The best hobby 3D printer will enable you to create your own, tools, jigs, models, crafts, miniatures and more.
To help you choose I've extensively tested, reviewed, and rated the best 3D printers overall – but as with any focused group, there's a type of 3D printer that is specially suited to hobbyists and that's a machine that is a little more flexible than most. That flexibility is especially relevant if you're using a printer for modelling and crafting, where a combination of precision and material choice is essential.
Overall, I recommend the Creality K1C as the best 3D printer for hobbies, as it offers a superb balance of print quality, versatility, and speed. This printer never fails to impress with its fully enclosed design and exceptional quality prints – it's also available for a very affordable price, which always appeals. If you're hobby is jewerly or miniatures however, while this printer is a good all round choice, I would recommend a resin model such as the Creality HALOT-MAGE S 14K. Check out the reviews of both below, alongside my recommended round-up for anyone looking for a 3D printer for hobbies.
The quick list
Best hobby 3D printer overall
The enclosed design, large build platform, and ability to print with a huge range of materials make this an extremely versatile option.
Best hobby 3D printer for cosplay
The evolution of the K1 range has resulted in the K2 Plus, a huge multi-filament printer that offers one of the largest print platforms available at this price. Great for cosplay and other large-scale projects.
Best hobby 3D printer for enthusiasts
The latest iteration of the iconic machine is still hard to beat especially when it comes to speed and accuracy. Still open-source, this is the one for 3D printer hobbyists.
Best hobby 3D printer for precision
The best of a new wave of multi-filament machines, Anycubic has designed a solid, no-fuss machine with superb speed and accuracy.
Best 3-in-1 hobby 3D printer
This huge machine can 3D print with dual filaments and has a quick-swap tool head and bed that enable it to laser and CNC, making it the most flexible hobbyist 3D printer on the market.
Best hobby 3D printer for materials
This printer helped to disrupt the 3D printing industry by bringing high-end features to an affordable machine. It's known for its speed, accuracy, and ability to print with multiple materials.
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Best hobby 3D printer for home DIY
Able to print with a wide variety of materials and featuring a large print platform, the potential with this machine is huge. What's more, there's the option to add a multi-filament accessory if needed.
Best hobby 3D printer for fine-detail
Superb workflow and solid performance make this a great option for any hobby that involves modelling. The resin auto-fill system also goes partway to making this a cleaner resin printer.
Best hobby 3D printer for crafting
High-detailed prints, solid build quality, and ease of use make this a great option for jewellers or anyone wanting to print fine detail.
Best hobby 3D printer for large-scale models
A large print platform and easy workflow make the GKTwo a great option for artists wanting to express themselves in 3D. The high detail will also appeal to anyone looking for precision for their hobby.
Best hobby 3D printer overall
The Creality K1C has consistently impressed me throughout the tests, and while it may not offer the multi-filament printing seen in the latest crop of printers, when it comes to speed and reliability, it’s just hard to beat.
The K1C marked a turning point in the industry being one of the first fully enclosed Core XY machines that was accessible to all. While other machines are available at this price, which on the surface at least, appeared to match its specifications and performance, long-term testing has shown time and again that the K1C has set the benchmark from what we now expect from 3D printers alongside the BambuLab X1 and Original Prusa MK4S.
The K1C ultimately wins out due to its price over the competition, and when it comes to hobbies, it will suit a wide range of users as well as uses. For general modelling, the high precision and speed make it a great option for standard PLA, which can be worked with and painted. Meanwhile, for more advanced hobbyists, the ability to print with carbon fibre-filled filaments, nylon, and other materials means you can 3D print strong and workable parts.
Above all, as Creality is one of the leaders in the 3D printing industry, the design and integration of its software are exceptionally well thought out, making it easy to use as a single printer in the workshop or as part of a larger print farm.
Ideal hobbies here include, RC modelling, modelling, and product design where material strength is a key feature.
Read our full Creality K1C review
Best hobby 3D printer for cosplay
The K1 series impressed as general-use machines when they first arrived, but now the K2 Plus has landed, marking the start of a new wave of high-performance multi-filament machines. As the flagship of the new range, it’s the first to arrive, and we couldn’t help but be impressed by the scale, ease of use, and quality of the prints.
Following the fully enclosed multi-filament box design that we’ve seen from the likes of Bambu Lab and Anycubic, the K2 Plus features a build area that we’re more accustomed to seeing with open-frame machines. This build area is coupled with all the latest features, including a heated chamber that enables more accurate and reliable printing with many of the newer, more advanced materials.
Like the K1C, the print quality and range of compatibility are exceptional, but for hobbyists, it’s the absolute ease of use and cost that make this such a great choice. So, if you’re looking at creating cosplay costumes or props, the larger build area offered by the K2 Plus will make it an excellent option.
Creality K2 Plus is a great choice for cosplay and other large-scale projects due to the huge print platform and multi-filament compatibility.
Best hobby 3D printer for enthusiasts
The Original PRUSA MK4S and its predecessors have long been the go-to for 3D printing enthusiasts. If your hobby is 3D printing, then this printer is a must, and when it comes to speed and quality, it still can't be beaten for absolute versatility. It’s also the only machine out there that is still 100% available in the open-source community, so while the machine you buy is one of the best available, there are enough users out there producing upgrades for the machine that you’ll never get bored modifying it.
However, if you want to use the machine for something other than 3D printing parts for 3D printing, this machine enables some of the highest precision prints out there. With its advanced cooling system and high-temperature hot end, it offers a huge range of material options. It’s also completely future-proof, so once you invest in one PRUSA machine, you know you’ll be able to upgrade to the next generation for a small fee.
While the base machine is single filament and of an open-frame design, the MMU3 is available for multi-filament printing, as well as an enclosure. Alternatively, you can upgrade to the new enclosed Prusa Core One using the upgrade kit. This is the only 3D printer that is a hobby in itself.
In my opinion, the Original PRUSA MK4S is an ideal choice for those who just love 3D printing - this machine was the start of many 3D print enthusiasts journeys.
Read our full Original PRUSA MK4S review
Best hobby 3D printer for precision
The Anycubic S1 is one of the leaders of the latest range of 3D printers. Like the K2 Plus, Original Prusa Core One, and many other recent releases, it features multi-filament printing with up to 8 colours—4 in the standard package, with the option to increase as your budget allows. It also features a fully enclosed design, a slick touchscreen interface, and everything you’ll need to get started.
While on the surface and during operation the machine is matched by the competition when it comes to speed and usability, during the review process I found that the quality of the prints was exceptional. It's the first machine that, on print quality alone, holds its own against the Original PRUSA MK4S and the exceptional and affordable AnkerMake M5S.
The quality of prints from this machine and its relatively compact footprint make it a great all-round choice, capable of printing in a variety of materials with a precision that is hard to match. If you’re looking for a 3D printer to complement any hobby where high accuracy is required and you don’t want the mess of resin, the Anycubic S1 is a great option.
This model is an ideal choice for general crafting and modelling where multi-filament printing and precision is key.
My full review is coming soon
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Best 3-in-1 hobby 3D printer
The Snapmaker Artisan is the most flexible machine on the market, with the ability to 3D print, CNC, and laser engrave. Whilst it offers unparalleled flexibility in terms of materials and the type of machine it is, it also requires a significant amount of space.
When it comes to the 3D printing feature, the machine utilises Snapmaker's superb Luban software, which works through a browser-based interface. It’s one of the most intuitive machines to use, and while it’s limited to dual filament printing rather than the now more common quad filament, it can still hold its own when it comes to precision, if not speed.
Print quality is excellent, and the large build area enables hobbyists to print at scale. What’s more, if you want to engrave or cut woods, plastics, and other materials, a quick swap of the build platform and modular tool head allows you to easily adapt the machine to your needs. Since I originally reviewed the machine an upgraded 20W laser module has been released which makes a huge difference to the power and versatility of the machine. For modellers, product designers, and inventors, the Artisan has to be the model of choice.
The Snapmaker Artisan is a good choice for all workshop hobbies, so if you into RC, working on the car or any hobby that requires the 3-in-1 functionality that offers 3D print, Laser and CNC.
Read our full Snapmaker Artisan review
Best hobby 3D printer for materials
This is the printer that has essentially disrupted the 3D printing industry and set the bar for all other 3D printer manufacturers to aim at. You do have to dig a little deeper into your pockets to afford this one, but for ease of use, reliability, speed, and quality, this is the printer dominating the hobbyist scene at the moment.
What makes this machine the one to beat is its absolute ease of use, with the AMS system housing all filaments neatly in a box that sits on top of the machine. This means that once the filament has been threaded into the AMS, you don’t have to worry about it. If a filament runs out, all you need to do is pop in another. While at the time I reviewed this machine, this feature was unique the likes of the Anycubic S1 and Creality K2 Plus now also feature multi-filament systems that match this ease of use.
Other ease-of-use features, such as the touchscreen, software, and range of usability functions, make this a solid choice if you’re looking for a good mix of the best of everything and don’t want to deal with unnecessary hassle.
A good choice for RC modelling, modelling, product design alongside the ability to utilised multi-filament prints, this just takes the bar up a level from the Creatlity K1C, but does come at an additional cost.
Read our full Bambu Lab X1 Carbon review
Best Hobby 3D printer for home DIY
QIDI are one of the lesser-known 3D printer manufacturers, but recently their machines have taken a huge leap forward in terms of print quality and speed. The design also follows the recent trend for fully enclosed systems, making them suitable for both workshops and schools or educational environments.
While the interface is a little slower than most, if you’re willing to overlook this, the machine itself is absolutely superb, consistently producing solid prints. The scale of the print platform, combined with the design and solid construction, makes this an ideal option for any home DIY hobbyist, with a decent range of features perfectly suited to creating brackets, jigs, and tools for use around the workshop and office.
Another appealing feature of the QIDI Plus4 is the option for QIDI Box, essentially a multi-filament accessory.
Top hobbies for this unit include home DIY, where the precision and speed enable you to build things big quickly.
Read our full QIDI Plus4 review
Best hobby 3D printer for fine-detail
One of the best next-generation resin printers available, the M7 Pro is ideal for any hobbyist looking for a printer capable of producing highly detailed models. The M7 Pro packs in a range of features that make the process of resin printing significantly easier, with a mid-range print platform size and a user-friendly interface.
What really stands out about the M7 Pro is the autofill capability, which uses a simple tube system to extract resin from the bottle and replace it in the resin tank as needed. This helps to avoid resin spills and makes the entire clean-up process much easier and quicker, allowing you to spend more time focusing on the hobby this resin printer is designed to complement.
The Anycubic Mono Photon M7 Pro is an ideal choice for miniatures where fine detail is essential. Likewise, for jewellery and other small to mid-sized 3D modelling, the M7 Pro is an excellent choice.
Read our full AnyCubic Mono Photon M7 Pro review
Best hobby 3D printer for crafting
The Creality HALOT-MAGE S 14K is one of the highest-resolution printers available, and while it strips back some features compared with the cheaper 8K model in the range, when it comes to absolute precision and detail, this machine is hard to beat.
Throughout the testing process, the reliability and detail of the printer continually impressed, with good compatibility across a range of materials.
For jewellers, modellers, and those looking to print the highest-quality miniatures, this printer, with its 14K resolution, is an excellent choice.
What also sets this machine apart is that it’s part of the Creality family. If you’re already using one of Creality’s printers, this will feel very familiar. The Creality Cloud ecosystem provides a unique and easy-to-use workspace that can be shared among printers, making it an ideal option for workshop use.
This unit is ideal for miniatures and general crafting, particularly jewelry where delicate and fine detail is required.
Read our full Creality HALOT-MAGE S 14K review
Best hobby 3D printer for large models
The GKTwo has a huge online following and is a firm favourite with those printing large scale models and figuers. The build area of 228 x 128 x 245 is large enough to fascilite highly detailed larger prints and is also an ideal choice for multipart models that on other printers can take long lengths of time to print and clean.
While this printer doesn't feature the auto fill option of the larger GK3 it does pack in plenty of additional features including a heated chamber that ensures that whereever the printer is located the resin will be at the optimum temperature for accurate prints. The GKTwo's quality is also perfectly suited to a wide range of hobists who are looking for a printer that will facilitate detail such as jewelers, modellers and crafters.
The hobbys that the GKTwois an ideal choice for a wide range of hobbyists, including jewellers, modellers, and crafters, who are looking for a printer that delivers exceptional detail and on a large scale.
Read our full Uniformation GKTwo review
Best hobby 3D printers: FAQs
Which 3D printers are suitable for hobbies and hobbyists?
There are plenty of 3D printers to choose from, which means there's a model to fit every budget and need. As hobbies can cover a huge range of activities, in this selection I've focused on printers that offer the greatest flexibility in terms of use, while also considering the workflow and how easy it is to transform your hobbying ideas into reality.
Since hobbies can take many forms, including 3D printing itself, I've tried to highlight the types of hobby areas each printer is best suited to. So whether it's models, RC, cosplay, jewellery, crafting, or just 3D printing, you'll find some great options here. Of course, for 3D printing enthusiasts, it has to be the Original PRUSA MK4S!
What kind of 3D printing materials should I use for my hobby?
The materials you choose will really come down to the hobby you’re doing. For RC, as an example, you’ll want something with a bit of strength, such as ABS. For DIY, you may prefer a weatherproof material, such as ASA. For general use and prototyping ideas, something like PLA is a great option.
However, if you’re looking for fine detail, one of the resin printers will give you far better results with intricate designs. A high-resolution resin would be an excellent choice for jewellery and craft.
How to choose the best hobby 3D printer for you
Since hobbies can range in subject, so too will the type of 3D printer that you use and the materials that you select. Filament and resin printers are the most common options and the two technologies that I've covered in this buyer's guide. Most other 3D print technologies are designed for industry, although inevitably those technologies will filter down over time.
While I can't cover every hobby out there and assign it its best 3D printer, I can hopefully give you a little guidance as to what type of printer will suit a certain hobby, and hopefully, there will be an example that you'll spot and be able to adapt to your own interests.
I'll start with a generic view, and then we can focus on some specific subject areas, looking first at the two technologies available.
Resin should be thought of as the choice for fine detailed work, such as miniatures, tabletop gaming and jewellery. Any hobby that requires fine detail is ideally suited to resin printers. While resin printers are exceptional, they also take a lot more work to use than a filament printer, with all prints needing to be cleaned and cured. So, alongside the printer, you'll also need a wash and cure machine.
Once you become familiar with resin 3D printers, the possibilities are endless, and many professional jewellers now use resin printers to test designs before they start to make.
Filament printers are more commonplace and far less messy, making them more suitable for most environments. As with resin printers, there's a huge variety of materials available, from PLA, which is the most commonly used filament, through to carbon fill, nylon, flexi, and even filaments that glow in the dark. Each material has its specific properties, and there are new options being made available all the time. For most hobbies around the house, such as tabletop gaming or crafting, a simple PLA is the perfect option. This filament is easy to use and can be glued and painted as needed. The printers that I have selected in this guide all produce excellent results with PLA, with nice smooth walls to give the items you produce a professional finish. PLA is also available in fills, meaning that they can have metals, wood or carbon fibre added to change the appearance of the material to look like the fill. With wood fill, for example, once printed, you can sand and work with it in much the same way as wood, wall thickness and infill allowing.
The key feature you should be looking for when selecting a printer and material is a model that suits your needs and fits your budget. In this guide, I have given you a good range of printers that should appeal to a wide range of hobbyists.
How we test the best hobby 3D printers
We've tested, reviewed, and rated a whole range of printing tools, tech, and services, from the best printers for home and office to the best business card printing services. Whether we're evaluating and comparing the best all-in-one printers or 3D printing equipment, we apply the same rigorous testing process to every model so you can make an informed choice.
Our testing of hobby 3D printers use a collection of bespoke benchmarks that help show the strengths and weaknesses of each model that, after time, can be compared against other products. These will differ depending on printer type, but a filament printer will be tested for stringing, bridging, and speed, as well as additional commentary on detail, achieved, and noise levels.
This will be done fairly, with dues given to different materials and printer types, with resin printers being subject to smaller, more detailed models to replace the stringing test. Design, price, and performance will also be explored as sections within the reviews.
In our 3D print workshop, every 3D printer undergoes a comprehensive testing process, regardless of whether it's budget-friendly or eye-wateringly expensive. Our testing procedures are designed to put these printers through rigorous evaluations to ensure we identify the best options available for you.
The testing journey begins with the initial build, set-up and calibration, assessing the ease of the process. While some printers can be up and running within minutes, others may require far more time and effort.
Next, we examine the first layer print quality, dimensional accuracy, bridging, overhangs, stringing, layer adhesion, and surface finish. Speed is another important factor, as we analyse the time it takes the printer to produce a model without compromising print quality. Noise levels are also a consideration; some printers are far from quiet, especially when the speed picks up - OK for short prints but incredibly annoying if a print duration is hours or days long.
Our comprehensive testing includes thoroughly examining features, such as connectivity options, user interface intuitiveness, software compatibility, and any additional functionalities offered. We explore material compatibility, testing the printer with various filaments or resins to assess versatility.
Finally, we consider the price of the printer's overall performance and features, ensuring it aligns with our expectations. We carefully evaluate the intended market for the printer, considering specific user needs and suitability for various applications. Additionally, we analyse the design and aesthetics, recognising the importance of a well-designed and visually appealing product.
By subjecting each printer to these tests and assessments, we can confidently provide you with an informed recommendation as to which is the best 3D printer.
All our tests are conducted from the perspective of the printers target market where possible, so expect to see a lot of tabletop miniatures and figurines alongside the usual 'benches' (test models that are also dubbed as 'torture tests' to see where a printer needs to be better optimized for future prints).
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