The Best 3D Pens Available in 2020

Published on October 22, 2020

With the holidays coming up, 3D pens make great gifts for everyone on your list from kiddos to artists. They’re small enough to fit in stockings, but they can also make a perfect separate wrapped present. 3D pens are fun to play with and great for doodles, but they can also be incredibly useful tools for various artistic pursuits. Whether you’re looking for a fun gift for the kids on your list or a useful one for the adults (or vice versa), here are all the best 3D pens for everyone on your list this holiday season.

For The Kids

3Doodler Start Essentials (2020) 3D Pen Set for Kids ($48.72)

This 3D pen is specifically designed for little hands. While some 3D pens can get hot with use, this pen is made with plastic that can be touched with no risk of burns to your loved one’s precious little fingers. It’s also made with kid-friendly plastic filaments for the actual drawing that are totally safe for children ages 6 and up to use. It comes with the pen itself, a DoodlePad/Doodlemat, 2 Mixed-color Packs of Start plastics (48 Strands), Micro-USB Charger, and an activity guide. As soon as this present is opened, you’ll have everything you need to get to 3D drawing right away! This is pretty much the top of the line when it comes to 3D pens designed for children. When it comes to safety and creativity, there is nothing better than this guy right here.  

3Doodler Start Make Your Own HEXBUG Creature 3D Pen Set ($54.92)

This 3D pen is made by the same brand as the one before, but with a little extra something special. Along with a special edition 3D pen, this kit also comes with special doodle molds. These doodle molds will allow the receiver of this gift to craft insect body parts and different robotic structures. The idea behind this pen is to promote creativity, spatial understanding, and STEM learning in the next generation. Each set contains a special edition 3Doodler start 3D Printing pen, 3 hexbug micro-robotic motors, 2 packs of 3Doodler start plastic (8 colors), 4 themed doodle molds, an activity guide with 5 projects, an instruction manual, and a micro USB charging cable. This pen is also totally kid-safe with no parts that get too hot and no potential for burns, which is always a good quality in a holiday gift for any child.

MYNT3D Junior 3D Pen for Kids ($39.99)

This is a little bit more budget friendly option for young doodlers looking for a 3D experience. It still has a low temperature nozzle to avoid burns. It’s also made with a special ergonomic design to make it easier for small hands to hold. While this kit doesn’t cost as much, it still comes with a 3D pen, a user manual, 3 rolls of MYNT3D PCL plastic to load into the pen, starter stencils, and USB cable for charging. Watch imagination come alive with this 3D pen!

Real Cooking Chocolate Pen ($24.99)

So this isn’t technically a 3D pen in the way you may have been thinking, but it is a pen that makes 3D shapes so it counts. This is the perfect gift for the bakers in your life both young and old, as long as they are 6 years or older. It makes decorating cake and confections a snap. It comes with a melting tray that keeps different colors of chocolate melted and ready to go. Once you load it into the pen and use it, it hardens quickly for quick and efficient decorating. Included in this kit is the equivalent of 4 and a half bars of chocolate all made in the USA. This kit also comes with mold designs for easy decorating. Or you can always go freehand. Either way, this 3D pen is a super fun and unique gift for any creative chocolate lover.

For The More Serious User

SCRIB3D P1 3D Printing Pen with Display ($29.99)

This is a super affordable pen option if you, like so many of us, are on a budget this holiday season. This pen, while cheaper than some of the other options, still comes with all sorts of fun bells and whistles. The design makes this pen super easy to use. Its ergonomic design makes it easy to hold and it also features large, clear buttons so you’ll know what to do straight off the bat.

This 3D pen also has a stepless speed function. This function allows for greater speed control. This kind of advanced speed control makes this pen perfect for both slower intricate projects and faster infill work. In addition to the speed control, this pen is also temperature adjustable to suit various different kinds of filament. In this kit, you’ll get 3 colors (50 feet total) of PLA filament as well as a power adapter, a step-by-step manual, and a free stencil guide. 

3Doodler Create+ 3D Printing Pen (79.99)

This model of 3D pen is the absolute top of the line. Yes, it’s a little bit more expensive than other models but if you’re not messing around and truly want the best of the best, this is the way to go. With over 900 ratings on Amazon and almost a full five stars, you are destined to be a satisfied customer with this 3D pen. It’s got dual drive technology, an accompanying app, and comes with 15 (!!) different colors of plastic refills. What more could you possibly ask for?

MYNT3D Professional Printing 3D Pen ($59.99)

This 3D pen is a great option for the detail-oriented user. It’s got a bunch of great features that will allow you total control over what you are drawing. There is an adjustable feed that lets you regulate speed and flow. It will give you total control over the material while you’re drawing. Also, the temperature is adjustable in 1-degree increments, so you can perfectly fine-tune your art. A large, OLED display lets you monitor the temperature of the material to help you achieve a wide variety of effects. If you know what you’re doing and are serious about getting exactly the results you want, this is the perfect pen for you.

MYNT3D – MP030-BK Super 3D Pen ($39.99)

While this is the same brand as the pen above, it is a slightly pared-down and therefore less expensive option. It has all the basic features you need for a successful 3D drawing experience. For novice users, this pen is a fantastic option. There aren’t a ton of complicated features you’ll have to figure out, but it works exactly as it’s supposed to for a beautiful end result.

We hope you enjoy these products! But keep in mind, Grit Daily might take a small commission on the items recommended here—but that doesn’t mean we don’t believe in them. We only recommend products that we would buy or use ourselves, so don’t be wary of our suggestions.

Olivia Smith is a Staff Writer at Grit Daily. Based in San Francisco, she covers events, entertainment, fashion, and technology. She also serves as a Voices contributor at PopSugar.

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