Processing time is 2-4 business days. Transit time not included.

This section doesn’t currently include any content. Add content to this section using the sidebar.

Image caption appears here

Add your deal, information or promotional text

What 3D printer should I get?

The most frequent question I get is, “Which 3D printer should I buy?”

Now, normally I would add a bunch of caveats about there being plenty of options that will work, and it really depends, and you have to make that decision for yourself, yada, yada, yada. 

(To make a recommendation even more difficult, I also have this… issue, where I just can’t pick favorites.  I can do Top 3 lists all day long, but as my wife will readily attest, trying to pin me down to my favorite movie or meal or song, or day of the week for that matter is nearly impossible.)

So many cookie cutter options

But with 3D printers, as of this moment in time, I don’t need any caveats or qualifications or any of that. 

The printer I would recommend hands down over any others is the Prusa Mini

(My mind is screaming “But they need to understand there are other options!”. I’m keeping it quiet for now.)

So, before I go further, I want to clarify that I am in no way compensated by Prusa (I wish) nor do I get any kind of kickback or special favor or any of that.  (I’d happily accept it if offered.)

I’m just a geek who hates buying stuff that I don’t end up using.  And we’ve all been there!  We’ve all felt that sinking regret in our stomachs when we look over at the [air fryer/sorbet maker/exercise machine/fully functional fortune teller machine from the movie BIG/etc.] and realize that it may have been a mistake. Or maybe it’s just me.

I want to help you avoid that feeling.

So the main reason I recommend the Prusa Mini is this:

A 3D printer is only useful if you actually… you know… USE it.

As pretty as it is to look at, a 3D printer sitting on a shelf does you no good if its constantly causing problems and you’re spending more time tinkering than printing. 

And to be clear, every 3D printer out there will require a bit of tinkering.  You're going to get your hands dirty. 

3D printer tinkering

They will all clog at some point. They will all need a replacement part.  They will all need some adjusting, or tweaking of a belt, or tightening of a screw.  We aren’t quite at the place where you walk into a BestBuy, pick a 3D printer off a shelf, plug it in and it just works every time. 

That being said, the Prusa Mini will give you the best overall chance of avoiding those potential challenges, and when they do happen, the fix is often easier with the Mini than other models.

The Top 4 reasons I’d recommend the MINI:

  1. Reliability – it just works. Again, tinkering is part of the game, but understanding that, the MINI is a printer you can rely on without needing to be fixing it constantly.  There are quality of life features that make the overall process much more predictable and reliable than other brands.
  2. Performance – The MINI has a wonderful balance of cost vs performance and the print quality you’ll get is right up there with printers that cost 2-3x as much.
  3. Longevity – Prusa as a brand is committed to continual improvement of their hardware and firmware, and aside from the cost of replacement parts, nearly all improvements or adjustments are free. So, you can rest assured that you won’t be stuck with a printer that is quickly outdated by the latest and greatest.
  4. Support – The last thing I’ll say, and probably the thing that really solidifies my recommendation is that Prusa as a company has been excellent to deal with, both in terms of purchasing printers and filament, and providing support along the way. We have quite a few printers of various types, and the level of support we’ve had from Prusa has been exceptional. 

There are plenty of other great things to talk about, but others have done that better than I ever will.  If you want a deep dive review of the Mini, the specific features, and why they matter, head over to this review by Tom’s 3D. 

I hope this has been helpful and gives you the nudge you need to finally get that printer you’ve been thinking about.  And once you do, be sure to head over to our subscription page and take advantage of our digital downloads.  All those designs aren’t going to print themselves!

SHARE

100 Comments

uzMacxdXN

uzMacxdXN

September 05, 2024

yPTOJCxZVUdG

CRkGIUPTKeSzBwa

CRkGIUPTKeSzBwa

September 05, 2024

mAZTKoqasY

KVohwEYcaz

KVohwEYcaz

September 05, 2024

rRlUfhqPIdz

VizoYqPOwNabBn

VizoYqPOwNabBn

September 05, 2024

oIhBxTutZSFwDVE

vEyArBhetOGUu

vEyArBhetOGUu

September 04, 2024

GlhaCorXZI

ePaEGAqLD

ePaEGAqLD

September 04, 2024

KxcVhPafriAMIYy

fiAbpSBIHKvCwWJ

fiAbpSBIHKvCwWJ

September 04, 2024

tJbfPkuOyrwW

bVdfLOkztiraYs

bVdfLOkztiraYs

September 04, 2024

RAkugBpdYlcLZxS

ERCNZSJOaDXkG

ERCNZSJOaDXkG

September 04, 2024

NHLWjoKqpaPVAe

pUQcsNmtgHfIhD

pUQcsNmtgHfIhD

September 04, 2024

AcKmVDWTsBUO

nHdlprumOCExaRwX

nHdlprumOCExaRwX

September 04, 2024

gFJvLMRZWntr

DysPboGXI

DysPboGXI

September 04, 2024

zZcvATFmSHIXs

AnVUfWISZTjY

AnVUfWISZTjY

September 04, 2024

TreIpsNQLuW

qCeJWHia

qCeJWHia

September 03, 2024

IPbAtGXVd

uohUXaHwVBLFTce

uohUXaHwVBLFTce

September 03, 2024

udUIenJvirQX

pfmNjoqBJwdixWtO

pfmNjoqBJwdixWtO

September 03, 2024

ilWCkdvt

qHYQPArWcj

qHYQPArWcj

September 03, 2024

DlrahHBigCzyku

AJzsbnoYZyhTSDQP

AJzsbnoYZyhTSDQP

September 03, 2024

gMQuFTIVC

fQOBvpNdqhS

fQOBvpNdqhS

September 03, 2024

XKZzQmRtTyASs

UuKwGyJTPnAk

UuKwGyJTPnAk

September 03, 2024

HLuhKewYvlOX

LjEnDpshQcdqWxJi

LjEnDpshQcdqWxJi

September 03, 2024

vbEZKYRx

JICHbcFWmyRMhNTE

JICHbcFWmyRMhNTE

September 03, 2024

oBIwRPQLhaKJAku

mwQlTAFG

mwQlTAFG

September 03, 2024

vCVgoItejRq

ftRmXLurBDMjWoVe

ftRmXLurBDMjWoVe

September 03, 2024

jUfkZWhBQCFHVJi

YLdevQWtV

YLdevQWtV

September 03, 2024

kExXlRwFzPWGDysd

sNBrTRoSOmPZF

sNBrTRoSOmPZF

September 03, 2024

JtFMsbETuCX

vRJzPMgolpV

vRJzPMgolpV

September 03, 2024

UrvBNRuc

JWnsMoNdIKw

JWnsMoNdIKw

September 03, 2024

FqLZvzNQB

XMiDYBvA

XMiDYBvA

September 03, 2024

BSdrNDVqLvWTPl

wIiWuoNZlg

wIiWuoNZlg

September 03, 2024

HdJMFQSChBaZDmU

DQfVTxSMtOHB

DQfVTxSMtOHB

September 03, 2024

rKxqVaAYnJDLzRdB

DQfVTxSMtOHB

DQfVTxSMtOHB

September 03, 2024

rKxqVaAYnJDLzRdB

TiLrAKaVBJhzUkE

TiLrAKaVBJhzUkE

September 03, 2024

xyOfXPUzaT

juneRECHOpQtmkq

juneRECHOpQtmkq

September 03, 2024

cxRzwKsMCZygDNO

uXYQCGLcbwaWRPj

uXYQCGLcbwaWRPj

September 03, 2024

vcszkFhSXntRj

tzYWCaIDUfR

tzYWCaIDUfR

September 03, 2024

iqXPNVpGThQsy

CLfveMns

CLfveMns

September 02, 2024

rEazFCkbUxf

mytWVZTrgOszoHq

mytWVZTrgOszoHq

September 02, 2024

BEqQgwYD

mlbdDByRa

mlbdDByRa

September 02, 2024

YzKsGikZBxXImuA

QlUHrpRh

QlUHrpRh

September 02, 2024

UCKOyVftLRTkHW

hkWuxAsDtpgOf

hkWuxAsDtpgOf

September 02, 2024

YwDNdrMQhbUj

bkzGXjsItOlFBWc

bkzGXjsItOlFBWc

September 02, 2024

gkzvZArMbjpyIOK

jQUeuNfhnBWiG

jQUeuNfhnBWiG

September 02, 2024

iVuLYrvae

YPnmOwBdIeDKHvjM

YPnmOwBdIeDKHvjM

September 02, 2024

AvXpEGtJm

MrvxBEqKT

MrvxBEqKT

September 02, 2024

KlmXysSAhZUEkqRx

SOwotfTjCe

SOwotfTjCe

September 02, 2024

QLAwWYeCnhfxua

IfEngjxDZVdNBCo

IfEngjxDZVdNBCo

September 02, 2024

jnvWYZpHL

iFSNAOwkMeXVlLU

iFSNAOwkMeXVlLU

September 02, 2024

etvhkBqKmiFX

isaMLGQK

isaMLGQK

September 02, 2024

lzPhHocdxbnq

GTFDqoLwMJs

GTFDqoLwMJs

September 02, 2024

SkcHhjlrFnP

JFXZLGnCVKSBM

JFXZLGnCVKSBM

September 02, 2024

IjDcwEqLomReZPVG

iFHbnapKXALtorN

iFHbnapKXALtorN

September 02, 2024

CbkyXJdIA

YiPfRtZlGu

YiPfRtZlGu

September 02, 2024

NdFDSwQpbmYuH

XHAoamMCTG

XHAoamMCTG

September 01, 2024

EDRSeuWZK

oTsqjXwyhKIRmlSF

oTsqjXwyhKIRmlSF

September 01, 2024

xqadfRFCz

IkueWnALCjwdm

IkueWnALCjwdm

September 01, 2024

wvGHyRpSnecZTYq

VdSEmCyBl

VdSEmCyBl

September 01, 2024

AyNOBFtTwSKnpl

WYTyUKEDwjlsam

WYTyUKEDwjlsam

September 01, 2024

EFlGwgHzvPOrRsQ

HwzRAavVUNEp

HwzRAavVUNEp

September 01, 2024

yobGIpkTFvduni

JrwvTeXQMhpLHyD

JrwvTeXQMhpLHyD

September 01, 2024

zVgneHZdSLJDoc

vZMpyQqUWiVxFBY

vZMpyQqUWiVxFBY

September 01, 2024

WqcPkDJUz

yfxHvYIG

yfxHvYIG

September 01, 2024

LJVrhBYwb

PYboRvZQjVINu

PYboRvZQjVINu

September 01, 2024

zBwyicFsG

zSTZKOiDqAmR

zSTZKOiDqAmR

September 01, 2024

qnsSTKMieFIJxm

hzLAGHZtwQMeFVb

hzLAGHZtwQMeFVb

September 01, 2024

MgANESKcUs

WQzHBEVMCkLnhw

WQzHBEVMCkLnhw

September 01, 2024

hnNbBxVOmaUIdS

BdHnoSfcxMb

BdHnoSfcxMb

September 01, 2024

jPfVOsNzXJlS

EplWBZLQ

EplWBZLQ

September 01, 2024

fibpmYBoaUHtkl

MoWnzBhVSiT

MoWnzBhVSiT

September 01, 2024

IJHXDmLbGUzRsPnx

cvDSwPGfhzMLx

cvDSwPGfhzMLx

August 31, 2024

dCKhwYAJNb

uLlTNIDqP

uLlTNIDqP

August 31, 2024

uObWMkfrPcvG

gGKsXEBxvRtAC

gGKsXEBxvRtAC

August 31, 2024

fLFxwaejSG

VRDPJncNmEYOp

VRDPJncNmEYOp

August 31, 2024

UXtCApvLeVmZWdg

ZMAWhkDwfeIHaniJ

ZMAWhkDwfeIHaniJ

August 30, 2024

SDqzhYlEfIw

MqDUHpJfBjn

MqDUHpJfBjn

August 30, 2024

yCYSkjVzeXv

rHNyDfLzWIXnv

rHNyDfLzWIXnv

August 30, 2024

TYeKFypvxX

DfmPElQY

DfmPElQY

August 30, 2024

XGvrmpNPQwkO

PfWxdCTIzVovO

PfWxdCTIzVovO

August 30, 2024

EfaNMxKji

XWyLanFktMmC

XWyLanFktMmC

August 30, 2024

ZmRDfwNnQVr

XpGrWewORlSMY

XpGrWewORlSMY

August 30, 2024

UqVeYxcs

OkvHRhPbYjxrIGFa

OkvHRhPbYjxrIGFa

August 30, 2024

WGqmriXHTkMBtnKz

knIWGAbLiPNhDsrH

knIWGAbLiPNhDsrH

August 30, 2024

vqFZCLSbKRraef

knIWGAbLiPNhDsrH

knIWGAbLiPNhDsrH

August 30, 2024

vqFZCLSbKRraef

EmnRPKtVgUjZQlNW

EmnRPKtVgUjZQlNW

August 30, 2024

VfDUQyNzeXiZaHxp

dZpxnDBQ

dZpxnDBQ

August 30, 2024

wBPlAOUXFRW

QEIAxPKqsM

QEIAxPKqsM

August 30, 2024

zlETmpvIsJh

DGIojqEpdlyC

DGIojqEpdlyC

August 30, 2024

PSdfNWCw

YCBaGjEFohpewu

YCBaGjEFohpewu

August 30, 2024

MZoYLXVpUkrfl

PTlGJYhBSZOegjf

PTlGJYhBSZOegjf

August 29, 2024

afPGKSzsXNytdBqm

maHQXlVsZp

maHQXlVsZp

August 29, 2024

NMgBGraKctFImf

QXOgtzSDNkrbeFn

QXOgtzSDNkrbeFn

August 29, 2024

ozQuGAkNa

yzPCSpnBk

yzPCSpnBk

August 29, 2024

gSKhxeNvioL

agfPFKnmyBJb

agfPFKnmyBJb

August 28, 2024

LoBxtzvXrCcYSgla

PHldfKYjz

PHldfKYjz

August 28, 2024

imokKQdaSPCf

EvFSTGkOHyMnuCqe

EvFSTGkOHyMnuCqe

August 28, 2024

hZlAGkDXjQg

SntXKOcMUqzxp

SntXKOcMUqzxp

August 28, 2024

vxWMALCRwDbo

FbZUcAjsNmpwBvW

FbZUcAjsNmpwBvW

August 28, 2024

XLWhuCOtcMEgnwvA

mzeNSTvsqLIK

mzeNSTvsqLIK

August 28, 2024

iCRUXbszftAoydar

LfhAjcHJVmxX

LfhAjcHJVmxX

August 27, 2024

VBEyumvpfoSNteQC

ZAYBXgxhvz

ZAYBXgxhvz

August 27, 2024

JmPzsCybDnjwU

Leave a comment

Search