The Best Affordable Resin Printers for Miniatures (Without Selling a Kidney)

 If you’re like me, you love the idea of printing insanely detailed miniatures but don’t love the idea of going broke in the process. Resin 3D printers are the go-to for high-quality minis, whether you’re making D&D characters, wargaming armies, or tiny warriors that will ultimately sit on a shelf because you never got around to painting them.

So, let’s cut to the chase—here are some of the best budget-friendly resin printers that won’t leave your wallet crying.

Anycubic Photon Mono 2 ($150-$180)

This one is a great balance of price and quality. It has a 4K resolution, which means crisp details, so your rogue’s tiny dagger will actually look like a dagger. The print speeds are solid, which is great because the less time waiting, the better. The build volume is decent too, allowing you to print multiple figures at once without constantly rearranging your files.

That being said, it’s not perfect. There’s no air filtration, so your workspace might smell like a chemistry lab. And while the build volume is good for miniatures, you won’t be printing anything massive. But for minis, that’s not really a problem.

Elegoo Mars 4 ($200-$220)

Elegoo keeps stepping up their game, and the Mars 4 is proof of that. This thing has a 9K LCD screen, which means insane levels of detail. It’s like going from watching VHS tapes to 4K movies. The build area is slightly larger than the Photon Mono 2, making it a good option if you want to print multiple miniatures at once or dabble in some terrain. Another nice touch is the improved cooling system, so your printer won’t overheat like a gaming laptop running Cyberpunk on ultra settings.

The downside? It’s a little pricier than the Photon Mono 2, and the software can be clunky at times. Nothing a little patience (or a few YouTube tutorials) can’t fix.

Creality Halot-One ($120-$140)

If you’re looking for the cheapest option that still prints decent miniatures, the Halot-One is worth considering. It’s budget-friendly but still manages to put out solid prints. One cool feature is built-in WiFi, which means you can start prints remotely—perfect for those moments when you don’t feel like getting up. The resolution is good (2560x1620 pixels), not quite 4K but still sharp enough for most miniatures.

The trade-off is the smaller build area, which limits how many miniatures you can print at once. It’s also a little slower compared to something like the Mars 4. But if you just want a cheap way to get into resin printing, it’s a solid pick.

Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K ($250-$300)

This one is a beast. With 8K resolution, it captures details so fine you might feel bad about how much effort you haven’t put into painting. Phrozen is known for making reliable printers, and this one is no exception—it’s built like a tank. If you want pro-level miniatures on a somewhat affordable budget, this is the way to go.

The biggest drawback is the price. It’s definitely on the higher end of “affordable.” The build volume isn’t massive either, so while your individual figures will look amazing, you’re not going to be printing whole terrain sets in one go.

So, Which One Should You Get?

If you’re on a strict budget, the Creality Halot-One is a good entry-level option. The Anycubic Photon Mono 2 offers the best balance of price and quality, while the Elegoo Mars 4 steps it up a notch with higher resolution and a better build area. If you’re willing to spend a little more for insane detail, the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K is a killer choice.

No matter which one you pick, just remember that resin printing comes with a bit of extra hassle—fumes, post-processing, and the occasional print failure that makes you question your life choices. But once you get the hang of it, you’ll be cranking out miniatures like a tiny, plastic-producing factory.

Now go forth and print! Just don’t forget to wear gloves and ventilate your space unless you enjoy the smell of liquid resin at 2 AM.