FDMBambu Lab
Bambu Lab A1 mini
Small open-frame printer that calibrates itself. The easiest way into 3D printing that still prints well.
Best for Beginners, kids' projects, and a second printer for small parts.
$100–500
Creality
Creality Ender 3 V3 SE
The cheapest printer we'd recommend. An auto-levelling bed-slinger with a direct-drive extruder.
Strengths
- Low price with a reasonable build volume
- Huge community, so nearly every problem has been solved online
- Easy to modify and upgrade
Trade-offs
- Slower and needs more tuning than an enclosed CoreXY machine
- PLA and PETG only in practice
The Ender 3 line is how a whole generation learned 3D printing, and the V3 SE is the current low-cost version. Auto-levelling and a direct-drive extruder fix the two things that made older Enders frustrating.
It is slower than the CoreXY machines on this site and expects you to learn some tuning. Some people see that as a cost; others see it as the point. If you’d rather it just worked, spend the extra on an A1 mini or a Centauri Carbon 2.
Also in 3D Printers
FDMBambu Lab
Bambu Lab P2S
Enclosed single-nozzle CoreXY printer with a passive chamber. The sensible default for most home workshops.
Best for A first serious printer for PLA, PETG and occasional ABS, with room to add multi-colour later.
$549list
FDMBambu Lab
Bambu Lab X2D
Enclosed dual-nozzle printer with a heated chamber. Bambu's replacement for the X1 Carbon, at a much lower price.
Best for Makers who print ABS, ASA or nylon regularly, or want dissolvable supports on their own nozzle.
$649list