials, such as Carbon PC and Nylon. It comes with two distinct holders for your filament, and it also works with third-party filaments too – this is not the case with every 3D printer.
If you’re working on your 3D models with other people around, you don’t need to worry – this machine doesn’t make a lot of noise. It comes with an improved cooling system that can help to make your models even better, and the touch screen makes the machine incredibly simple to use. It’s not the most affordable option on this list, but it’s certainly great for beginners.
- Easy to use
- Touch screen
- Very affordable
- Can be difficult to set up initially
If you’re looking for the best value for money on a 3D printer, you should definitely try the Creality CR-10S Pro V2. This machine is very user friendly, making it ideal even for people that have never used a 3D printer before.
The performance of this machine is pretty impeccable. You will get some great results when you use this machine. There’s an automatic bed leveling assistant that can help you to level the bed easily, and you can easily transfer any files to the machine by using a USB cable or MicroSD card. If you want to see the current progress of your project, all you need to do is go on the touch screen to check.
The machine is certainly one of the most affordable options on this list too, so it’s certainly worth considering if you don’t have a lot of money to play with. It can be a little tricky to set up when you first get it out of the box, however.
- High quality results
- Fast operation
- Easy to use
- Only works with the Dremel PLA filament
Compact and reliable, the Dremel Digilab 3D20 is perfect as an entry level machine for people who are looking to make 3D prints as a hobby. It is powerful and creates some pretty spectacular results!
Once you’ve received your order of the Dremel Digilab 3D20, you will get a machine that’s ready to print straight away. The only thing that you need to do to get it running is to fill up the filament, then you need to level the printing bed correctly. It comes with a nifty touchscreen that makes it simple to use. The machine works pretty fast too, making your models as quickly as 100m/s.
The biggest issue with this machine is that it won’t work with third party filaments. In order to use this machine, you will need to use the Dremel PLA filament, which is worth keeping in mind. You will get some great looking models in the end though, so don’t let this put you off!
- Laser engraving module
- Removable glass bed
- 1 year warranty
- Relatively small build area
Buyers guide
Finding the best 3D printer is no easy task, especially if you’re sticking to a specific budget, so here are some key considerations you’ll want to make as you go about your search!
Intended use
One of the first things that you need to think about when buying your 3D printer is what you are planning on using it to make. This can have a huge influence on the kind of machine that you should be buying. Here are just a few of the common things that you can make with a 3D printer.
First of all, you can create the kinds of objects that you would usually find around the house. If you are planning on making household objects with your 3D printer, you should get an FDM printer. If you are planning on creating things that are going to be used with food, make sure that you coat the items in a food-safe epoxy.
You can also make objects that you can use outdoors. In this case, you are going to need something extra durable. You should use something similar to ABS in this case. Likewise, if you are planning on making works of art with your 3D printer you should use a resin printer. For professional items, you can use a resin printer. For things like tools, you may need to pay a little extra to get a more heavy-duty 3D printer.
It’s also a good idea to think about your plans for the 3D printer in the long term. Is it something you just want to experiment with and use for fun, or do you plan on using it in the long term for bigger projects? There’s no point in buying a cheap 3D printer that will only give you a basic level of functionality if you have bigger projects planned later down the line. Sometimes it’s better to pay a little more money for a printer that’s going to give you more functionality if you plan on making 3D printing more than just a hobby.
Printer style
There are a few different printer styles on the market that are worth thinking about. Again, what you choose can determine the sorts of things that you can make with the printer. The first type of 3D printer is the FDM printer. These are generally used by people that like to do 3D printing as a hobby. It’s often best to opt for a Cartesian style construction of FDM since this is usually going to give you significantly better control, and it may also improve the results that you get in the end.
For incredibly detailed work, you should opt for an SLA printer. These printers are incredibly precise. DLP printers on the other hand are much smoother in terms of operation than FDM machines are. You can also opt for SLS or Selective Laser Sintering printers, but these are usually best for creating industrial-level parts that may be a little difficult to make.
If you are looking for a beginner’s 3D printer, it’s definitely best to get an FDM printer, and they are also usually a lot more affordable too.
Quality
It’s important to assess the overall quality of the printer before you buy. Naturally, there are two main things that can determine the quality of the printer: the print speed and the print resolution.
If you want to have a lot of detail in your projects, you will need to get a printer that has a has smaller microns, since this will give you more details. In addition to this, if the printer can move its extruder faster, it will print the items much more quickly.
It can sometimes be a little difficult to gauge the quality of the printer just by reading the specifications set out by the manufacturer, however. In these circumstances, it’s best to turn to the internet for help! Other customers will often post photos of their finished results, and these can show you the quality of output you’re getting from the printer.
Safety function
3D printing can get rather dangerous if you’re not careful, so it’s important to ensure that your machine has some precautions in place in case something goes wrong. There are some safety features in particular that you should consider getting. For instance, look for models that have automatic nozzle cooling once you have finished printing. Sometimes 3D printers will come with heated beds, and the printer may come with an automatic shut-off feature for this when the project is complete. These are just a few of the things that you should take into consideration.
Print resume function
Sometimes unexpected things may happen. For instance, your printer may suddenly pause in the middle of your work, perhaps because the power has cut off. Naturally, you don’t want your entire printing project to be ruined. In these situations, having a print resume function can be incredibly helpful. Your printer will just continue where it left off, rather than starting the entire project again from scratch.
UI
Having a 3D printer that’s easy to use can go a long way, and can certainly make your user experience far more enjoyable. You don’t want to spend unnecessary time on playing around with a rotary knob, after all. With this in mind, you should look for a printer that comes with a touchscreen interface if possible, since this will generally be a lot easier for you to use.
Print bed size
The size of the print bed of your 3D printer can determine the size of projects that you can make, so it’s important to think carefully about this. If the print bed is bigger it means you can print larger things. This may not be that important to you if you are primarily going to be making smaller objects, however.
Additional features
So, what else can your 3D printer offer you? There are a few things worth looking for. For starters, what is the connectivity on the printer like? Can it connect easily with a computer or a laptop, or do you need something like an SD card to get the printer to work? Also, has the printer come already completely assembled, or are you just going to get a 3D printer kit? Finally, consider the amount of noise that the 3D printer makes – these devices can be rather noisy, so it’s worth considering if you’re going to be working in an environment where the noise is going to be a problem. If you are then you may need to consider getting a quieter model.
Our Verdict
As you can see with the different 3D printer options we’ve listed above, a $1000 budget goes a long way, providing you with a machine that boasts a bunch of features. However, for the 3D printer that we think comes up trumps, it has to be the Flashforge Creator Pro. This 3D printer has it all while also looking good in the process. If you want the best 3D printer under $1000 pick up the Flashforge.