Best resin 3D printers under $400

Updated 26 September 2026 路 Live prices updated daily

Ranked off live Amazon.com prices plus the specs that actually matter on a resin machine: XY pixel size (finer is better), build volume, and light-source technology. Bigger numbers don't always mean better prints - but they do mean more headroom for miniatures, dental work and jewellery casting. Resin is messier than FDM; expect to spend time on wash, cure and nitrile gloves.

  1. #1
    ELEGOO Mars 5 Ultra 9K MSLA Resin and ELEGOO 1kg
    ELEGOO
    Mars 5 Ultra 9K MSLA Resin and ELEGOO 1kg
    $290 MSLA 路 18 碌m XY 路 2.0 L 路 8520 x 4320
  2. #2
    ELEGOO Mars 4 Ultra Resin and ELEGOO Mercury X Wa
    ELEGOO
    Mars 4 Ultra Resin and ELEGOO Mercury X Wa
    $366 MSLA 路 18 碌m XY 路 2.0 L 路 8520x4320
  3. #3
    ELEGOO Saturn 3 MSLA 12K and Metal Resin Tank
    ELEGOO
    Saturn 3 MSLA 12K and Metal Resin Tank
    $311 MSLA 路 19 碌m XY 路 6.7 L 路 11520x5120
  4. #4
    ELEGOO Saturn 3 Ultra MSLA and 5PCS ACF Release L
    ELEGOO
    Saturn 3 Ultra MSLA and 5PCS ACF Release L
    $352 MSLA 路 19 碌m XY 路 7.0 L 路 11520脳5120
  5. #5
    ELEGOO 16K Saturn 4 Ultra Resin
    ELEGOO
    16K Saturn 4 Ultra Resin
    $388 MSLA 路 19 碌m XY 路 5.9 L
  6. #6
    ELEGOO Mars 5 MSLA Resin and ELEGOO Mercury Plus
    ELEGOO
    Mars 5 MSLA Resin and ELEGOO Mercury Plus
    $280 MSLA 路 35 碌m XY 路 1.9 L 路 4K (6.6-inch LCD)
  7. #7
    ANYCUBIC 10K Resin
    ANYCUBIC
    10K Resin
    $280 MSLA 路 2.2 L 路 9024x5120
  8. #8
    ELEGOO Saturn 4 12K Resin
    ELEGOO
    Saturn 4 12K Resin
    $360 MSLA 路 5.9 L
  9. #9
    ANYCUBIC Photon Mono 4 and 3D Cleanning
    ANYCUBIC
    Photon Mono 4 and 3D Cleanning
    $181 SLA 路 2.2 L 路 9024x5120

Matt's take on this budget

$400 is where 8K resin becomes standard and build areas start creeping towards Mars / Photon D2 size. If you're printing minis at 28 mm scale for tabletop, this is the tier where pixel size stops being a limitation. It's still not a workshop machine - the small bed makes big single prints awkward, and the lack of heating means winter print failures. A fantastic dedicated miniatures machine.

Frequently asked

What is the best resin 3D printer under $400? +

The shortlist above is live from Amazon. At this tier expect Elegoo Saturn 3/4, Anycubic Photon Mono M5s Pro and Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K to trade top slots as prices move. All are 8K-class machines with similar capability.

Is 8K resolution worth the upgrade over 4K? +

Yes for minis and jewellery, marginal for hand-sized props. Pixel size drops from ~35 碌m (4K) to ~22 碌m (8K) on typical screens - a visible step change on fine detail, less obvious on larger volumes.

How big are the prints at this budget? +

Typical build volumes at $400 are 218 x 123 x 230 mm or similar. Big enough for a handful of army minis or one medium bust. Larger-bed machines (Saturn 4 Ultra class) usually need closer to the $650 tier.

Other resin budgets
Or switch to FDM: Best FDM under $400 →

Ranking is driven by the spec sheet plus live price. Print quality on resin also depends heavily on the slicer, the resin itself, exposure tuning and post-processing - none of which are on the spec sheet. Treat this as a shortlist, read owner reports, then buy.