Best 3D Pens UK: 5 Picks for Kids, Beginners and Artists

The best 3D pens, ranked

Best overall

SCRIB3D P1

SCRIB3D

The pen we’d hand to most people. It publishes working temperatures for both PLA and ABS and lets you meter the flow precisely, the two things that decide whether a 3D pen is a pleasure or a chore.

Key highlights

Published working temperatures: PLA 160–210 °C, ABS around 200–235 °C depending on the SCRIB3D source
Stepless speed slider: slow for detail, fast for infill
Ceramic nozzle and a display; sleeps after a few minutes without use
Runs from its 5 V adapter or, according to SCRIB3D's manual, a 2 A power bank

Full specs, strengths and watch-outs

Age14+, according to SCRIB3D
FilamentsPLA and ABS, 1.75 mm
TemperaturePLA 160–210 °C · ABS 210–235 °C (listing) or 200–230 °C (manual)
SpeedStepless slider
NozzleCeramic
Auto sleep2 minutes (listing) or 5 minutes (manual)
Power5 V 2 A adapter or a power bank of at least 2 A
In the box3 PLA colours (30 ft in total), adapter, manual, stencil guide

Strengths

Published ranges for both PLA and ABS
Fine control over flow
Complete kit to start

Watch out for

No built-in battery
Starter filament runs out quickly
Not for under-14s, says SCRIB3D

Best for artists

3Doodler Flow

3Doodler

If you already know you want wood-fill as well as PLA and ABS, this is the pen built for it.

Key highlights

Takes 1.75 mm PLA, ABS and wood-fill, according to 3Doodler
LCD shows the nozzle temperature in real time
From the brand behind the original 3D pen
Starter filament and a stencil book in the box

Full specs, strengths and watch-outs

Filaments1.75 mm PLA, ABS and wood-fill
DisplayLCD with real-time temperature
Temperature rangeNot published by the manufacturer
In the boxPen, starter filament, stencil book

Strengths

Widest material range in this list
See when the pen is ready instead of guessing

Watch out for

No published temperature range
The extra range goes unused if you only draw in PLA

Built against clogs

MYNT3D Super

MYNT3D

Clogging is what sends most 3D pens to the back of a drawer. This one is built specifically against that failure, which is why it earns its place despite needing a socket.

Key highlights

Ultrasonic nozzle that MYNT3D describes as almost clog-proof
Stepless slider for continuous flow control
Slim body for long sessions
Ships with 3 colours of ABS and a mains adapter

Full specs, strengths and watch-outs

FilamentsABS and PLA, 1.75 mm
NozzleUltrasonic, described by MYNT3D as almost clog-proof
SpeedStepless slider
PowerAC adapter, no battery
Temperature rangeNot published by the manufacturer
In the box3 colours of ABS filament, AC adapter

Strengths

Designed against the commonest 3D pen failure
Stepless flow control

Watch out for

Mains only, no battery
Starter filament is ABS, which needs a ventilated room

Best for under-tens

3Doodler Start+

3Doodler

For a child under ten, taking the hot nozzle away matters more than any other feature. The Start+ is the only pen we list that does.

Key highlights

No external hot parts, according to 3Doodler, which designs it for ages 6 to 13
Rechargeable: no cable while drawing
72 strands of Start eco-filament and an activity guide in the box
Uses 3Doodler Start plastic only, not standard PLA

Full specs, strengths and watch-outs

Age6 to 13, according to 3Doodler UK
Hot partsNo external hot parts, according to 3Doodler
Filament3Doodler Start plastic only
PowerRechargeable, charging cable included
SafetyStand-by mode
In the boxPen, charging cable, 72 strands of Start eco-filament, activity guide

Strengths

Takes the hot nozzle out of the equation
Cordless, so nothing to trip over

Watch out for

Proprietary refills
Softer plastic suits play more than fine detail

Best budget pen

LIHUACHEN RPC200B (Button Version)

LIHUACHEN

The way into 3D drawing that asks least of you: one button, a fixed PLA temperature and enough colours to try a few projects before you decide whether to go further.

Key highlights

Automatic temperature control at 190–210 °C: nothing to set
One button for heating, feeding, pausing and speed
Ceramic nozzle; warms up in about 60 seconds, according to LIHUACHEN
Twelve colours of PLA, a finger guard and templates in the box

Full specs, strengths and watch-outs

FilamentPLA, 1.75 mm
Temperature190–210 °C, set automatically
ControlsOne button
NozzleCeramic
PowerCorded
Age7 and over, according to LIHUACHEN
In the boxPen, 12 colours of PLA, finger guard, drawing templates

Strengths

Simple to start with
Arrives with more colours than the others

Watch out for

PLA only
Length of filament per colour not published

Compare them side by side

The figures each maker publishes, in one table. Where a maker doesn’t publish a figure, the table says so.

Pen	Best for	Filaments	Temperature	Power	Age guidance
SCRIB3D P1	First-time makers, 14+	PLA and ABS, 1.75 mm	PLA 160–210 °C · ABS 200–235 °C by source	5 V adapter or 2 A power bank	14+
3Doodler Flow	Artists, several materials	PLA, ABS, wood-fill, 1.75 mm	Not published (live readout)	Not published	Not published
MYNT3D Super	Regular drawing	ABS and PLA, 1.75 mm	Not published	Mains adapter, no battery	Not published
3Doodler Start+	Children aged 6 to 13	3Doodler Start plastic only	No external hot parts, according to 3Doodler	Rechargeable	6–13
LIHUACHEN RPC200B	Budget first pen	PLA, 1.75 mm	190–210 °C, automatic	Corded	7+

Which one should you buy?

Buying for a child under ten? The 3Doodler Start+, which has no external hot parts.
First pen for someone aged 14 or over? The SCRIB3D P1.
Drawing every day? The MYNT3D Super, built against clogging.
Working in wood-fill as well as PLA? The 3Doodler Flow.
Trying 3D drawing on a small budget? The LIHUACHEN RPC200B.

How to choose a 3D pen

Four questions settle most choices, and our guide to choosing a 3D pen goes through each one.

Who will use it? Under-tens are better served by a pen with no external hot parts; see our picks for children and what makes a 3D pen safe for kids.
Which plastic? PLA suits almost everyone; ABS is tougher but needs a ventilated room. Our guide to 3D pen filament explains the differences.
Is the temperature range published? A maker that publishes its ranges tells you exactly which filaments the pen handles.
Cord or battery? A battery means freedom of movement; mains power means no recharging. More in cordless or mains 3D pens.

What to buy with it

Refills. For the SCRIB3D P1, MYNT3D Super and RPC200B, 1.75 mm PLA such as the SCRIB3D PLA Refills. For the 3Doodler Start+, low-temperature strands such as the Kretrum 32-Colour Refills. All packs are in Filament & Refills.
A heat-proof surface. Hot filament sticks to wood and melts plastic tablecloths: the AQTAQ 3D Pen Starter Kit adds a silicone mat rated 220–260 °C, templates and finger guards.
A case. The Lebakort Hard Case is sold to fit the SCRIB3D P1 and the MYNT3D Super. More in Accessories & Tools.

How we picked

This ranking is built from the specifications each manufacturer publishes: working temperatures, accepted filaments, speed control, power and what is in the box. We haven’t lab-tested these pens ourselves, and we say so rather than imply otherwise. That is also why there are no scores out of ten here: a score would suggest a test that didn’t happen. Where a maker doesn’t publish a figure, the entry says so.

Prices move constantly on Amazon, so we don’t print them: every button goes straight to the current listing.

Common questions

Which 3D pen is best for a beginner?

From 14 and up, the SCRIB3D P1: it publishes its working temperatures for PLA and ABS and has a stepless speed slider. For a child under ten, the 3Doodler Start+, which has no external hot parts according to 3Doodler. On a tight budget, the LIHUACHEN RPC200B sets its PLA temperature automatically and works from one button.

Are 3D pens safe for children?

It depends on the pen. Pens that melt PLA or ABS have a nozzle that runs at around 160 °C and above: SCRIB3D sells the P1 for ages 14 and up, and LIHUACHEN rates the RPC200B for 7 and up with its nozzle running at 190–210 °C, so younger users need an adult beside them. The 3Doodler Start+ uses a low-temperature plastic and has no external hot parts, according to 3Doodler, which designs it for ages 6 to 13.

Do all 3D pens use the same filament?

No. Most hot pens take 1.75 mm PLA, and some take ABS too, but the 3Doodler Start family only takes 3Doodler Start plastic or compatible low-temperature strands. Check the pen’s published range before buying refills.

Do 3D pens need to be plugged in?

Most of the pens here have no built-in battery: the SCRIB3D P1 runs from its 5 V adapter or, according to SCRIB3D, a power bank of at least 2 A; the MYNT3D Super from an AC adapter; and the RPC200B from its cord. The 3Doodler Start+ is the cordless option: it is rechargeable.