Printing figures is the project that started a lot of 3D printing hobbies. Tabletop gamers, fantasy artists, comic-book sculptors, and dollhouse builders all want the same thing: prints with clean faces, crisp clothing folds, and visible texture that paints up well. After looking at 11 current printers across resin and FDM, these seven stood out for figure-printing detail, workflow simplicity, and the actual quality of the finished prints. The lineup covers $350 entry resin printers through $700 mid-volume CoreXY FDM machines for larger characters.
Quick comparison
| Printer | Type | Layer height | XY pixel | Build volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra | Resin (MSLA 12K) | 0.025mm | 0.019mm | 218x123x230mm |
| Anycubic Photon Mono M5s | Resin (MSLA 12K) | 0.025mm | 0.019mm | 218x123x200mm |
| Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K | Resin (MSLA 8K) | 0.025mm | 0.022mm | 165x72x180mm |
| Elegoo Mars 5 | Resin (MSLA 9K) | 0.025mm | 0.018mm | 153x77x165mm |
| Bambu Lab A1 (0.2mm nozzle) | FDM | 0.08mm | N/A | 256x256x256mm |
| Bambu Lab P1S (0.2mm nozzle) | FDM | 0.08mm | N/A | 256x256x256mm |
| Prusa Mini Plus+ (0.25mm nozzle) | FDM | 0.1mm | N/A | 180x180x180mm |
Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra, Best Overall for Figures
The Saturn 4 Ultra is the current default pick for serious figure printing. A 12K monochrome LCD at 0.019mm XY pixel size produces detail that rivals injection-molded retail miniatures. The 8.9-inch screen accommodates multiple 28mm minis per print run or one or two large 75mm scale figures.
The strength is the combination of resolution and build volume. Most figure printers force a choice between high resolution (small build plate) and reasonable batch size (lower resolution). The Saturn 4 Ultra gives both: print a full skirmish-game army in one overnight run with cabinet-quality detail. The included anti-aliasing settings and the dialed-in Chitubox profiles save hours of trial and error.
Trade-off: the workflow is still resin workflow. Gloves, IPA wash, UV cure, ventilation, and resin disposal apply. The printer also has a tall Z axis that increases print times on tall figures.
Anycubic Photon Mono M5s, Best Value
The Mono M5s is roughly $100 less than the Saturn 4 Ultra and matches it closely on screen resolution (12K, 0.019mm XY). The build volume is slightly shorter on Z, and the auto-leveling and self-leveling-on-startup features are well-tuned for beginners.
For a first resin printer aimed at figure printing, the Mono M5s is the right starter. The included Chitubox profiles produce good results without much tuning, and the Anycubic ecosystem (wash and cure station, resin library) is well-supported.
Trade-off: the screen lifespan is roughly 1,500 to 2,000 hours of cure time, which is shorter than the Saturn’s. Replacement screens are available but the swap is a 30-minute job. For a hobbyist printing 5 to 10 hours a week, this works out to a screen replacement every 3 to 4 years.
Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K, Best for Detail Above Volume
The Sonic Mini 8K is a smaller printer (165x72mm build plate) but the 0.022mm XY pixel size on the 8K screen produces extraordinary detail. For users printing individual character busts, jewelry masters, or single-figure showpieces, the small build volume is not a limitation.
The strength is the dialed-in calibration. Phrozen’s profiles produce sharp prints out of the box, and the small build size means cure times per layer are short, which keeps print times reasonable. The included anti-aliasing and grayscaling produce surface finishes that hide layer lines almost entirely.
Trade-off: the small build volume means no batch printing. One full-scale 75mm character at a time. For an army painter who needs to crank out 50 minis, this is the wrong printer. For an artist focused on individual showpieces, it is the right pick.
Elegoo Mars 5, Best Compact Pick
The Mars 5 is Elegoo’s compact tabletop-mini focused resin printer. A 9K screen at 0.018mm XY, a 153x77mm build plate, and a small footprint that fits on a corner desk. For a hobbyist printing only 28mm to 32mm scale figures, this size is exactly right.
Print quality at 0.025mm layer height is excellent. The auto-leveling is well-tuned and the print preparation in Chitubox or Lychee is straightforward. The Mars 5 also runs quietly, which matters for a printer that lives in an apartment or a shared room.
Trade-off: the small Z axis (165mm) limits taller character options. The build plate also fits fewer batch figures than the Saturn 4 Ultra. For a focused tabletop mini workflow, this is fine.
Bambu Lab A1 (with 0.2mm nozzle), Best FDM for Larger Figures
The A1 with a 0.2mm hot-end swap (which Bambu sells as a kit) produces FDM figures with surprisingly clean detail. At 0.08mm layer height and the small nozzle, the layer lines are visible but the detail captures fingers, faces, and fabric folds well enough for 4-inch and larger figures.
The strength is the workflow. No gloves, no IPA, no ventilation. Print, pop off the bed, clip supports, sand if desired, paint. For larger characters (6 to 10 inches) where resin’s small build volumes are a real limitation, FDM with a small nozzle is the practical choice.
Trade-off: 0.08mm FDM layer lines are still visible compared to 0.025mm resin layers. The finish quality on a small 28mm mini is dramatically worse than resin. For 28mm to 75mm scale, this is the wrong printer; for 4 inch and up, it is the right one.
Bambu Lab P1S (with 0.2mm nozzle), Best Enclosed FDM
The P1S with a 0.2mm nozzle is the A1 upgraded to an enclosed CoreXY frame. The detail is similar to the A1 at small nozzles, but the print speeds are faster and the enclosure supports PETG and ABS for engineering materials when the figure printing is not the only use case.
For users who want one printer that prints both engineering parts and large figures, the P1S is the practical pick. The 256mm cube build volume handles characters up to 9 inches tall without splitting.
Trade-off: at $700 the P1S is significantly more printer than a dedicated figure printer needs. The case for it is users who want a do-it-all FDM with figure printing as one of many use cases.
Prusa Mini Plus+ (with 0.25mm nozzle), Best Build Quality FDM
The Mini Plus+ with a 0.25mm nozzle is the highest-build-quality FDM in this lineup. The dialed-in Prusa profiles, the precise extruder, and the PrusaSlicer ecosystem produce figure prints that are clean and repeatable.
For a buyer who values long-term reliability over speed and accepts the smaller build volume (180mm cube), the Prusa is the right pick. The community support and the lifetime parts availability are also better than any other brand.
Trade-off: the slower print speed and smaller build volume mean longer print times per figure. The print quality is good but not magic; on small minis the layer lines are still visible compared to resin.
How to choose
Figure scale to printer type
28mm to 75mm scale: resin, mandatory. 4 inch and up: FDM works well. Busts and statues over 8 inches: FDM with sectioned printing or large-format resin.
Resolution and build volume tradeoff
A small build volume gives lower price and faster per-layer cure but limits batch size. The Saturn 4 Ultra is the practical middle ground. For showpieces, a smaller printer like the Sonic Mini 8K wins on focus.
Workflow tolerance
Resin requires gloves, ventilation, IPA wash, and UV cure. FDM does not. If the workflow overhead is a problem, FDM is the right choice and accept the slightly lower detail on small figures.
Batch printing vs single figure
Tabletop wargamers print in batches and need build plate area. Single-piece artists print one figure at a time and need resolution above area. Pick the right tool for the right project rhythm.
For related guides, see our breakdown in 3D printer FDM vs resin for beginners and best 3D printer for beginners. For details on how we evaluate 3D printers, see our methodology.
The figure-printing market in 2026 rewards picking the right technology for the project. Resin printers like the Saturn 4 Ultra and Photon Mono M5s deliver retail-quality miniatures for $400 to $500. FDM printers like the Bambu A1 with a small nozzle deliver larger characters with simpler workflows for similar money. Either is a real path to figures that paint up well.
Frequently asked questions
Resin or FDM for figures?+
Resin for anything under 4 inches tall. The layer height on a modern resin printer (0.025 to 0.05mm) is roughly a quarter to a tenth of FDM, which means faces, fingers, and fabric folds come out cleanly. For tabletop minis (28mm to 75mm scale), resin is the only realistic option. For larger figures (6 inches and up, busts, statues), good FDM at 0.1mm layer height with a small nozzle (0.2mm or 0.25mm) produces results that are sandable and paintable into excellent finished pieces.
What resolution actually matters for figures?+
Two numbers matter: XY pixel size (the resolution of the LCD or projector) and Z layer height. Most current monochrome LCD resin printers run 8K screens with XY pixels around 0.018mm to 0.022mm, which is fine for any figure scale. Z layer height should be set at 0.025mm to 0.05mm for finished work. Lower is not always better; below 0.025mm the print time roughly doubles for marginal visible improvement. Anti-aliasing in the slicer makes a bigger visible difference than chasing lower Z.
How long does printing a figure actually take?+
Resin: 4 to 10 hours for a typical 28mm to 75mm miniature. The print time scales with height, not with horizontal complexity, because the printer cures one full layer at a time regardless of how detailed it is. FDM: 6 to 20 hours for a 4 to 8 inch figure depending on detail and infill. Both technologies print overnight for most projects. The active time (slicing, supports, washing, curing for resin; bed prep, support cleanup for FDM) is 30 to 90 minutes per figure on top of the print time.
What is the workflow difference for resin vs FDM figures?+
Resin: print, drain residual resin off the part, wash in IPA for 5 to 10 minutes, dry, cure under UV for 2 to 10 minutes, remove supports with flush cutters, sand support marks. Active time 45 to 90 minutes per figure. FDM: pop the part off the bed, remove tree supports with pliers, sand layer lines, optional primer and sand. Active time 20 to 45 minutes per figure. Resin produces better-looking unpainted results; FDM is faster end-to-end.
How much does a figure-printing setup cost in 2026?+
Resin entry: $350 for printer, $200 for wash and cure station, $80 for resin and IPA, $50 for safety gear (gloves, respirator, drip trays) = $680 starter. Resin midrange: $500 printer (Saturn 4 Ultra), $250 wash and cure (Mercury XS), $100 resin = $850. FDM for larger figures: $300 to $400 for an A1 Mini or A1, plus a 0.2mm nozzle ($10), plus PLA filament ($25). Total $335 to $435. Resin is more expensive upfront but produces better detail for small figures.
Alex Patel
Alex Patel writes for The Tested Hub.