Best 3D Printers for 2017: A Complete 3D Printer Buyer’s Guide

LulzBot Taz 6

The LulzBot Taz 5 was already ranked better than any other 3D printer on this list (with exception to the Zortrax M200, which it was tied with.) And, that was even considering the fact that it did not have an automated bed-leveling feature.

Now, the Taz 6 sports a few upgrades and new features that make it, in my opinion, the best consumer 3D printer on the market.

For starters, the bed-leveling feature—which may or may not be important to power uses—is a great feature for beginners and anyone who doesn’t want to have to go through the bed-leveling process.

The Taz 6 also adds an automated nozzle cleaning feature that runs the extruder nozzle through a cleaning pad before each print (similar to what the LulzBot Mini does.)

Another great feature of the Taz 6 is that it has over 300 different quickprint profiles for various filaments through the Cura LulzBot Edition software.

And, as always, the open-source design of the Taz 6 gives you plenty of upgrade options and with multiple tool head’s available directly through LulzBot (such as the FlexyStruder, Dual Extruder, and FlexyDually) you can turn your Taz 6 into a dual extruder 3D printer, or a printer that can produce flexible objects.

All-in-all, I believe the Taz 6 is the best consumer 3D printer currently on the market, all things considered. And, it is such a workhorse that it could even be used as a commercial 3D printer depending on what kind of work you need it to do. For more information on the Taz 6, check out our full review here.

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Ultimaker 3 Extended

Ultimaker became a big hit among 3D printing enthusiasts with the release of their original Ultimaker, and now they are winning awards with their newest upgrade to the Ultimaker 3, the Ultimaker 3 Extended.

With the ability to hit print resolutions of up to 20 microns, the Ultimaker 3 Extended is definitely one of the highest resolution 3D printers currently available.

And, with the extra print area in the Extended version, the Ultimaker 3 is one of the more coveted high-end FDM 3D printers around. And if you have a huge budget and you’re looking for one of the best options on the market, the Ultimater 3 Extended (or the regular version) should be considered.

In the end, you can’t go wrong with an Ultimaker 3 even considering that the other options available in its class are great choices as well. It is such a good option that it could even be considered if you are looking for a commercial 3D printer. (But that really just depends on what kinds of commercial uses you’d need it for.)

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Leapfrog Creatr XL

The Leapfrog Creatr XL is easily one of the largest professional 3D printers on the market. With an enormous 24″ x 11″ x 9″ build volume, you can really print out some large objects.

However, the large print volume aren’t all that the Creatr XL comes with…

In addition to the enormous build volume, the XL boasts dual extruders (although the print volume shrinks slightly if using both extruders), the ability to hit resolutions as high as 50 microns, and support for a bunch of different types of filament.

If there is a downside with the Creatr XL, though, it is definitely the price.

Coming in at well over $4,000, the Creatr XL is the most expensive 3D printer on this list. And, considering there are options like the Taz 6 and Ultimaker Extended 2 available for nearly half the price, it is a little difficult to recommend the XL as the top choice.

However, if you have an enormous budget and you can utilize the extra print volume, the Creatr XL is a worthy option.

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BCN3D Sigma

Accuracy… check. Build volume… check. Reliability… check. Independent dual extruders… CHECK!

The biggest problem with FDM printers is that they have seemed to plateau in terms of the innovations that have been made to them.

The top 4-5 FDM 3D printers are all relatively the same in terms of print accuracy, build volume, reliability, etc. However, BCN3D has pushed the envelope a littler further with their Sigma 3D printer and it’s independent dual extruder system.

Unlike other dual extruders, which are stuck together, and can be difficult to setup and get working properly, the BCN3D Sigma’s dual extruders actually operate independently of each other.

Or in other words, the Sigma’s first extruder can print in one color, and when it’s time to switch to a different color, the second extruder can slide in (and the first extruder slide out) and continue on printing in the second color.

This has simplified the process of printing in two colors and has lifted the Sigma up among the top FDM printers currently on the market.

Even as a single extruder machine, the Sigma performs on par with the other top large 3D printers out there.

Ultimately, BCN3D’s Sigma has helped pushed dual extrusion to new heights and have also built a solid FDM printer on top of that. And, because of that, the Sigma is one of the best overall 3D printers currently available.

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AIO Robotics Zeus

Well, that didn’t take long! Now you can get an all-in-one 3D printer and scanner for under $2,500.

The AIO Robotics Zeus All-In-One 3D printer will not only allow you to 3D print objects, but it will also let you scan—and then print—objects as well.

While you are paying a premium for a medium-sized print area, the addition of a scanner definitely makes up for that one downfall.

And, with a 3D printer that can hit resolutions as high as 80 microns and a scanner that can scan at 125 microns, you can really get creative with this printer.

So, if you’re looking for the complete 3D printing experience in one package, then the AIO Robotics Zeus should definitely be on your radar.

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Zortrax M200

At just under $2,000 the Zortrax M200 is perhaps one of the best FDM 3D printers on the market.

The Zortrax wins in every category you’d judge a professional 3D printer in… it can hit very high quality prints, it is incredibly user-friendly, it’s reliable, it comes working right out of the box, and it has a good print volume.

It has an 8″ x 8″ x 7″ build volume, it can hit 90 microns resolution (which means it isn’t the highest resolution 3D printer on the market, but still not bad), and it supports a wide range of filaments.

And, unlike the LulzBot Taz 6 and the MakerGear M2, the Zortrax M200 comes with side panels as well to enclose your machine while you’re printing.

Ultimately, the Zortrax M200 is one of the better machines currently available and it competes well with some of the other top options.

If you’re willing to spend ~$2,000, the choice comes down to either the M200 or the MakerGear M2. And, you might as well flip a coin there, because both of those printers are phenomenal.

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MakerGear M2

If you’re looking for a high-quality 3D printer for sale at a fairly affordable price (at least when compared to similar performing 3D printers), then the MakerGear M2 3D printer may be the machine for you.

The MakerGear M2 is not a new 3D printer—it has been around for awhile—but it has withstood the test of time.

With an all-steel design and an excellent all-around industrial-esque build quality, the M2 is a sturdy and reliable printer.

A big stand-out feature of the M2 is that it is capable of producing objects with a high print quality and offers a fairly big print area for the price (8? x 10? x 8?), although you may need to do some tweaking to reach higher quality prints.

Overall, the MakerGear M2 is definitely one of the best all-around 3D printers currently on the market.

It takes all of the best qualities that veteran 3Ders look for—namely, print quality, print volume, print speed, and price—and combines them with ease-of-use to make sure that regardless of your 3D printing experience, anyone can use this machine and get a lot out of it.

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LulzBot Mini

I recently had the chance to thoroughly review the LulzBot Mini and I was blown away with how easy it was to setup and use as well as how reliable of a 3D printer it is.

And, it exceeded my expectations as far as print quality goes…

I was able to print out some challenging prints with the Mini and its quick print settings were so easy to use, that I’m positive even the most technology-challenged people could operate this machine.

The only downfall of the Mini is its print area. Still, though, with a 6″ x 6″ x 6″ build platform, it is plenty big enough for most objects.

All-in-all, the LulzBot Mini, in my opinion, is easily one of the best options for first-time 3Ders who want an easy-to-use and reliable 3D printer.

It’s probably one of the better options period… but if you want the bigger build volume, then you will want to look at the LulzBot Taz 6.

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FlashForge Dreamer

If the FlashForge Dreamer looks familiar, that’s because it is essentially a Dremel Idea Builder.

Or, rather, the Dremel Ideal Builder is essentially a FlashForge Dreamer (because the Dreamer came first.)

Ultimately, what the Dreamer presents is FlashForge’s move away from open source 3D printers to closed source 3D printers.

That’s not good if you want to be able to tinker with your printer and have access to a bunch of user-created upgrades.

However, with the closed-source model, FlashForge has improved upon the Dreamer’s reliability and if you’re looking for a less hands-on machine that is easier to use, then the Dreamer is a good option.

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Sindoh DP200 3D Wox

Another solid option in this price range is the 3DWox 3D printer from Sindoh. Sindoh has been around since the 60’s and has been one of the biggest manufacturers of 2D printers in the world since that time.

Their move to 3D printing has been fairly successful as their 3D Wox brings a competitive offer to the table.

It doesn’t have the largest print area in the world, but it does come with the ability to hit up to a 50-micron print resolution and it does come fully enclosed to better manage the temperature during printing.

And, another cool feature is that it has a built-in camera so that you can watch your print live from your smartphone or mobile device.

The downside to this printer, though, is that it only uses proprietary cartridges and, therefore, you cannot use more affordable third-party filament with this machine. And, since the cartridges are ~$40 each, you will be spending quite a bit extra on filament than you would if you got a different machine.

Still, though, if you can get passed the higher operating costs, this is a solid all-around printer.

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QIDI TECH I

Does the QIDI Tech I look familiar to you? Well, it should…

The Tech I is virtually a replica of FlashForge’s Creator Pro, which is virtually a replica of the now defunct MakerBot Replicator 2X.

However, what the QIDI Tech I has going for it that the Creator Pro doesn’t, is a much better price. While the Creator Pro sits at about ~$1,200, the Tech I can be had for approximately ~$800.

That’s a huge difference in price for what is virtually the same machine. So if the QIDI Tech I is the same as the Creator Pro, why would you ever get the Creator Pro?

The only real reason that I can think of is the fact that FlashForge is more established than QIDI and, as such, you can expect better support from them.

But ultimately, if you’re looking for the best 3D printer under $1,000 currently on the market, it has to be the QIDI Tech I. It has dual extruders, a decent-size build platform, a heated build platform, auto bed-leveling, and a ton of upgrade options from the community.

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FlashForge Creator Pro

FlashForge’s Creator Pro is an upgraded version of their original dual extruder 3D printer (the FlashForge Creator) and is a replica of MakerBot’s Replicator 2X.

Basically, if you’re looking for one of the more reliable 3D printers on the market, and you have a decent-sized budget for your printer, you will definitely want to look at the Creator Pro.

The dual extruder is a rare find on a printer in this price range and the time to set it up and start printing is low, which is ideal for anyone looking to get right into it.

However, the biggest downfall for the Creator Pro is competition. Currently QIDI Tech I is producing what is virtually the same exact machine (they knocked-off FlashForge’s knock-off) for approximately ~$400 less.

So, with the same 3D printer out there for a significantly lower price than what FlashForge is offering, it’s tough to recommend the Creator Pro at this point in time.

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UP! Plus 2

The UP! Plus 2 3D Desktop Printer is another option for anyone who is looking for a 3D printer that is easy to setup, calibrate, and use.

With the platform calibration device that is included with this printer and the nozzle height detect feature, setting it up to print high-quality objects is much simpler than other 3D printers on the market.

Also, the UP! Plus 2 comes with a 1-year warranty, which is way above the industry standard (some 3D printers only come with a 90-day warranty).

Another cool feature of the UP! Plus 2 is that it has a heat and windshield covering the extruder in order to help prevent injury.

Overall, the UP! Plus 2 is a perfect 3D printer for beginners and enthusiasts alike. It’s ease-of-use will take some of the headaches that come with 3D printing in general away and give you a reliable machine.

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ROBO 3D R1 Plus

After successfully funding their Kickstarter campaign in February of 2013, ROBO 3D has been a competitive player in the sub-$1,000 3D printer market.

Their newest ROBO 3D printer, the R1 Plus, is one of the best 3D printers under $1,000.

The R1 Plus comes with most of the aspects you want from a 3D printer…

It can print in both ABS and PLA, it can resolutions as low as 100 microns, it has a large print area, it comes with a heated print bed, and it comes with a 6-month warranty.

All of these things add up to make the ROBO 3D R1 Plus a great option for anyone with an ~$800 budget.

So, if you have a little bit higher of a budget and you want a 3D printer that can produce some larger prints and is a little bit more reliable, then you should definitely consider looking into the ROBO 3D R1.

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Dremel Idea Builder

I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to review the Dremel Idea Builder and I have to say that I enjoyed working with it more than I thought I was going to.

Going into the review I was a little discouraged about the fact that the Idea Builder didn’t come with a heated bed and, therefore, could not print in ABS filament.

However, after using the Idea Builder extensively for a few months I came to the conclusion that I didn’t really miss having the ability to print in ABS (probably because I have a few other prints that can handle ABS).

What did stand out to me, though, was the fact that the Idea Builder was incredibly easy to use, produced accurate prints, and never failed me once during the review process.

Not only that, but it was up and running within an hour and the leveling process was straight forward and simple to carry out. So, while the Idea Builder does get docked a little bit for not being able to print in ABS, it definitely scores a bunch of points for its reliability and ease-of-use.

And, another key selling point for the Idea Builder is the fact that it is made by one of the premier power tool companies in the United States, Dremel. And, that means better customer support and the higher the chances that the company and support for their product will be around for a long time.

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FlashForge Finder

When I reviewed the Dremel Idea Builder, I came to the conclusion that lacking a heated print bed isn’t the end of the world for a personal 3D printer. I also learned how valuable having a reliable and easy-to-use machine is.

The FlashForge Finder sits in the same boat as the Dremel Idea Builder in that it is incredibly easy-to-use, it’s reliable, and it can be up and running in under an hour. It is likely the best 3D printer for beginners currently available.

So, while it lacks a heated print bed and the build volume is nothing to write home about, the FlashForge Finder is one of the best 3D printers under $500.

While I do think that options like HICTOP Desktop bring more to the table for a lower cost, not all buyers are going to want the hands-on experience that comes with a Prusa i3 kit and would prefer something that just works right from the get-go.

And, for those buyers, options like the Finder exist. So, ultimately, if you value ease-of-use, reliability, and you don’t want to have to tinker to get your machine working, then the Finder is definitely an option you’ll want to consider.

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Printrbot Simple Metal

The Printrbot Simple Metal is perhaps one of the best entry-level 3D printers currently for sale. And, at just under $600 for the assembled, ready-to-go, version, (or a little under $550 for the DIY version) the Printrbot Simple Metal is easily one of the most affordable machines available.

There’s a lot to like with this printer, as it’s fairly easy-to-use, it offers a lightweight platform, it’s open-source, and it has a ton of upgrade options.

For the price, the Printrbot Simple Metal also offers good print quality, making it a great option for educators, students, or for anyone who wants to jump into 3D printing without having to deal with the high costs.

In the end, the Printrbot Simple Metal is another solid machine for the price and will serve as the perfect entry-level 3D printer for you to learn more about the technology.

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XYZprinting AiO

Someday in the future, it’s likely that most consumer 3D printers will have some sort of built-in scanning capabilities. However, as of right now only a few 3D printers have the ability to print and scan objects.

On this list, there are two AiO 3D printers listed. The AiO Robotics Zeus, which costs well over $2,000, and this printer, the XYZprinting AiO, which costs just under $700.

Now, to be fair, scanning technology is just starting to improve and the really accurate scanners cost a boatload. So, you shouldn’t be expecting anything significant out of the XYZprinting AiO’s scanner.

And, because the scanner quality is fairly lacking, it’s tough to recommend spending nearly $700 on this printer when there are options in this price range that offer more in the way of 3D printing.

In the end, though, the thought of having one of the first AiO 3D printers on the market may be a compelling enough reason for you to choose it over the others.

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Printrbot Play 1505

Another affordable option from Printrbot—and one of their newer models—is their steel-framed model, the Play 1505.

The specs of the Printrbot Play 1505 are very similar to the Printrbot Simple Maker’s Kit and Metal version.

However, the Play has a square steel frame and it is more of a box shape (which somewhat encloses the print area).

It is also capable of hitting resolutions up to 50 microns, whereas the Maker’s Kit can only go up to 100 microns.

And, this is a fully assembled printer, so if you are looking to skip the assembly process and just jump right into printing, this is a solid and affordable option.

In the end, this is another great 3D printer under $400 from Printrbot and if you’re looking for a starter machine, this one would definitely get you your foot in the door.

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M3D Micro

After becoming one of the most successful 3D printer Kickstarter campaigns, the M3D Micro became available later last year.

I first got a chance to see the Micro at Inside 3D Printing last October and I was a little surprised at how small it was. However, the Micro’s size doesn’t stop it from competing in the under $500 range.

In fact, the Micro utilized it’s size perhaps better than any other 3D printer on the market. Weighing barely over 2 lbs and having a ~7.3″ cubed frame, the Micro is still able to sport close to a 4.5″ cubed print volume.

**Although, the printer’s print volume shrinks a little bit above 2.9″. It has a base print area of 4.4″ x 4.3″ and above 2.9″ that shrinks to 3.6″ x 3.3″.

The smaller print volume may turn a lot of people away, but the incredibly small footprint and lightweight design is the perfect option for anyone who wants a nice little personal 3D printer that won’t take up a ton of space.

As far as print quality and reliability goes, it is one of the more reliable printers in the under $500 category. And, while some of the sub-$500 Prusa i3 kits will give you a bigger build volume and more expansion opportunities, the Micro offers an easier-to-use and Plug and Play option for anyone who doesn’t want the hassle of constantly tinkering with their machine.

Overall, given its price, the Micro is one of the better options in this price range. So, if you don’t mind sacrificing build volume for reliability and ease-of-use, the Micro is a solid option.

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XYZprinting da Vinci 1.0 Pro

The Pro version of the XYZprinting da Vinci 1.0 has nearly identical specifications to the regular da Vinci 1.0 with exception of a couple of added features.

The biggest difference between the pro version and the standard version is that in the Pro version, you have the ability to use a third-party filament. On the standard version, you have to use XYZprinting’s proprietary filament, which costs a little bit more than standard third-party filament.

So, one of the big draws of the Pro version is that you can save money on filament and, therefore, you can justify the extra cost of choosing the Pro version over the standard version.

In addition to the ability to use a third-party filament, the Pro version also comes with WiFi connectivity, auto filament loading, and an option to add-on a laser engraver.

Ultimately, if you will be using this machine enough to the point to where the savings on filament will add-up to the difference in the prices between the Pro and Standard version, then the Pro is the better bet. If not, then just stick with the cheaper Standard version.

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HICTOP Desktop

The HICTOP Desktop is currently my favorite 3D printer under $500. And, while it will turn some beginners off because it is in kit form, it has the specs, build-volume, and features of some of the $1,000-$2,000 printers on the market.

At just under $500 the HICTOP Desktop sports a slightly larger build volume than the less expensive HICTOP Prusa i3, but the Desktop version comes with a pretty important feature: auto bed-leveling.

Auto bed-leveling is a very convenient feature that will make getting your prints to come out correctly much easier.

Aside from that, the Desktop version can also print in specialty filaments like HIPS, Wood, Nylon, and flexible filaments.

Overall, with the auto bed-leveling feature, the huge build platform, and the ridiculously low price (for those features, anyways), the HICTOP Desktop is one of the best price-to-performance 3D printers on the market.

So, if you’re working with a budget and you don’t mind assembling your 3D printer (and tinkering with it to get it printing correctly) then I’d say go with the HICTOP Desktop.

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XYZprinting Da Vinci 1.0

With the Da Vinci 1.0, XYZprinting has brought a very budget-friendly 3D printer to the market. For right around $450 you get a capable 3D printer that has a very large print area relative to its price. (Although, not as big as the HICTOP Prusa i3.)

The da Vinci 1.0 also features an enclosed print area, printing resolutions as low as 0.1mm, and factory-ready calibration.

While it’s not as cheap as some of the DIY kits out there (mainly the Printrbot Simple and the HICTOP Prusa i3), the fact that it comes ready to go right out of the box makes it a good deal for those who don’t want to go through the hassle of assembling their DIY 3D printer kit.

The Da Vinci 1.0 comes in Blue or Grey, and was awarded a 2014 CES Editor’s Choice Award for being the Most Affordable 3D Printer.

Ultimately, the build volume and the enclosed print area make this one of the best budget 3D printers for sale.

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HICTOP Prusa i3

There’s quite a few affordable RepRap 3D printers on the market today and one of the newest to hit Amazon is the HICTOP Prusa i3 3D Printer.

Now, the HICTOP Prusa i3 isn’t the largest 3D printer around, but for well under $400 it makes the perfect entry-level 3D printer for anyone who is curious about the technology.

The HICTOP will let you print in both ABS and PLA and it even comes with a heated build platform, which is pretty amazing considering the price.

On top of that, you can use both 3.0mm filament, or 1.75mm filament, and the for the price, the build volume is very impressive.

In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find an almost 11″ x 8″ x 7″ build platform on even some of the $1,000 printers available.

Ultimately, while this isn’t the best-built 3D printer on the market, it’s affordable price-tag makes it the perfect entry-level machine for beginners.

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Alunar DIY Prusa i3

While the Printrbot Simple Maker’s kit is no longer available, that doesn’t mean that there is a lack of 3D printer kits available.

And, if you are working with a tight budget, one of the best ways to get a 3D printer that has some of the features you’d expect to find on a more expensive machine is to choose a Prusa i3 kit.

The Alunar DIY Prusa i3 is currently one of the most affordable 3D printers for sale. And, despite coming in well under $400, it boasts an ~8.3″ x 8.3″ x 8.3″ build volume along with a heated print bed (which means you can print in ABS.)

Those are both features you would expect to find on printers close to $1,000 (or more).

You will have to assemble the Prusa i3, but, in my opinion, assembling your first 3D printer is a good way to learn about how the machines work so that you have a better understanding of the technology.

Ultimately, the Alunar DIY Prusa i3 is a solid 3D printer kit. Although, for just a little more you can get the even bigger HICTOP Prusa i3…

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Geeetech Delta Mini G2s

The Geeetech Delta Rostock Mini G2s is another great sub-$500 option if you don’t mind assembling your 3D printer. One of the biggest features of the Delta Rostock Mini G2s kit is the fact that it has dual extruders.

Basically, that means that you can print in two different colors at the same time, which is pretty much unheard of in the sub-$500 price range.

That feature alone may be enough to sway you to purchase the unique Mini G2s, but along with the dual extruders, the printer also comes with a decent-sized build volume and a heated print bed that will allow you to print in ABS.

And, the Mini G2s can print in specialty filament as well, including Nylon and Wood filaments.

Ultimately, the Mini G2s provides a unique option in the sub-$500 range with the dual extruders. Like some of the other top printers in this price range it does come in a kit form, but that helps keep the price more affordable.

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XYZprinting da Vinci Jr.

Currently, the XYZprinting da Vinci Jr. is one of the most affordable 3D printers on the market. The Printrbot Simple Maker’s Kit used to hold this spot, but unfortunately it is no longer available.

However, while the da Vinci Jr. doesn’t come in kit form and, therefore, doesn’t give beginners the experience of putting together their 3D printer, it does offer a bigger build area than the Simple Maker’s Kit and it comes with an enclosed print area.

Like most other 3D printers available, it can hit resolutions as high as 100 microns. It doesn’t have a heated build platform and, therefore, ABS filament isn’t recommended.

Ultimately, though, the da Vinci Jr. is a decent entry-level printer for anyone who wants a new toy to play with, something they can teach their children about 3D printing on, or for anyone who just wants to see what 3D printing is all about.

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