Match the pen to the person: the 3Doodler Start+ for a child aged 6 to 13, the SCRIB3D P1 for a teenager, the 3Doodler Flow for an adult crafter and the MYNT3D Super for someone who draws often. Then add a heat-rated mat and refills that fit, and check the plug before you wrap it.
A 3D pen is a good present when it works the moment the paper comes off. Three gaps spoil the day most easily: no plug, refills that don’t fit, and nothing heat-proof to draw on. This guide gives one pen per recipient and lists what to put in the parcel with it.
Which 3D pen to give: the short list
Start with the person, not the pen. Find the row that describes them, then read the full pick further down for who should skip it.
| Who it’s for | Our pick | Why it fits | Add to the parcel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child aged 6 to 13 | 3Doodler Start+ | No external hot parts, according to 3Doodler; rechargeable | 3Doodler Start refills, a USB mains plug |
| Teenager, 14 and over | SCRIB3D P1 | Published PLA and ABS settings, stepless speed, display | Silicone mat, SCRIB3D PLA refills, hard case |
| Adult crafter | 3Doodler Flow | Takes PLA, ABS and wood-fill; live temperature on screen | Silicone mat, extra 1.75 mm PLA |
| Model maker or regular doodler | MYNT3D Super | Ultrasonic nozzle and a stepless flow slider | PLA refills, hard case |
| Someone who just wants to try it | LIHUACHEN RPC200B 3D Pen (Button Version) | One button; 12 colours and templates in the box | Silicone mat; check how it is powered |
If the person already knows what they want and you’d like to compare every pen on the same specs, our ranked list of 3D pens lines them all up.
What actually matters when a 3D pen is a present
Five things decide whether the gift works on the day and keeps working afterwards. For the detail behind each one, see how to read a 3D pen’s specs.
The age rating on the box
SCRIB3D and 3Doodler rate the P1 and the Flow for 14 and over, 3Doodler designs the Start+ for ages 6 to 13, and LIHUACHEN says its pen is for 7 and over. Go by the number on the box, not by how grown-up the recipient seems. With a hot pen we’d go further and wait until about ten, whatever the box says.
Which filament it takes, and whether refills are proprietary
This decides what you can buy to keep the gift going. Four of the five pens below take 1.75 mm filament, and several brands sell mixed-colour PLA packs in that size. The Start+ is the exception: 3Doodler lists it as compatible with Start+ refills only. ABS needs a higher temperature and gives off fumes when heated, so it belongs in a well-ventilated room.
Power: battery, USB lead or mains adapter
Power decides where they can draw and whether the pen works straight away. Some pens charge over USB and come with a cable but no plug; others run only from a mains adapter. Look for a listing that states a UK plug: Electrical Safety First treats a non-UK plug or a travel adaptor in the box as a warning sign, because products sold in the UK must come with a UK-standard plug.
Controls: one button or full adjustment
A one-button pen with automatic temperature suits someone who wants to try the idea without reading a manual. A stepless speed slider gives finer control over how fast the plastic comes out, which matters for neat lines and small details. A screen showing the temperature helps when switching between materials.
What’s in the box besides the pen
The amount of starter filament differs from set to set, and some listings don’t say how much there is. Read the contents list on the exact listing you buy from, because sets and bundles change, and if nothing heat-proof to draw on is included, add a mat.
Our picks by recipient
For a child aged 6 to 13: 3Doodler Start+
The 3Doodler Start+ is the only pen we list with no external hot parts, according to 3Doodler, which designs it for ages 6 to 13. It is rechargeable and has a stand-by mode. 3Doodler lists the pen, a charging cable, 72 strands of Start plastic and an activity guide in the Essentials set.
It takes only 3Doodler Start plastic or a pack made for it, and Start plastic sets softer than PLA, so expect simple models rather than fine detail. For supervision and other questions about younger children, read what changes for under-tens.
Skip it for a teenager who wants crisp detail, or for anyone you plan to give standard PLA refills.
No external hot parts, according to 3Doodler, and a rechargeable battery, so a child can draw at the kitchen table without a cable to trip on.
For a teenager: SCRIB3D P1
The SCRIB3D P1 is rated 14 and over by SCRIB3D, and it is the pen we’d suggest to most first-time buyers in that age group. SCRIB3D gives 160–210 °C for PLA; for ABS, its Amazon listing says 210–235 °C and its user manual 200–230 °C. It has a stepless speed slider, a ceramic nozzle, a display and a sleep mode after a few minutes without use.
The box holds three colours of PLA (30 ft in total), a power adapter, a manual and a stencil guide. It has no built-in battery: it runs from the 5 V 2 A adapter or, according to the manual, a power bank with at least 2 A output. That starter plastic only stretches to a few small projects, so add a refill pack: SCRIB3D’s own while the warranty runs, as the refill table below explains.
Skip it for anyone under 14; SCRIB3D’s user manual goes further and says adult use only. For a younger child, choose the 3Doodler Start+, or, from about ten, the LIHUACHEN RPC200B (rated 7+ by LIHUACHEN), with an adult beside them because its nozzle gets hot.
Published settings for PLA and ABS, a stepless speed slider and a power adapter in the box: the most adaptable pen we list for a 14-plus beginner.
For an adult crafter: 3Doodler Flow
The 3Doodler Flow comes from the brand behind the original 3D pen. It takes 1.75 mm PLA, ABS and wood-fill filament, and its LCD shows the nozzle temperature in real time. 3Doodler rates it for ages 14 and over, and its UK site lists a power adapter, eight small spools of PLA, a maintenance tool and a stencil sheet in the Flow Essentials set; check your listing shows the same set.
The wider material range is the reason to choose it for someone who likes to experiment with materials and finishes. Remind them to clean the nozzle after wood-fill, which clogs more readily than plain PLA.
Skip it if they will only ever draw in PLA: the extra range goes unused, and the SCRIB3D P1 covers that.
PLA, ABS and wood-fill in one pen, with the live nozzle temperature on screen, for a crafter who wants to experiment with finishes.
For a model maker or regular doodler: MYNT3D Super
The MYNT3D Super is for people who draw often. MYNT3D describes its ultrasonic nozzle as almost clog-proof, and a stepless flow slider gives fine control over small details and tidy joins on models. It takes 1.75 mm ABS and PLA.
It runs from an AC adapter with no built-in battery, so it only works plugged in. Its starter filament is ABS, so open a window while they draw. MYNT3D doesn’t publish its temperature range.
Skip it for someone who wants to draw on the sofa away from a socket. And if the person really wants finished parts rather than freehand shapes, giving a 3D printer instead may suit them better.
An ultrasonic nozzle that MYNT3D describes as almost clog-proof and a stepless slider, for someone who will use the pen every week.
For someone who just wants to try it: LIHUACHEN RPC200B 3D Pen (Button Version)
The LIHUACHEN RPC200B 3D Pen (Button Version) is a budget pen with one button for everything and automatic temperature control at 190–210 °C. LIHUACHEN says it warms up in about 60 seconds. The box includes 12 colours of PLA, a finger guard and drawing templates. It is corded and must be plugged in to work, and the published box contents don’t mention a power adapter, so check the listing says what it plugs into before you order.
It takes PLA only, and the listing doesn’t say how much filament comes with each colour. LIHUACHEN rates it for 7 and over, but the ceramic nozzle gets hot, so we’d keep it for ages ten and up, with an adult beside any child under 14; under ten, the Start+ above has no external hot parts.
Skip it for someone who wants ABS or fine speed control: the SCRIB3D P1 is the step up.
One button, automatic temperature and templates in the box: an easy first pen for someone who isn’t sure they’ll stick with it.
What to add so it works on the day
Three extras make the first afternoon work: something heat-proof to draw on, refills that fit, and a case. Here is the whole parcel in one list.
- The pen, charged if it has a battery.
- A heat-rated silicone mat.
- Refills of the right diameter and material for that pen.
- A USB mains plug if the pen comes with a cable only, as the Start+ does.
- Templates, if the pen doesn’t include them.
- A case, if the pen will travel to school, a club or a friend’s house.
- A gift receipt.
A heat-rated mat
This is the extra we’d call non-optional: a silicone mat, because hot plastic bonds to wood and plastic. The AQTAQ 3D Pen Starter Kit has one rated 220–260 °C, enough for PLA and ABS pens, plus templates, finger guards and some PLA to start with.
The pen isn’t included, and the PLA suits the hot 1.75 mm pens above, not the Start+. For other mats, cases and tools, browse our accessories and tools.
A large heat-rated mat with templates, finger guards and starter PLA: everything a hot pen needs on day one except the pen.
Refills that fit the pen
The rule is simple: match the diameter and the material to the pen, and check the pack names it. This table pairs each pick with refills from our list.
| Pen | Takes | Refills that fit |
|---|---|---|
| 3Doodler Start+ | 3Doodler Start plastic only | 3Doodler’s own Start plastic, or Kretrum 32-Colour Refills for 3Doodler Start (third-party) |
| SCRIB3D P1 | 1.75 mm PLA and ABS | SCRIB3D PLA Refills (SCRIB3D’s manual ties the warranty to approved filament); Yungden 30-Colour PLA Refills once the warranty has run out |
| MYNT3D Super | 1.75 mm ABS and PLA | SCRIB3D PLA Refills, which SCRIB3D lists for MYNT3D pens |
| 3Doodler Flow | 1.75 mm PLA, ABS and wood-fill | Kretrum 12-Colour PLA Refills, sold for most pens that take 1.75 mm filament; check the pack doesn’t exclude 3Doodler pens |
| LIHUACHEN RPC200B 3D Pen (Button Version) | 1.75 mm PLA | Kretrum 12-Colour PLA Refills, Helweet 20-Colour PLA Refills |
Pack size matters as much as colour count. The Yungden pack gives 30 colours of 3 m each, which suits outlines and accents; for large solid shapes, a single colour in bulk goes further. The Helweet pack ships 20 colours picked at random, so skip it if the recipient has a project in mind. For the Start+, 3Doodler’s own Start plastic is the surest fit if you’re unsure. You can compare the refill packs we list by material and length.
Reseal opened colours in a bag, because damp filament can bubble as it melts.
A case for the pen and its bits
A case keeps the pen, adapter and loose strands together, which helps if the pen will travel. The Lebakort Hard Case has a nylon-over-EVA shell, a soft anti-static lining, mesh pockets for filament and a zip with a wrist strap. The seller says it fits the SCRIB3D P1, the MYNT3D Super and pens of similar size; for any other pen, check its length before you order. Let the nozzle cool for five minutes before packing the pen away.
If the pen is a Christmas present, give them a first project too: a few Christmas decorations to draw make an easy start.
Check the plug, the box and the returns policy before you wrap it
A few minutes of checking when the parcel arrives saves a disappointing morning.
Check the plug and the contents
Compare what arrived with the contents list, and check the plug is a UK one. Electrical Safety First advises buying electrical presents from reputable retailers. If you’re giving the Start+, charge it before you wrap it so it’s ready to draw.
Check the seller’s returns policy
Online, you normally have a 14-day cooling-off period to cancel, starting the day after you receive the order, then another 14 days to send the item back, according to Citizens Advice. That clock runs from delivery, not from the birthday, so a pen ordered weeks ahead may be outside the window by the time it’s opened.
In a shop, you have no automatic right to a refund if you simply change your mind: it depends on the shop’s own policy. So before you order, read the seller’s returns policy, see whether it offers a longer window or a gift receipt, and keep the packaging.
What to avoid
- Standard PLA refills for a Start+. They don’t fit: it takes 3Doodler Start plastic or a pack made for it.
- A pen rated above the recipient’s age. Go by the maker’s rating on the box, not by how mature the child seems.
- ABS in a small, closed room. It gives off fumes when heated. The MYNT3D Super ships with ABS, so add PLA if they’ll draw in a bedroom.
- A hot pen with nothing to draw on. Without a heat-rated mat, the first afternoon ends with plastic stuck to the table.
- A listing with a non-UK plug or a travel adaptor. Choose a listing that states a UK plug, from a seller you trust.
- Counting on the starter filament. The P1’s three colours won’t go far, and other listings don’t say how much is in the box; add a refill pack that fits.
Common questions
Can you use a 3D pen without plugging it in?
Only if it has a battery or can run from a power bank. Of the pens in this guide, the 3Doodler Start+ is the rechargeable one. The SCRIB3D P1 has no battery, but its manual says a power bank with at least 2 A output works, while the MYNT3D Super and the LIHUACHEN RPC200B have to stay plugged in. That matters if they want to draw on the sofa or take the pen to a friend’s house.
Can I use any filament in a 3D pen?
No. Match the diameter and the material to the pen. The four hot pens in this guide take 1.75 mm filament, but the 3Doodler Start+ takes only 3Doodler Start plastic or a compatible pack made for it. Check the warranty too: SCRIB3D’s manual ties the P1’s to approved filament.
Does a 3D pen come with a plug?
Some do and some don’t. The SCRIB3D P1 and the MYNT3D Super come with a power adapter, and 3Doodler lists one with the Flow Essentials set. The 3Doodler Start+ comes with a charging cable only, so you need a mains plug to charge it.
Is a 3D pen or a 3D printer the better present?
A 3D pen suits someone who wants to draw and build by hand, and it needs no computer or software. A 3D printer suits someone who wants finished parts from digital files, and it takes more space and setting up. If in doubt, a pen is the smaller first step.
Sources
- 3Doodler Start+ Essentials 3D Printing Pen Set — 3Doodler
- 3Doodler Flow Essentials 3D Printing Pen Set — 3Doodler UK
- SCRIB3D P1 3D Printing Pen — SCRIB3D
- Changing your mind about something you’ve bought — Citizens Advice
- Households urged to check if their Christmas gift is a fire risk by checking its plug — Electrical Safety First
- Christmas tips — Electrical Safety First
- SCRIB3D P1 user manual — SCRIB3D