2020 Best Large-Format 3D Printers

Like the Creality CR-10 before it, the Alfawise U20 has a minimalistic design and a sizable 300 x 300 x 400mm build volume. But unlike the CR-10, this large-format budget printer can be had for under $300. The billowing build volume isn’t the only star feature here, the U20 also comes with a full-color touchscreen, power recovery, and filament run-out.

This 3D printer comes partially assembled with easy to comprehend instructions, so you can have this machine up and running in no time. It has a hot red-colored frame that helps it stand out from the array of printers that have a similar design.

In our Alfawise U20 review, we did experience some slicing issues and found some components to be lackluster in quality, but the price point of this 3D printer is tough to beat. All in all, if you’re on a strict budget and want a cheap option capable of substantially large prints, the U20 could be worth a look.

Due to the success of the popular, budget-friendly Tronxy X5S, several iterations have been created since, including the Tronxy X5SA and the X5SA Pro, both which offer the same build volume and an open, box-like design and a double Z-axis that adds stability to the printing process. But, the new iterations sport some upgraded features. The X5SA boasts a single-row design to make it tidier, a larger touchscreen, an improved fan and a silicone sleeve to better regulate temperature at the nozzle.

This 3D printer comes in the kit form, so you’ll have to spend a few hours putting it together.

Learn more: Tronxy X5S: Review the Specs

Like the JGAurora A5 before it, the new and improved JGAurora A5S has the same sizable 305 x 305 x 320 mm build volume – not too shabby for a budget-priced machine. Outside of the generous build area, the JGAurora A5S is also equipped with features like filament run-out detection and power recovery.

Review: 2019 JGAurora A5S 3D Printer – Review the Specs

Another feature of this 3D printer is the black diamond glass heated platform, which is comparable to popular Anycubic Ultrabase, helping large prints stick to the bed. As for what has been improved in the latest model, most of the changes have been focused on enhancing the design of the 3D printer.

The manufacturer improved the overall stability of the frame and redesigned the extruder system to optimize filament flow. Perhaps the most important upgrade made to the JGAurora A5S is the new 32-bit mainboard with A5984 stepper motor drives. Manufactured in-house, this new mainboard offers faster processing speeds and lower power consumption.

Priced around $359, this is a good option for entry-level makers who want an affordable way to print large objects.

Improving upon the first iteration, the 2018 edition of the TEVO Tornado 3D printer comes with an upgraded MKS GEN L V1.0 Mainboard and a new gold-colored frame.

Like its predecessor, the latest TEVO Tornado has a 300 x 300 x 400 mm build size. Priced around $379, you’ll find that this 3D printer is an appealing option for budget-minded makers. This 3D printer offers a layer resolution of 50 microns and can reach a print speed of 150 mm/s, according to the spec sheet.

While the design of the TEVO Tornado 3D printer is clearly inspired by the extremely popular Creality CR-10, there are a few features that make this version unique. For instance, the TEVO Tornado comes equipped with a Titan extruder clone that is derived from E3D’s open-source original. This high-end accessory used to be available as an upgrade for the manufacturer’s line of budget 3D printers, but TEVO decided to bring that level of quality to the stock kit. Not too shabby, eh?

The original Creality CR-10 emerged as the hallmark budget 3D printer for makers who want a large build volume without breaking the bank. The design has since been expanded upon and mimicked by other 3D printer manufacturers, but the original version deserves a spot on our list of large-format 3D printers. The Chinese 3D printer manufacturer has since continued to reap the benefits of the CR-10 style, adding a few extra features and packaging it as the Creality CR-10S.

Review: Creality CR-10S Review: Great 3D Printer Under $500

Like its predecessor,  the CR-10S offers the same 300 x 300 x 400mm build volume. The manufacturer has even developed new iterations that are even bigger, but we’ll get into those further down the list. It’s slightly more expensive than the base model, but there are a slew of features and modifications that justify the price increase.

New additions to the CR-10S model include a filament run-out sensor, external control board, and auto-resume functionality. The manufacturer has also improved the Z-axis and overall build quality. If you’re looking for an affordable large-format 3D printer that is widely respected by the 3D printing community, the Creality CR-10 might be exactly what you’re looking for.

An upgrade over the original Folger Tech FT-5, the new R2 version is a large format 3D printer kit that has a generous build volume of 300 x 300 x 400mm. Despite being priced at under $500, this 3D printer has a solid aluminum frame, linear rails on the X and Y axis and dual Y motors. The heated aluminum build surface makes this 3D printer compatible with a range of materials, including PLA and ABS. All in all, the Folger Tech FT-5 R2 is ideal for makers and prosumers that want to build their own large-format 3D printer.

Known for selling highly capable FDM and resin 3D printers at a budget price, the Chinese 3D printer manufacturer Anycubic has recently conjured up a large-format Delta 3D printer at an incredibly low price. The fiercely named Anycubic Predator has a ø370mmx455mm circular print bed, along with intriguing features such as auto-bed leveling and an Anycubic Ultrabase print bed. This towering machine is available for as little as $532, a surefire bargain when you consider the price tag on most other Delta 3D printers in the same size range.

Is the 300 x 300 x 400mm build volume of the Creality CR-10 just not quite big enough for your printing needs? You can always opt for the Creality CR-10 S4 instead. This enhanced large-format 3D printer offers a 400 x 400 x 400mm print area, giving users more room to work on the X and Y-axis.

Aside from the increase in build volume, the S4 doesn’t differ much in comparison to the original Creality CR-10. Using the same design, the Creality CR-10 S4 is easy to assemble and features XYZ aluminum V-slot bearings and precision rollers which provide high positioning accuracy, which creates a smoother printing experience.

Similarly to the Creality CR-10, this model will also likely struggle with engineering-grade materials like ABS, making this printer best-suited for those who do a majority of their printing with PLA or other easy-to-print materials.

The biggest machine in the X5S series is the Tronxy X5ST-500, a sprawling 3D printer with a build volume of 500 x 500 x 600 mm and a total size of 850 x 770 x 875 mm. It’s built of aluminum and metal, boasts Z-axis double screws to improve precision, has a touchscreen control panel and sports a resume print function and filament detection — essential features especially for large-scale printing.

Priced at about $800, it’s a solid option if your primary concern is printing big without breaking the bank.

Since its release in summer 2016, the Creality CR-10 has created something of a stir in the 3D printing community. As we explain in our review, the excitement surrounding this large-format 3D printer is entirely justified.

If you want to go even bigger, the CR-10 S5, which has a 500 ✕ 500 ✕ 500mm build volume, is a viable option when it comes to large-format 3D printers.

For those with smaller pockets and less ambitious requirements, Creality offers the CR-10 S4 with a build volume of either 400 x 400 x 400 mm or the CR-10S  with a build volume of 300 ✕ 300 ✕ 400 mm. Ironically, even the smallest model dwarfs many other 3D printers in its price category.

The California-based electronics manufacturer Monoprice was a pioneer on the once-barren budget 3D printing frontier, and now the company is looking to traverse the Delta. After testing the waters with the teensy Monoprice Mini Delta, the company decided to increase the size of its delta-styled 3D printer tenfold – literally.

This expansion resulted in the Monoprice Delta Pro, a relatively affordable 3D printer that has a 270 x 320mm build volume, making it an interesting option for those that want the speed and simplicity of a Delta machine without breaking the bank.

The Delta Pro comes equipped with some marvelous features and components, like a 0.4mm nozzle made from brass, silent drivers for quiet operation, auto-leveling, a touchscreen, WiFi, the works. With a maximum extruder temperature of  270℃ and a heated bed that reaches up to 110℃, it’s compatible with a wide range of filaments.

The CraftBot XL positions itself as an indispensable tool for engineers and other makers who require a substantial build volume. Taking the CraftBot Plus as the foundation — which is a pretty sound decision, seeing as that is a renowned plug and play machine — the designers of this large-format 3D printer have enlarged the build plate, increased its heating capacity, and improved bearings for more silent and precise operation.

The da Vinci Super is an enclosed large volume 3D printer from XYZprinting and represents their first foray into the professional 3D printing market for engineering and small business. In addition to the large capacity, the company boasts that their machine can handle multiple types of filament — including ABS, PLA, TPE, Tough PLA, and PETG — and is also compatible with third-party filaments.

There are also hardware improvements addressing safety and functionality, such as power failure recovery feature and a safety door that pauses printing when opened. Above all else, you can rest assured that the da Vinci Super is a large format 3D printer that will be extremely competitive on price.

The New York City startup gCreate knows all about large-format 3D printers, and its most recent example is the new gMax 2. With a massive 457.2 x 457.2 x 609.6 mm build volume, this sturdy machine is ideal for hobbyists, prosumers and small businesses that want to produce high-quality objects that are enormous in size. Other features include a BLTouch bed leveling sensor, WiFi capabilities, and a genuine E3D v6 all-metal hot end, capable of processing a wide variety of filament materials. Prior to the release of the gMax 2, the largest 3D printer made by gCreate was the skyscraper-like gMax 1.5 XT, which has a 406 x 406 x 533mm build volume.

The gMax2 is out now and can be ordered through the manufacturer’s website.

Expanding upon the build volume of the MAKEiT PRO-M, the MAKEiT PRO-L 3D printer is a supersized version of the manufacturer’s flagship machine. Aside from the 305 x 254 x 330mm build volume,  this 3D printer offers ultra-high printing resolution. In fact, it’s capable of achieving layer heights of 50 microns.

The California-based manufacturer has integrated some impressive new features into the PRO-L, including a CNC machined aluminum Z-Axis rod and motor mounts, steel Y-axis bearing mounts, and other upgraded components, all of which improve durability and precision. Not to mention that it comes with dual extrusion system in its stock form, so you can print large, complex objects with dissolvable supports.

The Modix Big 60 offers accessibility, affordability and a large build volume, making it a great option for professionals who want a giant print area without spending too much. The 610 x 610 x 610mm build volume is its most noticeable feature, but that’s not all this large-format 3D printer has to offer.

It has an E3D high flow Volcano heating block, fully automatic bed leveling, dual-zone silicon heater for the print bed, a PEI print surface, a filament run-out sensor, and 10mm Polyurethane timing belts with steel cores. The company also offers optional upgrades like dual extrusion, Wifi compatibility, an enclosed frame, and various nozzle sizes.

All of these features, along with a massive build volume, will only cost you around $3,500. While this 3D printer might seem expensive compared to some of the budget options on our list, the Modix Big 60 offers a lot of bang for your buck.

The Zortrax M300 Plus is a super-sized version of the proven and popular Zortrax M300. Despite offering the same print area (300 x 300 x 300mm) as its predecessor, the M300 Plus is packed with a slew of new features that makes it a clear improvement over its predecessor.

For starters, Zortrax has redesigned the extruder and nozzle with a new geometry, improving that printer’s handling of flexible materials. With the latest model, users can operate the M300 Plus via Wi-fi and Ethernet, as well as through USB. Connectivity and printer management both seem to be a major selling point for this machine.

The perforated, heated build platform on this large-format 3D printer is the essential feature that allows you to print ABS filament reliably and with ease. Zortrax-branded materials are provided on massive 2kg spools, with indicators to see how much filament is left.

If you need a large format 3D printer that works out of the box with minimal setup, and which produces reliable and consistent results, then the Zortrax M300 Plus would make a great large format 3D printer for your small business.

The BCN3D Sigmax belongs to a select group in the large format 3D printer category; it boasts an independent dual extrusion (IDEX) system.

The benefits of an IDEX are quite significant. Not only can you use both heads to print a single object in two materials (especially handy for providing dissolvable support for objects with complex geometry), but you can use both heads to print separate objects simultaneously, which should cut your small batch production times in half. This comes in especially handy with a horizontal Y-axis that’s 420mm wide.

Important to note, however, is that the supporting slicer software here is a fork of Cura. To get the full experience with this large-format 3D printer, you’ll be relying heavily on software which has been tweaked and developed in-house by BCN3D and doesn’t always keep step with the universal version of Cura.

BCN3D recently unveiled an updated version of the Sigmax, the Sigmax R19. Boasting improved and optimized mechanical parts from renowned brands E3D and Bondtech, it presents a slight evolution over an already impressive machine.

The Fusion3 F410 combines everything a professional is looking for in a large format 3D printer. It has a 355x355x315mm build volume and a fully enclosed print chamber, providing stability to its high-temperature printing environment. You’ll also find three interchangeable print heads, which can be quickly swapped depending on the print quality you need. The Fusion F410 is also capable of reaching a print speed of up to 250 mm/s and a layer resolution as low as 20 microns.

Not only is the Fusion3 F410 a great option for small business, but it’s also designed for the classroom as well. The enclosed design and optional air filter make it safe to keep around the educational environment, and the easy-to-use nature makes it an accessible 3D printer for students. There’s also an optional rolling cart that makes the machine portable and situated for storage.

Recognized as one of the pioneers in open source 3D printing, Ultimaker has slowly shifted its focus towards the professional market over the years. The most recent 3D printer to come from the Dutch 3D printer manufacturer is the Ultimaker S5.

With a 330 x 240 x 300mm build volume, this machine has a larger print area than all other Ultimaker 3D printers. The Ultimaker S5 also offers dual extrusion capabilities, an improved feeder system with a filament flow sensor and an advanced touchscreen display that makes the printer easy to use and control.

Learn more: Ultimaker S5 Review: Best Dual Extruder 3D Printer

The Ultimaker S5 is ideal for professionals and small businesses. While the $5,995 price tag might seem a bit high for a desktop machine, the advanced features, sizable build volume, and ease of use make it a great option for those who want a no-nonsense 3D printer that just works.

Raise3D specializes in making professional-grade large-format 3D printers that are quite affordable, so it’s no surprise that the manufacturer has earned another badge in our “Best 3D Printers” awards. This time, Raise3D gets the nod for the Pro 2 Plus, our pick for the “Best Large Format 3D Printer”.

Touting a hefty build volume of 305x305x605, the Pro 2 Plus gives users a lot of room to work on the Z-axis. It also features dual extrusion as standard, letting users experiment with mixing materials and filament colors. It’s equipped with a full-color touchscreen, emergency print recovery, a filament run-out sensor, and an enhanced motherboard. The Raise3D Pro2 Plus also includes a swappable magnetic build plate, a built-in camera, a HEPA-filter exhaust fan, and other unique features.

Building off of the professional reputation garnered by the Airwolf EVO, the California-based 3D printer manufacturer Airwolf3D recently unveiled the EVO 22, a larger version of its flagship machine. With a massive 3,276-cubic-inch build volume, the EVO 22 is a professional-grade machine that is tailored toward prosumers, engineers and small businesses.

Outside of the sheer size of this 3D printer, it’s also loaded with impressive features like auto-leveling, an air filtration system, print recovery and more. The manufacturer has also implemented Tri-Heat technology, utilizing two internal chamber heaters and a heated bed to create an optimal thermal environment.

Marketed as an Additive Manufacturing System, the Airwolf Evo 22 prides itself on offering a maintenance-free 3D printing experience that results in high strength parts. Priced at $11,995, this machine is pretty expensive but also well-suited to take on most industrial tasks that are thrown in its way.

The BigRep Studio is not even the biggest large-format 3D printer offered by this Berlin Startup, but for most use cases it’s probably plenty big enough. With a print volume of 500mm x 1000mm x 500mm, the Studio retains the meter-wide printing capability on the horizontal axis, but scales back on the X and Z axes to a more manageable 500mm. The benefit of this redesign, according to the company, is higher precision and faster printing.

This large-format 3D printer is available in both a single and dual extruder configuration, has a power-failure backup feature, and the hotend is capable of working with the most demanding materials on the market. Also of note is how it’s been optimized for operation with Simplify3D, a market-leading paid solution in software slicing (though it also plays nice with Cura and Slic3r).

As is the norm with a BigRep-branded 3D printer, the most eye-catching feature of the new BigRep PRO has to be its gargantuan 1005 x 1005 x 1005mm build volume. This large-format professional machine has an insulated, fully enclosed metal frame that provides stable temperature control, as well as glass doors that allow users to watch the 3D printing process unfold.

The BigRep PRO is equipped with the manufacturer’s proprietary Metering Extruder Technology (MXT), a groundbreaking extruder system that provides a clear separation between filament feeding and melting and extrusion. With this extruder system, the BigRep PRO is able to print at a high speed of over 600mm per second, making it around five times faster than any other FDM printer on the market.

Unlike many of the low-end 3D printers featured in this list, the BigRep PRO is specifically geared towards engineers and designers that need to produce large-scale functional prototypes, composite tooling, end-use parts, and small-number serial production.