Open 3D printers: pros, cons, all models

Open 3D printers have no enclosure. They are usually cheaper, lighter and easy to access if you want to check or adjust something during printing. They are perfectly adequate for PLA, PETG and TPU. Materials that warp heavily as they cool are harder to print on them.

31 printers, sorted by price range

Device	Price range	Design	Enclosure	Build volume	Max. nozzle
Anycubic Kobra 4	under €200	Bed slinger	open	260 × 260 × 260 mm	300 °C
Bambu Lab A1 mini	under €200	Bed slinger	open	180 × 180 × 180 mm	300 °C
Creality Ender-3 V3 SE	under €200	Bed slinger	open	220 × 220 × 250 mm	260 °C
Anycubic Kobra 3	€200 to €400	Bed slinger	open	250 × 250 × 260 mm	300 °C
Anycubic Kobra 3 V2	€200 to €400	Bed slinger	open	255 × 255 × 260 mm	300 °C
Anycubic Kobra X	€200 to €400	Bed slinger	open	260 × 260 × 260 mm	300 °C
Bambu Lab A1	€200 to €400	Bed slinger	open	256 × 256 × 256 mm	300 °C
Bambu Lab A2L	€200 to €400	Bed slinger	open	330 × 320 × 325 mm	300 °C
Creality Ender-3 V3 discontinued	€200 to €400	Bed slinger	open	220 × 220 × 250 mm	300 °C
Creality Ender-3 V3 KE	€200 to €400	Bed slinger	open	220 × 220 × 240 mm	300 °C
Creality Ender-3 V4	€200 to €400	Bed slinger	open	220 × 220 × 235 mm	300 °C
Creality K2 SE	€200 to €400	CoreXY	open	220 × 215 × 245 mm	300 °C
Creality SparkX i7	€200 to €400	Bed slinger	open	260 × 260 × 255 mm	300 °C
Elegoo Centauri 2	€200 to €400	CoreXY	open	256 × 256 × 256 mm	350 °C
Elegoo Neptune 4 Plus	€200 to €400	Bed slinger	open	320 × 320 × 385 mm	300 °C
Elegoo Neptune 4 Pro	€200 to €400	Bed slinger	open	225 × 225 × 265 mm	300 °C
Flashforge AD5X	€200 to €400	CoreXY	open	220 × 220 × 220 mm	300 °C
Flashforge Adventurer 5M	€200 to €400	CoreXY	open	220 × 220 × 220 mm	280 °C
Sovol SV06 discontinued	€200 to €400	Bed slinger	open	220 × 220 × 250 mm	300 °C
Sovol SV06 ACE	€200 to €400	Bed slinger	open	220 × 220 × 250 mm	300 °C
Sovol SV06 Plus discontinued	€200 to €400	Bed slinger	open	300 × 300 × 340 mm	300 °C
Sovol SV06 Plus ACE	€200 to €400	Bed slinger	open	300 × 300 × 350 mm	300 °C
Bambu Lab P1P discontinued	€400 to €800	CoreXY	open	256 × 256 × 256 mm	300 °C
Elegoo Neptune 4 Max	€400 to €800	Bed slinger	open	420 × 420 × 480 mm	300 °C
Flashforge Creator 5	€400 to €800	CoreXY	open	256 × 256 × 256 mm	320 °C
Prusa MINI+	€400 to €800	Bed slinger	open	180 × 180 × 180 mm	280 °C
Sovol SV08	€400 to €800	CoreXY	open	350 × 350 × 345 mm	300 °C
Prusa MK4S	€800 to €1,500	Bed slinger	open	250 × 210 × 220 mm	290 °C
Snapmaker U1	€800 to €1,500	CoreXY	open	270 × 270 × 270 mm	300 °C
Sovol SV08 Max	€800 to €1,500	CoreXY	open	500 × 500 × 500 mm	300 °C
Prusa XL+	€1,500 to €3,000	CoreXY	open	360 × 360 × 360 mm	290 °C

What to look for?

Ideal for beginners who mainly print PLA and PETG.
Do not place the printer in a draught, as this impairs adhesion.
Many models can be fitted with an enclosure later.
Pros: cheaper, lighter, everything easy to reach, and PLA gets enough cooling.
Cons: ABS and ASA warp easily, smells and particles go straight into the room, and children or pets can reach hot parts.

Compare yourself

Device 1Device 2Device 3 (optional)

More overviews

Enclosed printers CoreXY printers Bed slinger Multicolour printing With heated chamber