Anycubic Photon Mono 4 Resin 3D Printer
A resin 3d printer, a detail-focused choice for miniatures and detailed models.
The Best 3D Printers Under £300 in the UK (2026)
You can get a genuinely capable 3D printer for under £300. Here's what to expect at this price and how to choose well.
Quick answer
Under £300 you can get a very capable FDM printer with auto bed levelling, a flexible heated plate, and increasingly fast printing. Prioritise auto levelling and a good build plate; you may give up the largest build volumes, multi-material systems and the slickest enclosures at this price.
What you get under £300
This is the sweet spot for FDM value. Most printers here now include automatic bed levelling, a flexible PEI plate, decent build volume and respectable speeds - everything a beginner or hobbyist needs. Small resin printers also fall in this range if detail is your goal. What you won't always get: very large build volumes, multi-colour systems, or fully enclosed chambers for ABS.
What to prioritise on a budget
- Auto bed levelling - the feature that most improves the experience.
- Flexible heated plate for easy removal and good adhesion.
- Build volume big enough for what you make.
- Good slicer/community support - tested profiles save hours.
- Reasonable consumable costs (filament/nozzles).
The compromises at this price
Expect standard (not huge) build volumes, single-filament printing (no multi-colour), and usually an open frame rather than a heated enclosure - fine for PLA and PETG, less ideal for warp-prone ABS/ASA. None of this stops a sub-£300 printer producing excellent everyday prints; it just sets sensible limits on size and exotic materials.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Skipping auto levelling to save a few pounds.
- Expecting multi-colour or huge build volume at this price.
- Planning lots of ABS printing without an enclosure.
- Ignoring community support, which makes budget machines much easier to live with.
Our top picks
#1
#2 
Elegoo Mercury XS Bundle With Separate Washing and Curing
A resin 3d printer, a detail-focused choice for miniatures and detailed models.
#3 
Anycubic Photon Mono 4 Ultra 10K Resin 3D Printer
A resin 3d printer, a detail-focused choice for miniatures and detailed models.
#4 
Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra Resin 3D Printer
A resin 3d printer, a detail-focused choice for miniatures and detailed models.
#5 
Elegoo EU-EHJ-3DL-M5U Mars 5 Ultra 9K Resin 3D Printer
A resin 3d printer, a detail-focused choice for miniatures and detailed models.
#6 
Elegoo Eu-Ehj-3dl-M5 Mars 5 Resin 3D Printer With 4K Mono LCD
A resin 3d printer (43 x 90 x 150 mm), a detail-focused choice for miniatures and detailed models.
#7 
WEEFUN TINA2Plus Plus 3D Printer
A FDM 3d printer (250 mm/s), a versatile choice for everyday printing.
#8 
WEEFUN TINA2 S Orange 3D Printer
A FDM 3d printer (200 mm/s), a versatile choice for everyday printing.
#9 
Elegoo Neptune 3 Pro 3D Printer With Auto Bed Leveling
A FDM 3d printer (225 x 225 x 280 mm), a versatile choice for everyday printing.
#10 
Flashforge AD5X Multi-Color 3D Printer With IFS
A FDM 3d printer (220 x 220 x 220 mm, 600 mm/s), a versatile choice for everyday printing.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a good 3D printer cost?
You can get a genuinely capable FDM printer with auto bed levelling for under £300 - the sweet spot for value. Larger, multi-colour or enclosed machines cost more.
Are cheap 3D printers any good?
Yes - sub-£300 FDM printers now routinely include auto levelling and flexible plates and produce excellent everyday prints. The savings come from build size, multi-material and enclosures, not core print quality.
What should I look for in a budget 3D printer?
Auto bed levelling, a flexible heated plate, enough build volume for your needs, and strong slicer/community support. Avoid heavy-assembly kits if you're new.
Bottom line
Our top pick is the Anycubic Photon Mono 4 Resin 3D Printer (our score 9.5/10) - A resin 3d printer, a detail-focused choice for miniatures and detailed models..