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:

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 2023 – Reviews

Resin printer	Price	Best price at	Alternative
Anycubic Mono M5s	$479	Anycubic Store here	Amazon here
Anycubic Mono 2	$189	Anycubic Store here
Anycubic M3 Max	$869	Anycubic Store here	Amazon here
Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K	$799	Phrozen Store here
Prusa SL1S Speed	$1,999	Prusa Store here	Amazon here

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Best Overall

1. Anycubic Mono M5s – best overall

• Price: Check latest price at Anycubic here / Amazon here
• Build volume: 200 x 218 x 123 mm
• LCD Resolution: 12K
• LCD Size: 10.1 inches
• XY Resolution: 19 x 24 microns
• Connectivity: USB
• Print Speed: 70 mm/h or 105 mm/h with high-speed resin

The Anycubic Mono M5s is the printer resin enthusiasts have been waiting for.

It features automatic bed leveling, along with a host of automatic smart sensors to make printing easier and less error-prone, resin level detection in the vat, pre-print checks, print failure detection, and film wear and tear monitoring, to name a few. 

The idea is to drastically improve the success of your prints… while also ensuring the printer stays in optimal condition.

But these clever additions are only a part of the package. The Anycubic Mono M5s has a detailed 12K LCD and print speeds up to 105 mm/h. 

The 12K pixel count allows for a crisp, extremely sharp 19-micron XY resolution, providing a level of detail that makes the intricate features on tiny models like miniatures pop and shine. 

However, this really depends on what you’re printing: a low-detail model swiped off of Thingiverse will come out identically to any run-of-the-mill 4K printer, but a high-quality model dripping with detail will benefit hugely from the bump to 12K.

A new, easy-release film that requires less force to detach a cured layer of resin, specialty high-speed resin, and shorter exposure times makes the overall print speed faster. I think I speak for everyone when I say that this is what the community has been clamoring for for a while now. 

Specialty resin can be expensive, but the option is still there if you don’t mind this extra cost.

There’s also Wi-Fi connectivity, and a mid-sized 200 x 218 x 123 mm build volume, large enough for batch printing miniatures, figurines, jewelry, and much more. 

Overall, the Anycubic Photon Mono M5s is the best overall resin 3D printer out there today. It’s also the best medium-sized resin printer.

Runners-Up: Anycubic Mono 2, and Elegoo Saturn 3 12K

However, if the price is a little too steep and you don’t need all the fancy trimmings or 12K details, try out the Anycubic Mono 2. Priced at under $200, it’s a solid budget printer that despite lacking the advanced features of M5s and having a smaller build volume, produces high-quality prints.

For a good in-between printer, I recommend the Elegoo Saturn 3 12K. Priced at $399, it’s more affordable, packs in a 12K LCD, a roomier 219 x 124 x 250 mm build volume, and extras like a plug-in air purifier to keep those resin fumes at bay. 

But, it lacks the smart features that make the Anycubic Mono M5s our top pick in the medium sized resin 3D printer space. If you’re a hobbyist that wants all that crisp detail but aren’t fussed about self-led troubleshooting, then the Elegoo Saturn 3 12K is the smarter choice.

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Best For Beginners

1. Anycubic Mono 2 – best budget pick

• Price: Check latest price at Anycubic here
• Build volume: 165 x 89 x 143 mm
• LCD Resolution: 4K
• LCD Size: 6.6 inches
• XY Resolution: 34 microns
• Connectivity: USB
• Print Speed: 50 mm/h

The Anycubic Mono 2 is a compact starter resin printer that produces impressive 4K quality prints. From unboxing to producing your first print, the Anycubic Mono 2 is designed from the ground up for ease, ideal if you’re looking for a beginner-friendly and cheap printer to churn out high-quality resin prints.

It features a respectable 165 x 89 x 143 mm build volume, making it suitable for batches of minis, small figurines, and other small-ish decorative pieces. The LCD pushes a 4K resolution (which in 2023 is the standard), and produces high-quality prints.

The 34-micron XY resolution rivals more expensive machines, another impressive spec given the Mono 2’s low price. Exposure times keep print speed to a competitive 50 mm/h, on par with not just other budget and mid-range alternatives.

At under $200, the Anycubic Mono 2 cuts some corners, but these don’t affect print quality. You feel it in the cheap-feeling plastic used on the printer and cover. Honestly, compared to pricier models like the Mono M5s or Phrozen 8K, the Anycubic Mono 2 feels like a budget printer. 

The benefit, however, is that the Anycubic Mono 2 is quite a bit lighter, which makes it easier to move around.

Runner-Up: Creality Halot-One Plus

If you want a bigger build volume for large batch printing, for example, I recommend the Creality Halot-One Plus with its 172 x 102 x 160 mm build plate. 
And, while a 4K resolution should suit most users, if you need finer and crisper details, I recommend the Mars 4 9K, with its 9K LCD.

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Best Large Resin Printer

1. Anycubic Photon M3 Max – best large-format

• Price: Check latest price at Anycubic here / Amazon here
• Build volume: 298 x 164 x 300 mm
• LCD Resolution: 7K
• LCD Size: 13.6 inches
• XY Resolution: 46 microns
• Connectivity: USB
• Print Speed: 60 mm/h

The Anycubic Photon M3 Max is the best medium-to-large resin printer for both amateurs and professionals. It’s capable of producing highly detailed, crisp prints.

The headline is obviously the massive 298 x 164 x 300 mm build volume. With this, expect to print big batches of miniatures and far larger individual models than you would, on say, the Anycubic Mono 2. 

The real trick here is that Anycubic supersizes the build volume while weaving in a 7K LCD and respectable 46-micron XY resolution, meaning every individual model, however small, still has a high-quality finish.

While the 60 mm/h print speed won’t turn any heads, combine it with the large build volume and you can print a lot of models per hour. 

To hammer this home, Anycubic has included an auto-refill system that automatically tops up the vat with the resin, speeding things up and saving you the hassle. Simply fire off a print, get on with other work, and know that when you return it will still be printing smoothly.

I think this is the best large-format resin 3D printer, but there are alternatives available. These include the Phrozen Mighty 8K, the most direct competitor to the Photon M3 Max. 

Runner-Up: Phrozen Mighty 8K 

Phrozen Mighty 8K sports a smaller 218 x 123 x 23.5 mm build volume, but has a more accurate 28-micron XY resolution, slightly faster 70 mm/h print speed, higher resolution 8K sceren, and is almost $200 cheaper. 

If you can live with the smaller build area, then the Phrozen Mighty 8K offers a bump in print quality with slightly richer details and print speeds over the Anycubic Photon M3 Max.

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

1. Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K – best low-cost precise printer

• Price: Check latest price at Phrozen here / Amazon 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)

1. Prusa SL1S Speed – fastest high-res printer

• Price: $1,999 — Available at Prusa Store here / Amazon 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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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 – How To Pick a 3D Resin Printer

• Get an LCD mono screen: Don’t get an outdated RGB screen. Mono resin printers print 3x faster, and last 4-5x longer before they need replacing.
• Resolution: Better resolutions lead to better quality overall. You’ll 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, even the highest resolution 3D printer will perform worse than 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.
• Size: Resin printers can cure entire layers at once, making them much faster than FDM printers. It also makes build volume so much more important, as larger sizes means you can print more models at once as you cure the entire layer. However, remember that the larger the build volume, the further the pixels have to stretch, which reduces resolution and precision. As a result, larger resin printers need a larger LCD screen with more pixels to cover a larger area.
• Post-processing: Post-processing breaks down into two parts: washing and curing. You can manually wash and cure prints, but I recommend paying the $100 for a wash & cure kit to save you the hassle. All major resin 3D printer manufacturers, like Anycubic and Elegoo, sell these wash and cure stations.

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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. Resin 3D printers flash light at certain parts of the resin to selectively cure parts, to create the model from your STL file. 

Most low-cost resin printers now use LCD screens. 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, ready 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:

1. 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.
2. Print in a relatively warm environment: room temperature is fine, but if resin gets too cold, it becomes more viscous and difficult to print.
3. Wear gloves when handling resin: nitrile rubber disposable gloves work well.
4. 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.
5. 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 when 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. There is also 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 the potentials for print failure are, so you can avoid the costly failed prints and optimize them automatically.

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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

What’s Changed

• Nov 2023:
  • Added the Anycubic Mono 2 and Mono M5s, to our recommendations, replacing older models like the Photon M3, and Elegoo Mars 3.
  • Removed the Formlabs Form 3, Anycubic Mono X, and Elegoo Saturn.
  • Updated our buying guide to remove references to RGB screens.

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