3D printers are great little machines that can be used in various settings which may include industrial or professional use, small business use, or simply just as a hobby and for enjoyment.
With some machines retailing for over $500, the cost of investing in a 3D printer can sometimes be off-putting.
We have browsed the market and found some of the best 3D printers for really affordable prices, under $300.
Below you will also find a useful buyers guide where we have included our top tips for choosing the best 3d printer within a $300 budget.
If you are in a hurry then we have chosen our top pick for you below.
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Best 3D Printer under $300 - Comparison Table
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Best 3D Printer under $300 - Reviews
We have chosen the Comgrow Creality Ender 3 3D printer. With raving customers reviews this is definitely a worthy purchase and it retails well within the budget too.
It comes with several individual parts that can all easily be assembled to create your machine.
The one-piece structure of this 3D printer consumes very little room so this is a great pick if you don't have a lot of space to store your item, and the V-shaped design with upgraded wheels ensures smooth and noiseless printing.
A noisy printing machine is likely to be very off-putting for many people.
Usefully, this printing machine also features a resume print function which means that if you are faced with any power outages or lapses then printing continues from where you left off.
This reaches temperature quickly, in fact, it can reach around 110 degrees celsius in a matter of minutes. This makes the start-up process much quicker and more convenient.
The upgraded extruder design also ensures safety whilst you are printing by minimizing the risk of clogged nozzles and bad extrusion.
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The Anycubic Mega S 3D Printer is our next pick for you. This printer is super easy to set up, it comes assembled out of the box only requiring you to fit a couple of screws and then you can begin printing. This is ideal for both experts and beginners alike.
This machine is compatible with most filaments so you don't have to stick to using a certain one and the updated extruder and mechanical design reduce the chances of clogging, allowing you to create prints with improved accuracy.
The patented printing platform has great adhesion so your prints are secured in place during the printing process. Once the bed has cooled down, these prints will then easily detach.
With a filament sensor, you will be alerted when your printer runs out of filament so that you can replace it, as the printer not only pauses but sets off an alarm too. This saves you time and money.
This 3D printer features a touchscreen that gives you a much more immersive experience during the printing process.
This machine is compatible with Cura, Simplify3D, and Repetier-HOST Slicer Software and has a print speed rate of 20-100mm and a travel speed of 100mm/s.
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Our next choice is the AnyCubic Photon UV LCD 3D printer, this is a great option for those aiming to gather a familiarity with 3D printing. Coming built out of the box assembly is easy as you can start using it straight away.
To begin printing you simply need to lower the platform to the screen to the thickness of a piece of A4 paper. You simply then need to lock the ball into place and then you are ready to go. There are only four settings too which make your work much easier.
When it comes to these types of machines software tends to be the most difficult aspect as some can be rather complex to understand, however that doesn't need to be a concern with this machine as the software is really user friendly.
Compatible with the latest version of slicer software, you get a great user experience with this machine.
Thanks to the great resolution of the 2k LCD screen, this 3D printer works effectively to create some super high-quality prints, with extreme precision so effective that you can pick up even the most infinite of details.
With a touchscreen, as a user, you get an interactive experience when you use this printer machine. Not only does this enable you to preview your prints, but you can monitor the printer time too.
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The Elegoo Mars UV Photocuring LDC 3D printer is our next pick for you. Coming with the latest version of Chitubox fast slicing software not only is it much faster than other software it also gives you a great experience as the user to create some impressive prints.
With 40W UV lights and Elegoo resin you get much better, precise results from your machine which also uses less resin if you hollow out your model before printing it.
Precision is of the utmost importance when it comes to these 3D printing machines. Using a 2560x1440 2K HD masking LCD with the XY axis, this machine creates some super accurate and precise prints to resemble the design that you wanted.
The CHITUBOX system enables you to print offline too which is convenient. The build volume is 4.53 X 2.56 X 5.9 inches so you can create a variety of projects with this printer.
Designed with a touchscreen as a user you get a much more interactive experience as this enables you to be involved with every stage of the 3D printing process.
Impressively, when you purchase this 3D printer you will also receive some useful extras including a metal scraper, a mask, gloves, pliers, a wrench, and many more additional parts.
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For our next pick, we have selected the Flashforge Finder 3D printer. As a fully enclosed printer, it is a great educational tool, providing hours of fun whilst ensuring minimal risk of any fingers getting caught in the small parts of the printer.
The slide in build plate allows you to remove your finished prints from the machine with ease and reduces the possibility of offsets or damage to the build plates.
With an upgraded patented nozzle structure and an even and smooth wire, this helps to improve the surface quality of your models whilst minimizing the risk of extruder jams occurring.
The intuitive calibration detection system assists with the leveling to make your prints much more accurate and the touchscreen gives you an immersive experience and also displays the instructions clearly. This is ideal if you intend to use this with children as it makes the process much easier to understand.
Usefully this 3D printer requires very little assembly as it comes ready out of the box so it is super convenient and easy.
This printer has a build size of 140 x 140 x 140mm and is compatible with Flash Print slicing software.
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Next up we have chosen the QIDI Tech Shadow 3d printer. As a UV LCD resin printer, it combines an industrial design with precise manufacturing.
With a unique dial rail and a four optical axis structure, this printer is not only much more stable during the printing process but it is strong and precise too.
This is a very good quality printer. Constructed using strong tempered glass for the outer casing, the 2k LCD screen clearly displays the controls giving you full control of the printing process.
Compatible with professional slicing software, this makes printing faster and also helps to save the resin too.
Thanks to the dual-fan ventilation system, the odor from the resin during printing is significantly reduced but the machine also uses low odor materials too which is ideal if you find stronger scents off-putting. This gives you a much more enjoyable experience.
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We have chosen this Longer Orange 10 3D Printer as our next pick. With parallel LED lighting your prints will be of greater quality with a faster curing speed and adhesion.
Thanks to the LONGER slicing software the process is much faster, with a 100m slicing file within 1 minute. Impressively this printer is also supported by CHITUBOX software if this is one that you would prefer to use.
The color touch screen enables you to preview your prints and monitor the printing status and also makes leveling much easier.
When this machine is on there is a safety temperature warning system that will pause the printer when it has reached a high temperature until it has cooled, then once it has done so it will continue printing.
Thanks to the small UV lED matrix the lighting is more evenly distributed which has a more powerful impact upon the printing.
With a full metal structure, this design is both durable and sturdy, which doesn't wear very easily and maintains good quality, lasting for a long time.
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Finally, we have chosen the MP Cadet 3D Printer as our final pick for you. Combining both ease and convenience it is a great addition to any workspace.
The full-auto leveling system makes using this machine much easier as you aren’t required to do the adjustments yourself.
Impressively you can start using this machine within seconds as it comes assembled straight out of the box which saves you a lot of time and effort from having to put the machine together yourself.
Printing is super easy as you simply need to connect the machine to your phone via the mobile app and this allows you to print with ease.
As a small and lightweight printer is it a great way for bringing creativity to your office or even to the classroom. This machine has been specifically designed with educational needs in mind.
When you purchase this printer you will also receive a package containing all of the extra tools that you will need during the process of printing.
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Best 3D Printer under $300 - Buyers Guide
Before purchasing your 3D printer it is important to ensure that you are equipped with all of the knowledge that you need to invest in a good quality product.
While browsing the market for 3D printers you may have come across some terminology that you are unfamiliar with and if this is a new area of interest to you then this can seem quite confusing.
In our buyer's guide, we aim to give you a clearer understanding of what each of these terms means and how they affect the quality of the product that you purchase.
Build Volume
This is very important when it comes to printing as the build volume determines the maximum size of the materials that you can print. All descriptions will state a build volume and this is the largest item that you will be able to create using that machine.
Of course, this can vary between the brands but you will commonly find that the larger printers have a larger build volume while the more compact printers have a smaller build volume.
Depending on the prints that you intend on creating, it is worth paying attention to the build volume to ensure you choose the correct printer for your needs.
Size
Most 3D printers tend to be quite small and compact. This is ideal if you have a smaller desk space as they can easily be stored without consuming lots of room.
Design
3D printers can differ in design between brands. Some will be enclosed in an outer housing, ideal if you intend to use around children as there is a minimal risk of fingers getting caught. Others will be separated with a frame and individual parts that will be set up next to one another.
This is an ideal choice if you want to see every detail of the machine as it works to create your print. The best quality printers will come with sturdy frames that do not move much when they are being used.
Filaments
You will regularly stumble across this term in the 3D printing world. Filaments refer to the materials used by your machine to create your prints. Different machines will support different filaments whilst others may have the capacity to support multiple.
It is important to pay attention to the filaments that your machine uses to ensure that you choose the right one to suit your needs and what you want to create. The most common type of filaments tend to be ABS and PLA, but there are many others available too.
Printer bed
The print bed refers to the surface in which the printer heads lay down the materials that make up your 3D print. To create layers of filament that eventually create your 3D print, you will want a printer bed that is level and flat.
You can get heated and non-heated print beds and again this will differ depending on the machine that you choose. Some materials will work well with a non-heated print bed whilst others will require a heated print bed to work to their maximum potential.
Some machines will operate auto-levelling systems where the machine does the work for you and adjusts the height of the bed whilst others will require this to be done manually using a knob.
Print Rate
Printing can sometimes take a while depending on the machine that you choose. The print rate refers to the speed in which your machine will create these prints. This is measured in mm per second.
Some may be 100mm per second and others may be 150mm per second and although this may not seem like a huge jump it can have a huge impact on the speed of printing.
Software
3D printers come with their software which is used to convert a 3D digital model into a physical 3D model by sending instructions to your printer. Once your printer has received the instructions or the code in some cases, this is then transferred into a 3D printout.
It is important to ensure that you choose software that is compatible with your 3D printer so that it works effectively in creating your prints. When browsing the market you will find that some descriptions detail the specific software that these 3D printers are compatible with.
Cost
Our focus in this guide has been upon $300 3D printer machines which are both affordable and really good quality too.
If you have a budget in mind then don't be put off as our product reviews aim to inform you of the great machines that you can purchase that aren’t going to break the bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are cheap 3D printers worth it?
Yes, cheaper 3D printers are worth it as it provides you with an affordable outlet for your creativity. If you intend on purchasing a 3D printer for business use then you may want to spend a little more.
However for those who are looking at 3D printing as a hobby then a cheaper machine will suit your needs.