I review the best hobby 3D printers for arts, crafts, and more. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. The best hobby 3D printer will enable you to create your own, tools, jigs, models, crafts, miniatures and more. To help you choose I've extensively tested, reviewed, and rated the best 3D printers overall – but as with any focused group, there's a type of 3D printer that is specially suited to hobbyists and that's a machine that is a little more flexible than most. That flexibility is especially relevant if you're using a printer for modelling and crafting, where a combination of precision and material choice is essential.

Overall, I recommend the Creality K1C as the best 3D printer for hobbies, as it offers a superb balance of print quality, versatility, and speed. This printer never fails to impress with its fully enclosed design and exceptional quality prints – it's also available for a very affordable price, which always appeals. If you're hobby is jewerly or miniatures however, while this printer is a good all round choice, I would recommend a resin model such as the Creality HALOT-MAGE S 14K. Check out the reviews of both below, alongside my recommended round-up for anyone looking for a 3D printer for hobbies.

Best overall. Best hobby 3D printer overall. The enclosed design, large build platform, and ability to print with a huge range of materials make this an extremely versatile option. Read more below. Best for cosplay. Best hobby 3D printer for cosplay. The evolution of the K1 range has resulted in the K2 Plus, a huge multi-filament printer that offers one of the largest print platforms available at this price. Great for cosplay and other large-scale projects.

Best for enthusiasts. Best hobby 3D printer for enthusiasts. The latest iteration of the iconic machine is still hard to beat especially when it comes to speed and accuracy. Still open-source, this is the one for 3D printer hobbyists. Best for precision. Best hobby 3D printer for precision. The best of a new wave of multi-filament machines, Anycubic has designed a solid, no-fuss machine with superb speed and accuracy.

Best 3-in-1. Best 3-in-1 hobby 3D printer. This huge machine can 3D print with dual filaments and has a quick-swap tool head and bed that enable it to laser and CNC, making it the most flexible hobbyist 3D printer on the market. Best for materials. Best hobby 3D printer for materials. This printer helped to disrupt the 3D printing industry by bringing high-end features to an affordable machine. It's known for its speed, accuracy, and ability to print with multiple materials.

See more. Best for home DIY. Best hobby 3D printer for home DIY. Able to print with a wide variety of materials and featuring a large print platform, the potential with this machine is huge. What's more, there's the option to add a multi-filament accessory if needed. Best for fine-detail. Best hobby 3D printer for fine-detail. Superb workflow and solid performance make this a great option for any hobby that involves modelling. The resin auto-fill system also goes partway to making this a cleaner resin printer.

Best for crafting. Best hobby 3D printer for crafting. High-detailed prints, solid build quality, and ease of use make this a great option for jewellers or anyone wanting to print fine detail. Best for large models. Best hobby 3D printer for large-scale models. A large print platform and easy workflow make the GKTwo a great option for artists wanting to express themselves in 3D. The high detail will also appeal to anyone looking for precision for their hobby.

Our expert review:. The Creality K1C has consistently impressed me throughout the tests, and while it may not offer the multi-filament printing seen in the latest crop of printers, when it comes to speed and reliability, it’s just hard to beat. The K1C marked a turning point in the industry being one of the first fully enclosed Core XY machines that was accessible to all. While other machines are available at this price, which on the surface at least, appeared to match its specifications and performance, long-term testing has shown time and again that the K1C has set the benchmark from what we now expect from 3D printers alongside the BambuLab X1 and Original Prusa MK4S.

The K1C ultimately wins out due to its price over the competition, and when it comes to hobbies, it will suit a wide range of users as well as uses. For general modelling, the high precision and speed make it a great option for standard PLA, which can be worked with and painted. Meanwhile, for more advanced hobbyists, the ability to print with carbon fibre-filled filaments, nylon, and other materials means you can 3D print strong and workable parts.