The short answerMost beginners should buy a filament printer with automatic bed leveling and a build area around 220 x 220 x 250 mm. An open-frame one runs $180 to $300. Pay $300 to $700 for an enclosed one if it'll sit near kids, pets or a drafty window.
What to buy
First printer, tight budget
Open-frame filament printer, auto bed leveling, about 220 x 220 x 250 mm
Prints PLA, the beginner plastic, all day long. The open frame leaves moving parts and a hot nozzle within reach, and drafts can warp bigger prints.
$180 to $300
See options on Amazon →Small desk
Compact filament printer, about 180 x 180 x 180 mm
Fits on a bookshelf and prints toys, hooks and small fixes. You'll hit the size limit fast, so helmets and big vases are out.
$180 to $250
See options on Amazon →Most homes
Enclosed filament printer, auto bed leveling, about 250 x 250 x 250 mm
The box keeps heat in, noise down and small hands out. It costs more, and with PLA you may need to open the door or lid so it doesn't run too warm.
$300 to $700
See options on Amazon →Miniatures and fine detail
Resin printer plus a wash and cure station
Resin shows tiny detail that filament can't match, which is why tabletop gamers love it. It's messy and smelly, and the liquid needs gloves, ventilation and cleanup every time.
$250 to $500
See options on Amazon →Links go to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Many public libraries and makerspaces will print your file for about the cost of the plastic. If you want one part, like a replacement knob, do that and skip the printer.
What the numbers mean
- Filament (FDM) vs resin
- A filament printer melts plastic string from a spool and draws your part in layers. A resin printer hardens liquid with UV light. Start with filament unless tiny detail is the whole point.
- Auto bed leveling
- The printer measures its own bed and adjusts so the first layer sticks. Get it. Leveling by hand with knobs and a sheet of paper is where a lot of beginners quit.
- Build volume
- The biggest thing it can print, as width x depth x height. About 220 x 220 x 250 mm covers most household prints. Bigger parts can be printed in pieces and glued.
- Enclosure
- Walls and a door around the printer. You need one for ABS and ASA, plastics that warp in drafts and give off stronger fumes. PLA and PETG print fine in the open.
- Print speed
- Listings shout 500 mm/s or more. That's a top speed on long straight runs, and real prints go slower. Treat it as a rough guide.
What not to pay for
- A giant build volume on your first printer
A bed of 300 mm or more takes longer to heat, needs more desk and costs more. Most first-year prints fit in 220 mm.
- Resin in a bedroom
Resin needs a ventilated spot away from where you sleep and eat. If you don't have that spot, go filament.
- A dozen rolls of fancy filament
Start with 1 or 2 spools of plain PLA at $15 to $25 per 1 kg. Learn on that before you try silk, wood-fill or flexible.
The nozzle runs around 200 C and the bed can burn you, so keep fingers and kids clear while it runs. Print in a room with fresh air and a working smoke alarm. With resin, wear nitrile gloves and eye protection, ventilate, wash and UV-cure every print, and never pour liquid resin down a drain.
Questions
Is a 3D printer hard to learn?
Printing got a lot friendlier once auto leveling became standard. Expect a few failed prints in week 1. Designing your own parts is the bigger skill, and you can download free models while you learn.
What does it cost to run?
A 1 kg spool of PLA costs $15 to $25 and lasts through dozens of small prints. Electricity adds only a little. Budget a few dollars now and then for a replacement nozzle.
Do I need an enclosed printer?
For PLA and PETG, no. You need one for ABS and ASA, and it's worth having around curious kids or pets. You can also add a tent-style enclosure later for about $50 to $80.
Written by the DIY Project team. We recommend by type and spec, cheapest option that does the job first. How we check
Updated October 3, 2026. Prices are estimates.