Best 3D Printer for Miniatures & Tabletop Gaming 2026

Why Resin Is the Only Serious Option for Miniatures

If you’re painting Warhammer 40K armies, running D&D campaigns with custom characters, or building terrain for tabletop wargames, a resin printer will genuinely transform your hobby. I started printing my own miniatures about 18 months ago and I’ve barely bought a GW kit since. The detail from modern MSLA printers rivals injection-moulded models - at roughly 20p per mini instead of £3-5.

Can you print miniatures on an FDM printer? Technically, yes. Should you? No. Even the best FDM machines leave visible layer lines at 28-32mm scale that obscure fine details like facial features, cloth folds, and weapon engravings. I tried it. The results looked like they’d been carved from a potato. Modern resin printers offer XY resolution of roughly 17-35 microns - a completely different league.

Here are the best resin printers for miniatures in 2026, ranked by detail quality, reliability, and value.

What Actually Matters When Choosing a Miniature Printer

Before I get into specific printers, here’s what you should actually care about (and what you can ignore):

XY resolution (pixel size) - This is the single most important spec. Smaller pixels mean finer detail. For miniatures, you want 35 microns or below. The best 8K printers achieve 22-28 microns.

Z resolution (layer height) - Most resin printers support 10-50 micron layers. For miniatures, 25-35 microns is the sweet spot between detail and print speed.

Build volume - You don’t need a massive build plate for miniatures, but a larger plate lets you batch-print an entire squad or warband in one session. A 130 x 80mm plate fits 6-10 standard miniatures.

Light source uniformity - Uneven UV light causes some areas to over-cure while others under-cure, leading to inconsistent detail across the build plate. Modern printers with Fresnel lenses or COB LED arrays handle this well.

Anti-aliasing - Software smoothing that reduces the staircase effect on curved surfaces. All modern printers support this, but implementation quality varies.

The Best 3D Printers for Miniatures in 2026

1. Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra: Best Overall

Price: currently around £350 on Amazon UK | XY Resolution: 19 microns | Build Volume: 218 x 123 x 220mm | Top Speed: 150mm/hr

This is the one I’d buy if I were starting fresh today. The Saturn 4 Ultra is the miniature printer to beat in 2026. Its 10-inch 12K mono LCD delivers 19-micron XY resolution, sharp enough to capture chainmail links and individual teeth on a 28mm model. I’ve printed Space Marines on one that looked as good as Forge World resin casts.

What makes it great for miniatures:

• Tilting release mechanism: reduces peel forces, preserving delicate details such as spears and antennae
• ACF film: lasts 5-10x longer than FEP before it needs replacing
• Wi-Fi connectivity: works with the Elegoo app for remote monitoring
• Fast printing: reaches speeds of up to 150mm/hr
• Batch capacity: fits 8-12 standard 28mm miniatures per batch

The build volume is also generous enough for larger models such as dragons, vehicles, and terrain pieces. Print quality is exceptional across the full plate, with minimal edge distortion. That consistency matters because nothing is more annoying than a batch in which the miniatures at the edges look worse than those in the middle.

Best for: Serious hobbyists who want the best detail quality without spending over £500.

View on Amazon UK

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2. Phrozen Sonic Mighty Revo: Best Detail Quality

Price: currently around £600 on Amazon UK | XY Resolution: 16.8 x 24.8 microns | Build Volume: 223 x 126 x 235mm

Phrozen’s old Sonic Mini 8K S (our previous pick here) has been discontinued on Amazon UK, and the Mighty Revo is its current replacement in the detail-focused lineup. It’s a bigger, pricier machine than the old Mini - a 10.1-inch 14K screen instead of a compact 7.1-inch 8K one. Its 16.8 x 24.8-micron pixels are finer on one axis and slightly coarser on the other than the Mini’s 22-micron pixels, but you also get a proper heated chamber and a much larger build plate. This recommendation is still aimed at competition painters and display modellers who prioritise detail, but it is no longer a compact budget option.

Standout features:

• 14K mono LCD with 16.8 x 24.8 micron pixels across a much larger 10.1-inch screen
• Built-in heater keeps resin at a consistent viscosity, helping detail stay sharp print after print
• Smart residue and failure detection pauses the print automatically if something’s gone wrong
• Large build plate fits a full squad or more per batch, unlike the old Mini’s cramped plate

The trade-off is price and size - at around £600, it’s nearly double what the old Mini 8K S cost, and it’s a much bigger machine on your desk. If you want competition-grade detail without paying that much, the Saturn 4 Ultra above still gets you 19-micron resolution for substantially less. But if detail is your absolute priority and the heated chamber and larger plate justify the spend, the Mighty Revo is the premium choice here.

Best for: Competition painters and display modellers with the budget and desk space for a larger, pricier machine.

View on Amazon UK

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3. Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro: Best Value

Price: currently around £460 on Amazon UK | XY Resolution: 18 microns | Build Volume: 223 x 126 x 230mm | Top Speed: 170mm/hr

Anycubic’s M7 Pro delivers excellent miniature quality at genuinely fast speeds. Its 14K screen and 18-micron pixels produce exceptionally fine detail, while the larger build plate makes it a serious option for printing full armies in batches.

What makes it stand out:

• Large build plate: fits 12-15 miniatures per batch, ideal for army printing
• High-speed printing: reaches a lift speed of up to 170mm/hr, the fastest on this list
• Anycubic’s mature slicer with excellent auto-support generation
• Upgraded light source for even exposure across the screen

The M7 Pro is a strong pick for wargamers who print full armies but still want excellent detail. It costs more than the Saturn 4 Ultra, so it makes the most sense if the extra build volume and speed matter to you.

Best for: Wargamers printing armies and anyone who values batch size and speed alongside strong detail.

View on Amazon UK

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4. Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra: Best Compact Option

Price: currently around £270 on Amazon UK | Screen Resolution: 9K | Build Volume: 153 x 78 x 165mm | Top Speed: 150mm/hr

Not sure if resin printing is for you? The Mars 5 Ultra is a solid first step. It uses automatic mechanical levelling and a smart sensor that flags issues such as low resin or a worn release film before they ruin a print.

Highlights:

• Compact footprint: fits on a desk shelf
• Auto-levelling with a smart mechanical sensor
• Wi-Fi cluster printing: lets you run several printers from one file transfer
• AI camera for print monitoring

UK reviews are largely positive about print quality and ease of use, although a minority of buyers report units arriving faulty or producing erratic prints. For character models, kill teams, and D&D parties, the build plate is ample. It also works well as a secondary printer for character models while a larger printer handles army batches.

Best for: Beginners, D&D players printing character models, and anyone short on desk space.

View on Amazon UK

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5. Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Max: Best Large Format

Price: currently around £700 on Amazon UK | Screen Resolution: 7K | Build Volume: 298 x 164 x 300mm | Top Speed: 60mm/hr

Building terrain? Printing dragons? Want to batch-print an entire army in as few runs as possible? The M7 Max has by far the largest build volume on this list. Its 13.6-inch screen means you can fit 20+ miniatures per run, or print a full dragon without splitting it into sections.

Key specs:

• 13.6-inch 7K LCD across a huge build area
• COB light source for even UV distribution
• Flip-open cover for easy access to the vat and build plate
• Build plate large enough for terrain tiles and scenery

This is a big step up in price from the rest of the printers on this list, so it only makes sense if you genuinely need the extra volume. UK buyers are largely impressed with the print quality and scale, although a minority report the vat or other hardware failing after repeated use.

Best for: Terrain builders, army painters who want maximum batch sizes, and anyone printing large models.

View on Amazon UK

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6. Anycubic Photon Mono 4 Ultra: Best All-Rounder

Price: currently around £250 on Amazon UK | Screen Resolution: 10K | Build Volume: 153 x 87 x 165mm | Top Speed: 120mm/hr

Anycubic replaced the older M5s Pro with this model. It sits in the middle of the range for price and detail, offering a real step up from entry-level 8K and 9K screens without reaching M7 Pro prices.

Notable features:

• 10K resolution on a 7-inch screen
• Intelligent Release Algorithm designed to cut screen wear and speed up releases
• Intelligent detection for print monitoring
• 120mm/hr lift speed

UK reviews are genuinely mixed. Several buyers are happy with the print quality and setup, but others report screen or motherboard failures, and a few mention unclear instructions. It is worth comparing with the Saturn 4 Ultra if your budget can stretch that far.

Best for: Hobbyists who want a mid-priced step up from entry-level resin printers and can tolerate some variation in reliability.

View on Amazon UK

Comparison Table

Printer	Price	Resolution	Build Volume	Top Speed	Best For
Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra	~£350	12K / 19μm	218 x 123 x 220mm	150mm/hr	Best overall
Phrozen Sonic Mighty Revo	~£600	14K / 16.8 x 24.8μm	223 x 126 x 235mm	Avg. 450 layers/hr	Maximum detail
Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro	~£460	14K / 18μm	223 x 126 x 230mm	170mm/hr	Best value
Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra	~£270	9K screen	153 x 78 x 165mm	150mm/hr	Compact/beginner
Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Max	~£700	7K screen	298 x 164 x 300mm	60mm/hr	Large format
Anycubic Photon Mono 4 Ultra	~£250	10K screen	153 x 87 x 165mm	120mm/hr	All-rounder

Essential Accessories (Don’t Skip These)

Before you start printing miniatures, you’ll need a few extras. Don’t skip the safety gear - resin is not something you want on your skin:

• Nitrile gloves - resin is a skin sensitiser. Never handle it bare-handed. I buy boxes of 100 from Amazon UK for about £8-12.
• Wash & cure station - cleans and UV-cures prints. The Elegoo Mercury Plus or Anycubic Wash & Cure are both good. Currently around £40-60 on Amazon UK.
• IPA or water-washable resin - for cleaning prints before curing. IPA is about £15-20 for 5 litres.
• Flush cutters - for removing supports without damaging the model. A decent pair from Amazon for a fiver.
• UV-protective glasses - if working with exposed resin

Resin Costs - Why This Hobby Pays for Itself

Here’s the bit that convinced me to take the plunge. Resin is surprisingly affordable for miniatures:

Resin Type	Price per Litre	Cost per 28mm Mini
Standard grey	£25-30	15-30p
Water-washable	£28-35	18-35p
ABS-like	£30-40	20-40p
High-detail (e.g. Siraya Tech)	£40-55	30-50p

Compare that to £3-5 for a single plastic miniature from Games Workshop, or £8-15 for a resin-cast character model. A single litre of resin (currently around £25-30 on Amazon UK) can produce 50-100+ standard miniatures. The printer pays for itself surprisingly quickly if you’re buying armies anyway.

Getting Started

If you’re completely new to 3D printing, our beginner’s guide to 3D printers covers the fundamentals. For those on a tighter budget, the best 3D printers under £500 guide includes both FDM and resin options.

The miniature printing community is one of the most active and welcoming in the hobby. Sites like MyMiniFactory, Loot Studios, and Titan Forge offer subscription-based STL libraries with hundreds of printable miniatures, terrain pieces, and accessories released monthly. Loot Studios’ monthly subscription (around £10) gives you more minis than you could paint in a year.

Start with a few test prints to dial in your settings, invest time learning proper support placement (it makes or breaks resin prints), and you’ll be printing armies for pennies within a week. My only warning: it’s addictive. You’ll start with “I just need a few character minis” and end up printing an entire Undead warband at 2am on a Tuesday. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.