Should you buy a 3D Printer that’s made for kids? Or get a grown up machine that’s beginner-friendly?
Introducing kids to 3D printing opens a world of creative hands-on learning. Whether they’re dreaming up new toys, designing their own keychains, or exploring STEM concepts, 3D printing can inspire both curiosity and problem-solving. But with so many options available, finding the right 3D printer for your child can be a bit overwhelming.
You have two choices when getting a 3D printer for a child. You can either get a printer specifically made for kids, or you can get an easy-to-use beginner printer. The main determining factors are age of the user and budget.
Why buy a “Made for Kids” 3D Printer?
Kid printers are good for elementary aged kids. Printers made for kids usually have extra safety features and are extremely easy to use. Some have special software that avoids the need for complex slicers to prep the prints, while others come with curated libraries of kid friendly prints. All of them are small and cute.
But there’s a downside. Printer manufactures put extra attention into the kid-friendly software, but cut corners on the machine itself. Sometimes this leads to poor print quality. Many lack heated beds and have extremely basic bed leveling functions. They use cheaper old-fashion print heads, which are difficult for a novice to maintain.
Once your child hits middle school, I would encourage you to look at beginner-friendly “grownup” printers. These machines have fewer limitations while still being easy to use.
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X-Maker Joy
- Amazon: $299
- Print Volume: 150x150x150mm
The X-Maker Joy is a great, kid friendly printer with good print quality and decent speed. The software allows you to do basic slicing, or you can select (free) pre-sliced models. The website also has several excellent toy making design tools your kid will love. There are no buttons on the machine, and no USB ports. It requires a mobile device (and Wi-Fi) to operate.
Kidoddle 3D Printer
- Kidoodle: $88
- 100 x 100 x 100 mm
ToyBox 3D Printer
- Amazon $299
- Print Volume: 70 x 80 x 90 mm
Superfast and amazingly inexpensive, the Kidoodle 3D printer is a recent Kickstarter project. The machine’s touch screen is more like an Android tablet with a colorful, kid friendly interface. A few sample models are included in the onboard memory, making this printer literally plug and play. More models can be found on their website or easily acquired from normal public sources and sliced with Kidoodle’s easy software, then brought over with a USB stick.
The ToyBox is an extremely basic, but well-built 3D printer for young kids. The interface is limited and files can only be downloaded to the printer via Wi-Fi from your ToyBox account. It has a great website with a library of free and paid premium parent-approved models and simple toy designing tools.
AOSEED X-Maker
- Amazon: $459
- Build Volume: 150 x 150 x 150
The X-Maker is perfect for elementary kids but offers room for growth. It’s a fully functional 3D printer with kid-friendly software and an easy-to-understand interface. It shares the same software suite with the X-Maker Joy, and lets you make your own toys with simple programs or select from a curated library of free models.
Bambu Mini
- Bambu Website: Starting at $199
- Print Volume: 180 x180 x 180mm
Ideal for older kids familiar with technology, the Bambu Mini is a compact, beginner-friendly printer. The stand-alone printer is extremely budget friendly, and an optional AMS upgrade allows printing in four colors. Bambu Lab’s MakerWorld website has free models that can be directly loaded from the website to the printer,
Prusa Mini
- Prusa Research: $459 (semi-assembled)
- Print Volume: 180 x180 x 180mm
An excellent choice for older kids, the Prusa Mini offers quality with a compact size. It’s not made with kids in mind, but its user-friendly features make it accessible. As a semi-assembled printer, it strikes a balance between simplicity and functionality.
AnkerMake M5C
- Amazon: $299
- Print Volume: 220 x 220 x 250 mm
The AnkerMake M5C is a “full size” 3d printer that runs off your phone and offers an “easy mode” slicer for straightforward printing. While not explicitly made for kids, its speed and simplicity make it an attractive option for tech-savvy middle schoolers.
Creality Ender 3 V3 SE
- Amazon: $219
- Print Volume: 220 x 220 x 250 mm
The Ender 3 V3 SE is a full size beginner-friendly printer that’s easy use and simple to assemble. While not designed specifically for kids, a tech-savvy middle schooler will find it easy to operate.