Best 3D Printers Under $300 (2026)

How we chose

This is a strict price list: every pick has a verified price under $300 on the maker's official US store at the time of writing (October 2026). We then ranked them by features per dollar, using things you can check in published specs: automatic leveling and calibration, Wi-Fi or network printing, build volume, hotend temperature, rated speed and acceleration, sensors and cameras, and for resin printers, LCD resolution. A printer that includes more of these for less money ranks higher.

We also flag regular prices, because several picks are under $300 only on sale. Rankings are based on manufacturer specs and official prices, not lab tests. See About Us for how we work. If you would rather pick by what you want to print, our budget 3D printer guide groups options by use case and total cost.

The picks

1. Bambu Lab A1: best 3D printer under $300

The A1 packs the most features into this price. You get a 256 x 256 x 256 mm build volume, a 300°C hotend, a 100°C bed, 500 mm/s and 10,000 mm/s² motion ratings, Wi-Fi, a timelapse camera, run-out and tangle sensors, and power loss recovery. Bambu says it automatically calibrates Z-offset, bed leveling, vibration and nozzle pressure before every print, and the US store lists noise as low as 49 dB.

It also supports one AMS Lite for 4-color printing, an add-on that only the A1 and A1 mini offer among the FDM picks here.

Limits: it is open-frame, and Bambu lists ABS, ASA, PC and PA as not recommended. The stock stainless steel nozzle needs a hardened steel swap for abrasive filaments, and as a bed slinger it needs clearance front to back.

Price at the time of writing (October 2026): $259 on sale, regular $299, so it fits under $300 either way. See the Bambu Lab A1 page.

2. Elegoo Neptune 4 Pro: best under $300 for Klipper speed

The Neptune 4 Pro gives you Klipper firmware with input shaping and pressure advance, a 300°C hotend with a dual-gear direct extruder, 121-point automatic mesh leveling and a 225 x 225 x 265 mm build volume. Elegoo rates it up to 500 mm/s, with 250 mm/s recommended. The segmented heated bed can heat just a 120 x 120 mm center zone for small parts.

That spec sheet for $239 makes it the lowest cost per feature among the full-size FDM picks. Tom's Hardware's review praised its part-cooling fans on overhangs.

Tradeoffs: the same review noted leveling wheels that may need readjusting after moving the printer and a very loud high-speed fan mode. Elegoo lists USB and LAN file transfer, not Wi-Fi. Elegoo's global product page lists 20,000 mm/s² acceleration and a 110°C bed.

Price at the time of writing (October 2026): $239 on Elegoo's US store, regular $274, under $300 either way. See the Elegoo Neptune 4 Pro page.

3. Flashforge Adventurer 5M: best under $300 for network printing

Flashforge lists 600 mm/s maximum travel speed and 20,000 mm/s² acceleration for the Adventurer 5M. It adds automatic leveling, a flexible PEI steel plate, Wi-Fi plus Ethernet and USB, quick-detach nozzles from 0.25 mm to 0.8 mm, run-out detection and power-loss recovery.

Wired Ethernet is useful for classrooms and offices. The quick-swap nozzles let you trade detail for speed without rebuilding the hotend.

It ranks below the Neptune 4 Pro because the 220 x 220 x 220 mm volume is smaller, the hotend tops out at 280°C, and Flashforge states ABS-series filaments are not compatible. There is no camera and no multicolor option; Flashforge sells the AD5X for multicolor instead.

Price at the time of writing (October 2026): $249 on sale at Flashforge's US store. The regular price is $399, so it fits under $300 only while the sale lasts. See the Flashforge Adventurer 5M page.

4. Bambu Lab A1 mini: best compact printer under $300

The A1 mini brings Bambu's Wi-Fi workflow, automatic bed leveling, 500 mm/s and 10,000 mm/s² ratings, a 300°C hotend and a full sensor set (run-out, tangle, odometry and power loss recovery) to a 347 x 315 x 365 mm frame. For small desks and classrooms, that is a lot of automation for the money.

It ranks fourth because the 180 x 180 x 180 mm build volume is the smallest of the FDM picks and the bed tops out at 80°C. Bambu lists ABS, ASA, PC and PA as not recommended, and the 2.4-inch screen is small.

The A1 mini Combo with an AMS Lite for 4 colors is $299 (regular $329), the only multicolor setup under $300 among the printers we track, and only on sale.

Price at the time of writing (October 2026): $199 for the printer alone, regular $219. See the Bambu Lab A1 mini page or A1 vs A1 mini.

5. Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra: best resin printer under $300

The Mars 5 Ultra has a 7-inch 9K mono LCD (8520 x 4320) with 18 µm XY detail, automatic leveling, a built-in AI camera for remote monitoring, and a tilt release described in Tom's Hardware's review. Elegoo rates it at up to 150 mm/h. For miniatures and fine detail, that is the strongest resin spec sheet under $300.

It ranks here because resin printers need more to run: resin, gloves, isopropyl alcohol, a wash container and UV curing. Elegoo sells a complete bundle with a Mercury XS wash and cure station. The 7-inch plate also limits how many models fit per run, and the LCD and release film are wear parts. Elegoo sells a replacement Mars 5 Ultra screen directly.

Price at the time of writing (October 2026): $284 on Elegoo's US store. The regular price is $338, so it is under $300 only on sale. See the Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra page and our Mars 5 Ultra vs Saturn 4 Ultra comparison.

6. Creality Ender-3 V3 SE: cheapest FDM printer under $300

The Ender-3 V3 SE has CR Touch auto leveling with a strain sensor for Z-offset, a Sprite direct extruder for PLA, PETG and TPU, and a 220 x 220 x 250 mm build volume. Creality lists accuracy of plus or minus 0.1 mm.

It is the lowest price on this page, but it ranks sixth on features per dollar. It is rated at 250 mm/s and 2,500 mm/s², has a 260°C hotend limit, no Wi-Fi (SD card only), a basic knob screen and no camera. At $259, the A1 adds Wi-Fi, a camera, a larger volume and faster motion. The simple Cartesian layout is easy to understand and repair, which suits buyers who want to learn how a printer works. It is also the only FDM pick here that stays under $200 at its regular price.

Price at the time of writing (October 2026): $179 on Creality's US store, regular $199. See the Creality Ender-3 V3 SE page.

7. Elegoo Mars 5: cheapest resin printer under $300

The Mars 5 uses a 6.6-inch 4K mono LCD (4098 x 2560) for 35 µm XY resolution and has one-click self-check and auto leveling. It is the lowest-cost resin printer among the printers we track.

Compared with the Mars 5 Ultra, it has roughly twice the pixel size, and Elegoo's store page lists no tilt release, camera or Wi-Fi, and Elegoo does not publish its print speed or build volume. If you can afford the Ultra, it is the better value per dollar for detail. The Mars 5 still suits buyers who want to try resin for miniatures without a large outlay, and its compact footprint fits a small, ventilated corner. Elegoo sells a replacement 4K LCD for it directly. Remember to budget for resin, gloves, alcohol and UV curing, and keep the printer in a ventilated space.

Price at the time of writing (October 2026): $184 on Elegoo's US store, regular $225. See the Elegoo Mars 5 page.

What to look for in a 3D printer under $300

Compare features per dollar, not top speed alone. Rated speeds are maximums. Elegoo's recommended speed for the Neptune 4 Pro, for example, is 250 mm/s even though it is rated for 500 mm/s. Acceleration, cooling and how much the printer calibrates itself matter as much as the headline number.

Build volume sets what you can print in one piece. At this price you can choose from 180 mm (A1 mini), 220 mm (Adventurer 5M, Ender-3 V3 SE) and 225 to 256 mm (Neptune 4 Pro, A1). If you print helmets, storage bins or long brackets, start at 220 mm or more. Need much more? See our large-format picks.

Connectivity changes daily use. Wi-Fi lets you send jobs and check progress from a phone. Ethernet helps in schools. SD card or USB only works fine but is slower day to day.

Hotend temperature sets your material range. A 300°C hotend (A1, A1 mini, Neptune 4 Pro) gives more headroom than 280°C (Adventurer 5M) or 260°C (Ender-3 V3 SE). None of the FDM picks here is enclosed, so ABS and ASA are not practical. For those, move up to our best 3D printers under $500.

Multicolor under $300 is limited. The A1 can add one AMS Lite later, and the A1 mini Combo is $299 on sale. Every single-nozzle multicolor system purges filament at each swap, so expect extra filament use.

Resin detail is about pixel size. Smaller XY pixels mean finer detail. The Mars 5 Ultra's 18 µm beats the Mars 5's 35 µm. Factor in gloves, alcohol and curing, and read Formlabs' resin safety guidance before you start.

Check the regular price. The Adventurer 5M and Mars 5 Ultra are under $300 only on sale. The A1, Neptune 4 Pro, A1 mini, Ender-3 V3 SE and Mars 5 stay under $300 at regular price.

Which one should you buy?

• Want the most printer for the money? The Bambu Lab A1 at $259 has the largest build volume, Wi-Fi, a camera and the option to add 4-color printing later.
• Like to tinker and tune? The Elegoo Neptune 4 Pro gives you Klipper firmware and a 300°C hotend for $239, at the cost of some manual leveling and a loud fan mode.
• Need Ethernet for a school or office? The Flashforge Adventurer 5M at $249 on sale adds wired networking and quick-swap nozzles.
• Short on desk space? The Bambu Lab A1 mini at $199 fits small desks and still offers Wi-Fi and auto leveling.
• Printing miniatures? The Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra at $284 on sale gives 18 µm detail; the Mars 5 at $184 is the cheaper entry.
• Lowest possible price for FDM? The Creality Ender-3 V3 SE at $179 covers the basics with auto leveling and a 220 x 220 x 250 mm bed.

All prices are at the time of writing (October 2026) on official US stores, and sale prices change. If none of these fit your plans, our best 3D printers for beginners ranks the same printers on ease of use instead of price.

Not on this list

The Toybox Alpha Four Starter bundle is $299 at the time of writing (October 2026), but its 75 x 80 x 90 mm build volume is designed for kids' toys, not general use. If that is what you need, see our best 3D printers for kids. For printers under $200 only, see best 3D printers under $200.

What changed this update

We rebuilt this list around verified official prices checked on 2026-10-28. The Creality Ender-3 V3 and Ender-3 V3 KE were removed because they are no longer purchasable on Creality's US store (Creality now lists the Ender-3 V4). The Anycubic Kobra 3 Combo was removed because it is sold out, with Anycubic pointing buyers to the Kobra 4 Combo.