To help you choose the best non-commercial 3D printer for yourself or your young innovator, we’ve compiled a list of top models that cater to various experience levels and budgets.
A dive into the world of 3D printing can be an amazing way to nurture your/your child’s creativity and problem-solving skills. With the right 3D printer, you/kids can bring their ideas to life, whether it’s creating custom toys/parts, designing prototypes, or working on school projects.
There are majorly two types of desktop/home 3D printers:
Careful handling and post-processing requirements make resin printers ill-suited for kids. So we’ve excluded resin printers and have compiled a list of top FDM models that cater to various experience levels and budgets.
The Toybox 3D Printer is designed specifically with kids in mind. It’s a fun and easy-to-use printer that allows children to print toys from a library of thousands of designs. The user-friendly interface makes it simple for kids to get started, and the printer is small and safe to use, making it perfect for young makers.
Toybox is one of the decent built-for-kids printers in the market and competes with the likes of X-Maker (my recommendation in the built-for kids category). However, unless you don’t have any time at all to spare for your kids, I recommend staying away from built-for-kids printers due to their limited functionality and less value for money.
The Bambu A1 Mini is an affordable yet feature-packed 3D printer ideal for kids and beginners. Its automatic bed leveling and easy setup make it perfect for those just getting started in 3D printing. Despite its compact size, it delivers high-quality prints and is an excellent introduction to 3D printing for older children.
At just $199, the printer offers great value for money and is easily the best printer in the budget colour printers category.
The Prusa Mini+ offers premium performance in a compact package. Known for its reliability, this 3D printer is easy to use and delivers excellent print quality. With features like automatic bed leveling and a magnetic print sheet, the Prusa Mini+ is a great choice for older kids and teens ready to tackle more advanced projects.
If you are not on a tight budget, this one is a great buy that punches way above its weight when it comes to price v/s features. Prusa Mini+ competes with BambuLab P1S in the $400-$600 range and emerges a winner. Both DIY and semi-assembled models are available. I recommend the semi-assembled model as the price difference is not too much.
The Creality Ender 3 V3 SE is an upgrade of the popular Ender 3 series, offering improved features such as automatic bed leveling, a quieter motherboard, and faster print speeds. It’s an excellent choice for older kids who want to dive deeper into 3D printing. The open-source community also provides plenty of support and upgrades for those eager to customize their printer.
If multi-colour printing is not a must-have feature for you, this printer beats Bambu A1 Mini in other features and is the best printer under $200.
The Bambulab P1S is a high-performance 3D printer that delivers speed and precision, making it perfect for teens interested in more complex designs. With an enclosed build chamber, it offers better temperature control, leading to higher quality prints. This printer is designed for advanced users who want to experiment with a wide variety of filaments and materials.
BambuLab P1S closely competes with Prusa Mini+ in the $400-$600 range. If you prefer a closed chamber printer, you can go for this one above Prusa Mini+ (my recommendation).
The AnkerMake M5C is a sleek, high-quality 3D printer that offers great performance at a competitive price. It comes equipped with features like auto-bed leveling and fast printing speeds, making it a great option for teens and families looking for a reliable machine. Its minimalist design also makes it an attractive addition to any home.
If you are looking for a fast printer from a reliable brand within a constrained budget, AnkerMake M5C can be a great choice.
The Prusa MK4S is a top-tier 3D printer that offers outstanding print quality and reliability. It’s equipped with advanced features such as a direct drive extruder, automatic bed leveling, and a robust construction. This printer is ideal for serious young makers and teens who want to create high-precision projects.
Prusa MK4S counts among the best home-use 3D printers in the market (actually competing with entry-range commercial printers), and will be a good buy if budget is not a constraint. The printer is available in both DIY and assembled versions. As the assembled one costs a lot ($300) more, I recommend buying the DIY version.
The Flashforge Adventurer 5M 3D Printer is a user-friendly machine with a fully enclosed design, making it safe for kids. It also features a built-in camera for remote monitoring and supports cloud printing. This printer is perfect for families looking for an easy-to-use, reliable option with a range of features for both beginners and more experienced users.
The printer’s catchy features (built-in camera, cloud printing, decent printing speed) have made this printer a bestselling product on Amazon, but recent reviews suggest that the printer is not durable and might be a risky buy.
The Creality Ender 3 is a solid budget-friendly option that delivers impressive print quality for its price. It’s a favorite among hobbyists due to its large online community, which provides a wealth of resources and mods. While it requires some assembly, it’s a great choice for older kids and teens who enjoy hands-on building and customization.
This printer is an old model and available for a bargain. If you are buying a 3D printer just to meet the demand of your kid knowing that she/he will play with it for a few days and forget it, you can consider this one available for just $169.
The Creality Ender 3 V3 Plus 3D Printer (2024 New Version) builds upon the success of the previous Ender models with enhanced features like faster print speeds, improved stability, and a more intuitive interface. This model is perfect for older kids and teens who want to take their 3D printing skills to the next level with a reliable and powerful machine.
If you are looking for a fast and reliable printer that doesn’t break the bank, this one can be right for you.
The AOSEED X-Maker is a fantastic choice for young kids and beginners. It comes with an enclosed design for safety, a simple interface, and uses child-friendly materials. This printer is an excellent introduction to 3D printing, with preloaded models and easy-to-use software that helps kids start creating right away.
If safety and no supervision requirement are your priorities, X-Maker can be a great bet. An 8-9 year old will be able to operate it pretty independently. However, unless you don’t have any time at all to spare for your kids, I recommend staying away from built-for-kids printers due to their limited functionality and less value for money.
The Elegoo Neptune 4 Pro is a versatile 3D printer that offers excellent print quality and features like a dual-gear extruder, automatic bed leveling, and a large build volume. It’s perfect for kids and teens looking for a printer that can handle more complex designs and larger projects.
Priced $50 higher than A1 Mini and Ender 3 V3 SE, Neptune 4 Pro is another good affordable option with some features that its cheaper-priced competitors don’t have.
With a wide range of 3D printers available, there’s something for every young maker, whether they are just starting or looking to tackle more advanced projects. From the kid-friendly Toybox 3D Printer to the high-performance Prusa MK4S, each model offers unique features that cater to different needs and skill levels. Below’s also a summary comparison table that will help you choose quickly.
Happy shopping, happy printing!
Winners | Printer Name | Price Range | Features | Best For | Buy Here | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Toybox 3D Printer | $ | Kid-friendly interface, compact design, preloaded with toy designs | Young beginners; no assembly required; minimal supervision | Buy from Amazon @ $299 (LOWEST PRICE) | ||
Best Budget Multi-colour printer | Bambu A1 Mini | $ | Compact design, automatic bed leveling, beginner-friendly | Kids and beginners; minimal assembly; occasional supervision | Buy EXCLUSIVELY from official BambuLab Store @$199 | Buy Combo EXCLUSIVELY from official BambuLab Store @$349 |
Best Value for Money Printer in $400+ Range | Prusa Mini+ | $$$ | Compact design, automatic bed leveling, magnetic print sheet | Teens and intermediate users; requires some assembly; moderate support | Buy from official Prusa Store @ ~$515 (LOWEST PRICE; prices slightly vary by location) | Buy from Amazon @ $599 |
Best Budget Printer Overall | Creality Ender 3 V3 SE | $$ | Automatic bed leveling, quieter operation, faster prints | Tweens and teens; requires assembly; some supervision needed | Buy from official Creality Store @ ~$199 (LOWEST PRICE; prices slightly vary by location) | Buy from Amazon @ $219 |
Bambulab P1S | $$$ | Enclosed build chamber, high speed, multi-material compatibility | Advanced teens and serious makers; no assembly; minimal supervision | Buy EXCLUSIVELY from official BambuLab Store @$599 | Buy Combo EXCLUSIVELY from official BambuLab Store @$849 | |
AnkerMake M5C | $$ | Fast printing, auto-bed leveling, sleek design | Families and older kids; minimal assembly; light supervision | Buy from Amazon @ $200 (LOWEST PRICE) | Buy from official AnkerMake Store @ ~$217 | |
Best Premium Printer | Prusa MK4S | $$$$ | Direct drive extruder, high precision, robust construction | Teens and serious makers; requires assembly; some support recommended | Buy EXCLUSIVELY from official Prusa Store @ ~$849 (Prices vary slightly by location) | |
# 1 Amazon Bestseller | Flashforge Adventurer 5M 3D Printer | $$ | Enclosed design, built-in camera, cloud printing | Families and kids of all ages; no assembly; low supervision needed | Buy from Amazon @ $299 (LOWEST PRICE) | |
Cheapest | Creality Ender 3 3D Printer | $ | Affordable, large online community, customizable | Budget-conscious teens; requires full assembly; support recommended | Buy from Amazon @ $169 (LOWEST PRICE) | |
Fastest Speed | Creality Ender 3 V3 Plus 3D Printer, 2024 New Version | $$ | Improved speed, stability, and interface | Intermediate users and teens; requires assembly; light supervision | Buy from Amazon @ $439 (LOWEST PRICE) | |
Best Kids-only Printer | AOSEED X-Maker 3D Printer for Kids and Beginners | $ | Enclosed design, simple interface, preloaded models | Young beginners and families; no assembly; minimal supervision | Buy from Amazon @ $364 (LOWEST PRICE, 8 PLA filament set included) | |
Elegoo Neptune 4 Pro | $$ | Dual-gear extruder, large build volume, auto-bed leveling | Advanced users and teens; requires some assembly; moderate supervision | Buy from official Elgoo Store @ $220 (LOWEST PRICE) | Buy from Amazon @ $285 |