The Best Resin 3D Printers in 2023 (Every Price Range)

Resin 3D printers are more affordable than ever – you can now pick up a great quality resin printer with a 4K LCD screen for just a few hundred dollars. So if you’re a home maker who wants to make detailed miniatures for your next game, or have more professional ambitions, it’s never been easier.

MSLA (masked stereolithography) 3D printers have taken over the low-cost space, using LCD screens to cure resin models based on your sliced STL file. 

With 2K, 4K, and even up to 8K LCD screen quality available under $1,000, and sub-35-micron resolution becoming increasingly common, with the right settings you can create incredible-looking miniature models, as well as key uses in jewelry molds and in the dental industry.

Here are our top picks for 4K, 6K, and 8K screens:

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We’ve split our recommendations into the best cheap resin 3D printers with recommendations for $200, $300, $500, and $700, as well as recommending a couple of clear winners for professional resin 3D printers if you’re looking to start a business or scale things up.

The Best Resin 3D Printers 2022 – Reviews

Resin printer	Price	Best price at	Alternative
Elegoo Mars 2 Pro / 3	$200-349	Elegoo here	Amazon here
Anycubic Photon M3	$300	Anycubic here
Anycubic Mono X 6K	$639	Anycubic here
Elegoo Saturn	$499	Elegoo here	Amazon here
Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K	$799	Phrozen Store here
Prusa SL1S Speed	$1,999	Prusa Store here
Formlabs Form 3	$3,499	Dynamism store here

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Best Cheap Resin 3D Printers (Under $1,000)

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Elegoo Mars 2 Pro / Mars 3

While there are newer Mars printers like the Mars 3 and brand-new Elegoo Mars 3 Pro, the Mars 2 Pro still offers great quality if you’re on a budget. It features the revamped z-axis linear guide system for smoother layers and better surface areas.

But for those looking for more precise detailing on their miniatures or other prints, consider upgrading to the Mars 3 range. 

Whereas the Mars 2 Pro has a 6.08-inch 2K LCD, the Mars 3 and Mars 3 Pro both have 6.6-inch 4K screens, improving XY resolution from 50 microns to 35 microns – a 30% accuracy improvement. 

You also get a 37% larger build volume: 143 x 90 x 175mm on the Mars 3, vs the 129 x 80 x 160 mm. This is ideal for printing a number of models at once to save time, and for printing larger models that might not quite have fit into the Mars 2 Pro’s build area.

So if you’re on a tight budget, the Mars 2 Pro is still a fine choice – we’ve printed some great detailing in our dinosaur head’s teeth, and in video game miniatures. But, for sharper accuracy and larger build areas, upgrade to the Mars 3, or Mars 3 Pro.

Read our full review: we tested the Elegoo Mars 2 Pro

Compared: Elegoo Mars 2 Pro and 3 vs Elegoo Saturn

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Anycubic Photon M3

• Price: Check latest price at Anycubic here
• Build Volume: 180 x 163 x 102 mm
• XY Resolution: 40 microns
• Minimum Layer Height: 10 microns
• Speed: 50mm/h

The latest entry-level Photon 3D printer, the Anycubic Photon M3 takes everything we loved about the series – fast print times, excellent resolution, and a user-friendly printing experience – and levels it up with a few choice enhancements.

Among the improvements, Anycubic has upgraded to a 180 x 163 x 102 mm build volume, which lends itself to larger prints along with the superb high detail models and miniatures the Mono 4K is known for, even intricate articulated figurines. 

Another benefit of the build volume is the possibility of producing bigger batches of the same Warhammer or D&D mini-figures, ideal if you’re hoping to use your M3 to fuel a small business.

Though the Anycubic Photon M3 includes an excellent 7.6″ 4K monochrome screen, the resolution drops slightly to 40 microns – 5 microns higher than the Mono 4K. For us, this is a reasonable compromise for the extra printing space. 

At this level of detail, you’d be hard-pressed to notice any tangible difference between the two resolutions, so the larger screen and print area is worth the drop to us – though you can opt for the Anycubic Photon Mono 4K if you prefer 35 micron resolution and a smaller build volume.

It’s cheap, user-friendly, and creates feature-rich, detailed 4K parts, models, figurines, and minis.

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Anycubic Mono X 6K

• Price: Check latest price at Anycubic here
• Build Volume: 197 x 122 x 245 mm
• XY Resolution: 34 microns
• Minimum Layer Height: 10 microns
• Speed: 80 mm/h

The Anycubic Mono X 6K allows makers to craft exceptionally detailed 6K prints at 34 microns XY resolution without sacrificing build volume (or vice versa), which inches close to standard FDM printer sizes at 197 x 122 x  245mm. A max print speed of 80 mm/h also prints the most complex minis and models at a blistering pace.

If you’re not constrained by a tight budget and want some of the best quality offered by any consumer-grade printer, there’s no question the Anycubic Mono X 6K is a sensible buy. The same goes for those piecing together the kit needed to take a budding minis business to the next level.

But, for those restricted to a smaller budget, the original Mono X and the even lower-cost M3 are perfect for those that want to print high-quality minis without breaking the bank. The trade-offs are smaller build volume, slightly lower resolutions, and longer print times – nothing that should hamper the majority of hobbyist resin projects.

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Elegoo Saturn

• Price: Check latest price at Elegoo here / Available on Amazon here
• Print Volume: 192 x 120 x 200 mm
• Screen resolution: 3840 x 2400 pixels
• Screen size: 8.9″ 4K Monochrome LCD
• XY Resolution: 50 microns
• Speed: 30-40mm/h
• Cleaning/Curing: Elegoo Mercury Plus/X Washing and Curing Station

Featuring an 8.9-inch 4K monochrome LCD screen for fast layer curing, the Elegoo Saturn comes much upgraded on standard models, printing 60% faster than the Elegoo Mars Pro, printing a layer every 2-3 seconds.

For your money, you get a number of other key upgrades, most notably the larger build area, turning the Elegoo Saturn into a solid resin 3D printer for larger resin models or terrain for miniatures, as well as for printing more minis in one batch and taking advantage of resin printers’ abilities to print entire layers at once.

The improved precision, owing to the Saturn’s double linear guideway Z-axis structure makes it steadier than ever, ensuring accuracy and uniformity across the print.

If this isn’t enough, you have two upgrade options:

• Elegoo Saturn S: a slight improvement across the board, with an 9.1” 4K LCD, and a slight build volume increase to 196 x 122 x 210 mm
• Elegoo Saturn 2: upgrades to a 10” 8K LCD, 28.5nm XY resolution, and a larger 219 x 123 x 250 mm build area.

	Elegoo Saturn	Elegoo Saturn S	Elegoo Saturn 2
LCD Quality	8.9″ 4K LCD	9.1″ 4K LCD	10″ 8K LCD
Build Volume	192 x 120 x 200 mm	196 x 122 x 210 mm	219 x 123 x 250 mm
XY Resolution	50 microns	48 microns	28.5 microns
	Buy here	Buy here	Preorder here

Read more: Elegoo Saturn vs Anycubic Mono X – compared

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Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K

• Price: Check latest price at Phrozen here
• Build Volume: 165 x 72 x 180 mm
• XY Resolution: 22 microns
• Minimum Layer Height: 10 microns
• Speed: 80 mm/h

Phrozen’s flagship resin printer capitalizes on a sleek 7.1″ LCD screen and 22-micron resolution to deliver frankly outstanding print detail and surface quality that more budget-priced printers simply can’t provide.

As consumer printers go, the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K has the potential to produce the most intricate, detail-rich models of any printers currently on the market.

The jump from a 2K, and even a 4K/6K, to an 8K screen is apparent when scrutinizing a print fresh off the Mini 8K bed. This is the main reason it out-classes Phrozen’s excellent budget Sonic Mini 4K, albeit with a hefty but warranted price increase.

For lots of makers, the jump in quality won’t be enough to justify spending more than double the price of a Photon or Mars, but the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K fleshes out the proposition with superb all-around usability and a decent 165 x 72 x 180 mm build volume.

If that’s not quite enough for your larger print projects or you’re looking to batch print to stock an online mini store, there’s always the Phrozen Sonic Mighty 8K, and its 123 x 218 x 235 mm printable area.

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Best Desktop Resin 3D Printers (Between $1,000 and $3,000)

Prusa SL1S Speed

• Price: $1,999 — Available at Prusa Store here
• Print Volume: 120 x 68 x 150 mm
• Screen resolution: 2560 x 1620 pixels
• Screen size: 5.96” 2K Monochrome LCD
• XY Resolution: 47 microns
• Print Speed: 50mm/h
• Cleaning/Curing: Original Prusa CW1S

Prusa printers are known for being the best open-source FDM kits around, but have since ventured into resin printing. 

One thing we really want to drive home is how important it is not to get tunnel vision when looking at the specs of printers when choosing which to buy. As we explain in the buyer’s guide portion below, a well-made printer made from high-quality parts that can handle precise movements and stability will outperform a printer with a higher-spec LCD screen but worse build quality.

The 5.96” monochrome LCD is smaller than some lower-priced printers like the Elegoo Saturn 2, but it is capable of fantastic accuracy, even for tiny miniature models smaller than a penny. It’s made from high-quality parts to minimize vibrations, with a rigid aluminum body, and features a quick release mechanism to maintain z-axis calibration.

It’s also super fast, with 1.4-second layer exposures even on standard 405nm resins. If you’re a small business owner looking to produce minis at scale, or just want to print lots of models for yourself, the SL1S Speed suits you well.

You can buy the printer on its own, or as a bundle with the CW1S 4-in-1 wash and cure machine. It pre-heats your resin before use, washes resin prints, dries them off, and cures them, all in one add-on. The bundle is available here.

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Professional Resin 3D Printers ($3,000+)

Formlabs Form 3 — best professional resin 3D printer

• Price: $3,499 — Available on Dynamism Store here
• Build Volume: 145 x 145 x 185 mm
• XY Resolution: 25 microns
• Print speed: 70mm/h
• Cleaning/Curing: Formlabs Form Wash & Cure

Formlabs make professional resin 3D printers, but at desktop resin printer prices. The US manufacturer sells the Form 3 SLA 3D printer for $3,499, with its quality making it key for super accurate prototypes, as well as being adopted in the dental and jewelry industries.

The Form 3 comes with a huge variety of new features as compared with the previous Form 2. It comes with new LFS technology advantages as well as a new Light Processing Unit (LPU) to improve resin part surface finishes, as well as better layer registrations. The Form 2 was already fantastic, and these added features elevate the Form 3 to a whole new dimension within desktop SLA printers.

Additionally, the Formlabs Form 3 has an automated resin system and uses smart cartridges that automatically fill the resin tank – key for business owners looking to maximize efficiency and revenue per hour. 

In addition, it has a scanning system for the resin tray after each layer, and automatically adjusts based on the type of resin used. Furthermore, its got a fantastic touch screen and can be operated remotely via a WiFi connection, as well as operable as part of a factory with Formlabs’ industrial multi-printer ‘Form Cell’ solutions.

This UV 3D resin 3D printer has a print volume of 145 x 145 x 185 mm, and is extremely precise with 25-micron XY resolution. The Formlabs Form 3 is compatible with a large number of resins, from ceramic, to flexible resins, to castable resins, though Formlabs also sell their own high-quality resin materials.Formlabs resins are available here.

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Curing and Cleaning Stations

With washing and curing an unavoidable part of resin 3D printing, we’ve rounded up a few choice washing and curing stations well worth weaving into your printing setup to take some of the sting and mess out of post-processing.

Anycubic Wash & Cure

• Available at Anycubic Store here / Amazon here

The Anycubic Wash & Cure is an all-in-one station compatible with the overwhelming majority of resin printers. Thanks to a nifty recent price cut from Anycubic, the Wash & Cure sets you back under $100.

The wash mode has adjustable wash cycles, including 2, 4, and 6 minutes. Cure mode employs a wide range 356 nm and 405 nm UV light set mounted on a 360° rotating platform to ensure a uniform cure of all and any print sized at 115 x 65 x 165 mm and under.

Anycubic has simplified the whole wash and cure process thanks to a set-and-forget design – choose either wash or cure on the touch button interface, and off it goes. The station blocks 99.95% of UV light and comes with an auto-pause function if the cover inadvertently comes off. The station has an adjustable bracket that can latch onto an Anycubic build platform if you’re working with a Photon Mono series printer.

Elegoo Mercury Plus

• Available at Amazon here

Another all-in-one station, but this time from Elegeoo, the Elegoo Mercury Plus is an easy-to-use option for hands-free post-processing.

The accepted max print size is 125 x 85 x 160 mm for washing and 140 x 165 mm for curing. You can either use the provided cleaning basket or mount an Elegoo build plate with models still attached, making it compatible with most if not all resin 3D printers, not just with Elegoo machines.

A 385 nm and 405 nm UV light set and 360-degree rotating curing turntable do all the curing work with the option to key in and monitor curing time up to 30 minutes on the TFT touchscreen. Safety’s covered with an anti-UV lid that blocks 99.95% of UV rays and a suspend operation function should the cover come off during curing.

Expect to pay more than the Anycubic station, but at roughly $120, you’ll deck out your resin 3D printing setup with a quality mess-free station.

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Buyer’s Guide – What to Consider When Buying a 3D Resin Printer

RGB vs Mono LCD Screens – Pick a Mono Resin 3D Printer

Most modern resin printers now ship with monochrome LCD screens instead of the RGB variants found in earlier models.

The shift is all to the benefit of makers as monochrome screens have many advantages over RGB:

• They print faster, often up to 3x quicker
• They are more durable, lasting up to 4-5x longer before replacing

LCD Screen Resolution: 2K, 4K, 6K, 8K – What Quality Do You Need?

Raw specs do translate to better quality overall. You will notice the difference in sharpness on corners, and on precise features of models such as facial features and hair on an 8K screen versus a 4K or 2K print.

However, while a higher resolution makes a clear difference to print results, even the highest resolution 3D printer will not perform as well as a lower-res 2K screen if it is built from low-quality parts.

Therefore, buy from a reputable brand known for making high-quality parts, such as well-built screws and z-axis parts for the build plate, and resin vat screws, to deliver top quality.

We recommend resin printers from Anycubic, Elegoo, and Phrozen for hobbyist printing, and Prusa and Formlabs for professional resin printing.

Build Volume

As a general rule, resin printers feature smaller build volumes than more common FDM machines, hence why makers and professionals use them to create small intricate parts with high precision.

If you do need extra printing space for duplicate part printing or larger figurines and models, consider larger format resin printers such as the Peopoly Phenom and Phrozen Sonic Mighty 4K.

Post-Processing Equipment

Resin 3D printing is a messy business, and post-processing is a core part of the printing process. Post-processing breaks down into two parts, washing and curing.

Washing involves removing any residual uncured resin from the print using isopropanol.

Curing uses further UV light source slexposure to complete the curing polymerization process to improve the part’s finish and overall rigidity.

Self-guided, hands-on post-processing is one way to go, but manufacturers now propose all-in-one washing and curing stations to take much of the messy hassle out of the process.

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How Does a Resin 3D Printer Work?

Resin is sticky, liquid, and moves around in any container (or resin vat) that you pour it into. However, take that container outside, and the sun’s UV rays will almost immediately cure and solidify the resin.

Your resin printer’s LCD screen uses the same UV light as the sun but in a more stable indoor environment, flashing light at certain parts of the resin to selectively cure parts, based on your model’s features. 

The LCD screen blocks off the LEDs from certain parts so that the resin isn’t cured in some places – only where your model file is sliced to be.

The screen sits under the resin vat, and projects light upwards into the build platform. An FEP screen (fluorinated ethylene propylene) protects the screen from damage – though these FEP films themselves need to be replaced more often than any other parts of the printer.

As each layer is cured, the resin printer’s z-axis platform, lifts up one layer, for the next resin layer to be cured. The cured model sticks to the build platform as it moves up out of the resin (if it sticks to the resin, the print fails), with the layer on the edge cured and moved up each time.

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Resin 3D Printing Tips for Beginners:

Check the MSDS (material safety data sheet) for the resin you’re using – all reputable resin manufacturers will have these sheets. They outline any potential hazards, and how you can keep safe and prevent these issues.

Print in a relatively warm environment – room temperature is fine, but if resin gets too cold it become more viscous and difficult to print.

Wear gloves when handling resin – nitrile rubber disposable gloves work well.

Pick the best slicer for you – if you use a certain brand such as Prusa, you’ll likely use Prusa Slicer. For simple everyday use, CHITUBOX is fine, but other options for great resin results include Lychee Slicer. We have a full run-down of resin slicers here.

Take care over supports – within your slicer, take care over how you position your model, and the supports you use. Flat printed models don’t work as well as they do in FDM, as you can damage the resin print scraping it off – though there are workarounds with sacrificial rafts. Generally, lift the model off the bed and have supports between the bottom raft and the FEP sheet. If you’re technical, there is a very powerful tool called UVTools which automatically detects likely errors, resin traps and islands, and with one click fixes them all. It is available at Github here. It acts as a kind of previewer, showing you where potentials for print failure are, so you can avoid the costly failed prints, and optimize them automatically.

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Uses of resin 3D printers

Budget resin 3D printers are typically used by hobbyists to make accurate figures and miniatures at details FDM printers just cannot reach. They’re commonly used for 28mm miniatures, D&D figures, and other similar projects for tabletop models.

See also: our buyer’s guide for the best 3D printers for miniatures.

However, these low cost options can sometimes be used for creating wax molds for jewelry casting. For better quality casting with precious metals however it is recommended to use a more professional resin 3D printer capable of better resolutions and precision.

See also: our guide to the best jewelry 3D printers.

Resin printers are commonly used in the dental, audiology, jewelry, and medical industries. For example, within dentistry resin 3D printers can print orthodontic models and implants, and within audiology, almost 100% of custom hearing aids are now 3D printed.

See also: 3D printing in the dental industry.

See also: how 3D printed hearing aids took over the world.

Is Resin Printing Messy?

Though the resin printing process isn’t messy per se, the post-processing of a finished resin print invariably descends into a frustrating, sloppy, not to say potentially harmful mess of dripping resin and pungent isopropanol. It isn’t for the faint of heart or those wary of getting stuck in.

Fortunately, curing and cleaning stations help contain resin processing’s messiness, so you’re not caking your hands in muck by juddering your prints around in a vat of isopropanol.

FAQs

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