It’s a big misconception that it is expensive to start with 3D printing. When you have a tight budget, a cheap 3D printer can be a great starting point.

Cheap 3D Printers

This list consists of five cheap 3D printers available online for a price below $250 USD. Each 3D printer has one button that leads to our 3D printer price product details page and one that goes straight to the store that offers the best price.

We constantly update this list, so you can always check back to find out what the best cheap 3D printers are.

Heads up: our content may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of those links, you won’t pay a penny more, but we’ll get a small commission. Read more here

Anycubic Photon UV Technology:LCD

Print size metric:115 x 65 x 155 mm

Print size imperial:4.52 x 2.56 x 6.1 inches

Printable materials:Photopolymer resins $ 289.99 $ 189.99 As of September 19, 2020 12:07 am on Amazon.com Buy Now

Comgrow Creality Ender 3 Technology:FFF / FDM

Print size metric:220 x 220 x 250 mm

Print size imperial:8.7 x 8.7 x 9.8 inches

Printable materials:PLA, PETG $ 206.99 As of September 19, 2020 12:07 am on Amazon.com Buy Now

What to look for when you buy a cheap 3D printer?

This is what you should look for when you buy a cheap 3D printer:

3D printer type Parts list Customer service

3D Printer Types

Within the spectrum of cheap 3D printers you can choose between desktop resin or desktop filament 3D printers. There are simply no other 3D printer types available below $250.

Within the scope of filament deposition 3d printers there are different kinds of mechanical arrangements. Cartesian-XY-Head, Cartesian-XZ-Head, Delta, Core XY are all different types of 3D printers and they all have their pro’s and con’s. What is interesting, is that within the Cartesian 3D printers there are two categories: the Prusa Mendels and the Ultimakers. A Prusa moves the bed over the y-axis and an Ultimaker moves the bed over the z-axis. Most experts agree that the Ultimaker types can achieve higher print speeds and a higher accuracy. A Prusa type machine which moves the bed over the y-axis can handle more weight, is mechanically simpler and is easier to maintain. Both Delta and Core XY are known for their hight print speeds. Core XY uses a belt-driven system and can be difficult to calibrate. Delta printers almost always have a fully automatic bed leveling system which makes printing easier.

What parts are used?

3D printers have quite a few moving parts and can shake a lot while printing, especially at higher print speeds. Therefore you need a little weight to keep your machine into place and not find it vibrating itself off the table and onto the floor.

You must also be cognisant of a flimsy frame as this could lead to distorted and skewed prints. For this reason we prefer solid heavy frames made of wood or aluminum. With that in mind some cheap 3D printers will use a metal frame but is so thin that it really provide nothing in terms of rigidity. A good metal frame that is considered tough will range from 3.0mm to 6.5mm in thickness.

Customer Service

So this brings us to the last point, customer service. Support comes in many shapes and forms. Does the company deliver one-on-one customer support with a helpdesk employee via mail or phone? Do they have a forum, a Google or Facebook group where the community helps out each other? All of these can be very helpful tools in the event you get stuck on something whether it be the 3D printer or the print outcome itself. In addition this can also be a great way to get involved in the community and some day you may be helping someone else with a problem you overcame.

All in all we recommend first consulting customer reviews. Hands on usage from the public and real users is the best way to cut through all the marketing hype and it is the best way to gauge the quality and function of a product before committing your money.

Did we forget a 3D printer that we should really add to this list? Let us know in the comments below or contact us.