The 3D Printing Market Just Hit $24.2B, but the Growth Is No Longer Where You Think
The Wohlers Report 2026 reveals a massive industry pivot: 3D printing services are now the primary growth engine, with the Asia-Pacific region leading the global charge at nearly 20% expansion.
The global additive manufacturing (AM) industry reached $24.2 billion in 2025, growing 10.9% year over year, according to the Wohlers Report 2026 from Wohlers Associates, powered by ASTM International. Although that’s solid growth, the report shows an industry that’s moving away from rapid hardware expansion and toward production, services, and efficiency.
In short: 3D printing is still growing, but not in the same way as before, and no where near the 20%+ growth rates seen prior to the pandemic.
The annual Wohlers Report ($924), now in its 31st years is long considered one of the most authoritative market analyses in additive manufacturing, paints a picture of an industry entering a more mature, and more complex, phase.
It’s a sign that 3D printing is continuing its transition from emerging technology to established manufacturing tool, just with a more complex and uneven growth story than before.
All3DP has reported that Wohlers values the market far higher than other industry market reports, such as AM Research, AMPower, and VoxelMatters Research.
Global Additive Manufacturing Market: Wohlers Associates
Services Are Now 48% of the Market
Printing services made up 48% of the total AM market in 2025, making it the largest segment by far, and also growing the fastest, jumping 15.5% compared to 2024.
Meanwhile, printer sales (and servicing those printers) accounted for 26% of the market but grew only 3.6%, suggesting companies are slowing down on buying new machines. Materials represented 20%, and software made up the remaining 6%.
This shift reflects a clear change in priorities. Instead of investing heavily in new hardware, companies are focusing more on getting real production value out of the machines they already own.
That means higher utilization, more end-use parts, and a stronger focus on manufacturing, not just prototyping.
“Additive manufacturing is no longer advancing on a single, uniform growth curve,” says Mahdi Jamshid, director of market intelligence at Wohlers Associates. “What we see in Wohlers Report 2026 is an industry adjusting to tighter capital conditions, more selective investment, and higher expectations for utilization and return. Growth continues, but it is more uneven, more regional, and more closely tied to real production outcomes.”
Asia-Pacific Pulls Ahead
Growth wasn’t evenly spread across the globe.
Asia-Pacific saw the fastest expansion, with revenue increasing by 19.8% in 2025. The Americas followed with 12.6% growth, while Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) lagged behind at 9.0%.
These differences highlight how regional policies, government investment, and manufacturing strategies are increasingly shaping the AM landscape. Some regions are accelerating adoption faster than others, creating a more uneven global market.
The report also points to a broader shift: additive manufacturing ongoing transition from a prototyping tool to a full production technology.
In the past, growth was often driven by companies buying new machines. Now, tighter capital conditions and more cautious spending mean businesses are focusing on efficiency and real production output, the report notes.
In other words, companies aren’t just buying 3D printers, they’re making sure they actually use them to produce parts at scale.
Wohlers Report Goes Digital for the First Time
Another major change this year isn’t about the market, it’s about the report itself. For the first time, Wohlers Report 2026 is being delivered through ASTM International’s Market Intelligence Platform instead of a traditional static PDF. The new interactive format lets subscribers navigate the data more easily and access updates over time.
“Our new digital platform gives clients self-service assess to data with interactive dashboards and analytical tools that put actionable intelligence at their fingertips,” ASTM says in a explainer YouTube video. The move signals a shift toward more dynamic market intelligence, rather than a once-a-year snapshot.
If you want the phonebook-size Wohlers report that you’re used to, don’t worry, you can still buy the physical, printed edition for around $500.
To explore these market shifts further, dial into a Webinar tomorrow, Feb. 18, where Wohlers analysts will walk through what the data is revealing and how to interpret it in the current market context.
You May Also Like:
Listen to All3DP’s News Podcast:
License: The text of "The 3D Printing Market Just Hit $24.2B, but the Growth Is No Longer Where You Think" by All3DP Pro is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.