Best Filament Dryers for 3D Printing in 2026: Improve Print Quality & Reduce Waste
If you’re serious about 3D printing quality, one of the most overlooked tools is a filament dryer. Moisture in filament can cause stringing, bubbles, weak parts, and failed prints—especially with hygroscopic materials like Nylon, PETG, and TPU. A good filament dryer keeps your spools dry, improves print reliability, and helps maintain consistent results over time.(Creative Bloq)
In this guide, we’ll cover:
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Why filament dryers matter
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How drying improves prints
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Key features to look for
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Top filament dryers for every budget
Why You Need a Filament Dryer
Filament naturally absorbs moisture from the air, especially in humid environments. When wet filament reaches the hotend, it can:
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Pop and hiss, introducing gas bubbles
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Cause poor layer adhesion
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Increase stringing and oozing
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Weaken finished parts
Even inexpensive filaments like PLA and PETG benefit from drying if you want consistent, high-quality prints—especially when printing fine details or critical parts.(Creative Bloq)
What to Look For in a Filament Dryer
Here’s what matters when choosing a dryer:
🔥 Temperature Control
Look for adjustable temperature, so you can match settings to filament type.
📦 Capacity
Some dryers handle one spool, while others can dry multiple at once.
🌡️ Humidity Monitoring
Advanced units include sensors or displays to show real-time humidity.
🧰 Features
Touchscreens, app control, and pass-through ports for printing while drying are big bonuses for efficiency.
Top Filament Dryers for 3D Printing
Here are some of the best filament dryers available in 2026, grouped by use case:
Creality SpacePi X4 Filament Dryer
$139.00
SUNLU FilaDryer S4
$139.99
LulzBot PrintDry PRO3 Filament Dryer
$268.00
EIBOS Series X Dryer
$119.99
SUNLU S2 Dryer Filament
$69.99
SUNLU Filament Dryer S1 Plus
$37.99
Creality Filament Dry Box 2.0
$35.99
PolyDryer Filament Dryer
$79.99
🌟 Best for Enthusiasts & Print Farms
Creality SpacePi X4 Filament Dryer – Multi-spool drying with independent heating zones and a solid balance of performance and price. Ideal if you regularly print with multiple materials.
SUNLU FilaDryer S4 – Excellent choice for hobbyists and small workshops who want to dry up to 4 spools simultaneously with reliable drying performance.(3DISM)
🏆 Premium & Professional Picks
LulzBot PrintDry PRO3 Filament Dryer – High-end drying system with precise temperature control and excellent moisture removal, perfect for engineering filaments and professional workflows.
EIBOS Series X Dryer – Great mid-range option with reliable drying capabilities and support for a wide range of filament types.
💡 Best Budget & Everyday Dryers
SUNLU S2 Dryer Filament – Excellent budget dryer with 360° heating. Great balance of performance and value.
SUNLU Filament Dryer S1 Plus – Compact and affordable, ideal for occasional printing or beginners just getting started.
Creality Filament Dry Box 2.0 – Simple and effective solution for basic filament drying and storage.
🛠️ Specialty & Alternative Options
PolyDryer Filament Dryer – A versatile drying device that’s good for those exploring different filament types without spending a premium.
How to Use a Filament Dryer (Quick Tips)
🎯 Set correct temperatures – PLA generally dries between ~40–50 °C, PETG ~50–60 °C, and Nylon higher still.
📦 Dry before printing – Especially after filament has been open for several days.
🕒 Plan ahead – Drying may take several hours for deeply moist filament.
Dryers with pass-through ports let you feed filament directly to your printer while it dries—saving time and handling.(3DSourced)
Quick Comparison
| Dryer Type | Best For | Capacity | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creality SpacePi X4 | Enthusiasts | Multiple spools | Dual heating, touchscreen |
| SUNLU S4 | Hobbyists | Multi-spool | Reliable and consistent |
| PrintDry PRO3 | Professionals | Multiple spools | Precision control |
| SUNLU S2 / S1 | Budget Users | 1–2 spools | Simple & affordable |
| PolyDryer | Versatile | Varies | Good value mid-range |
Final Thoughts
If you’ve ever wondered why your prints sometimes fail or look inconsistent, moisture absorption in filament is often the culprit—particularly for more hygroscopic materials like Nylon and PETG. A good filament dryer not only improves print quality but also extends filament life and boosts reliability.(Creative Bloq)
Whether you’re getting started or building a serious print setup, there’s a dryer here for every budget and workflow.
Let’s do both 👍 — they complement each other perfectly and add real value to the blog (great for SEO andconversions).
Below is a printable buying checklist followed by recommended drying settings by filament type. You can drop these straight into your article or turn them into a downloadable PDF later.
✅ Filament Dryer Buying Checklist (Printable)
Use this checklist before buying a filament dryer to make sure it fits your setup and materials.
🔲 Capacity
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⬜ Single spool (best for beginners)
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⬜ Dual spool
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⬜ Multi-spool (print farms / multi-material users)
🔲 Temperature Range
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⬜ Reaches at least 50°C (PLA, PETG)
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⬜ Reaches 70°C+ (ABS, ASA)
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⬜ Reaches 90°C+ (Nylon, PC)
🔲 Adjustable Temperature Control
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⬜ Manual control
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⬜ Digital display
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⬜ Preset filament modes
🔲 Print-While-Drying Support
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⬜ Filament pass-through port
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⬜ Smooth bearing spool rollers
🔲 Humidity Monitoring
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⬜ Built-in humidity sensor
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⬜ Real-time humidity display
🔲 Build Quality & Safety
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⬜ Even heat distribution
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⬜ Overheat protection
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⬜ Quiet operation
🔲 Budget
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⬜ Under $50 (basic drying)
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⬜ $50–$100 (best value)
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⬜ $100+ (advanced / multi-spool)
👉 Pro Tip: If you print PETG, TPU, ASA, or Nylon regularly, adjustable temperature control is non-negotiable.
🌡️ Recommended Filament Drying Settings (By Material)
Use these settings as a safe starting point. Times may vary depending on humidity and how wet the filament is.
PLA
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Temperature: 40–50°C
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Time: 2–4 hours
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Notes: PLA absorbs moisture slower but still benefits from drying, especially for fine details and silk PLA.
PETG
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Temperature: 50–60°C
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Time: 4–6 hours
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Notes: Very moisture-sensitive. Drying greatly reduces stringing and popping.
ABS
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Temperature: 60–70°C
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Time: 4–6 hours
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Notes: Dry filament improves layer adhesion and reduces warping.
ASA
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Temperature: 65–75°C
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Time: 4–6 hours
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Notes: Similar to ABS but slightly more moisture-resistant.
TPU (Flexible Filament)
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Temperature: 40–50°C
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Time: 4–6 hours
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Notes: TPU absorbs moisture quickly—dry before every major print.
Nylon (PA6 / PA12)
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Temperature: 70–90°C
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Time: 8–12 hours
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Notes: Extremely hygroscopic. Store in a dry box after drying.
Carbon Fiber Nylon
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Temperature: 80–90°C
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Time: 8–12 hours
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Notes: Strong but unforgiving—moisture ruins print quality fast.
📌 Storage Tip (Important)
Drying filament is only half the solution. For best results:
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Store spools in sealed containers
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Use desiccant packs
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Keep filament in a dry box while printing
This dramatically extends filament life and keeps prints consistent.