Updated October 1, 2026 · GizmoCue Editorial Team
Formlabs vs MatterHackers
Formlabs vs MatterHackers: the differences
| Compare | Formlabs ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |  MatterHackers |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $2,625 | $179Lower |
| Largest build size (mm) | 565 | 1,800Higher |
| Multi-colour printing | No | YesHas it |
| Warranty | 1 yearHigher | 0 to 0.08 years |
| Laser power (W) | 120Higher | 100 |
| Markets | US, CA, AT, BE, BG, HR, CY, CZ, DK, EE, FI, FR, DE, GR, HU, IE, IT, LV, LI, LT, LU, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SK, SI, ES, SE, CH, GBCovers more | US, CA |
Same on both: Enclosed models (Yes).
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Key differences
- MatterHackers scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 8.9.
- Price from is lower at MatterHackers: $179 vs $2,625.
- Largest build size (mm) is higher at MatterHackers: 1,800 vs 565.
- Multi-colour printing: only MatterHackers.
- Warranty is higher at Formlabs: 1 year vs 0 to 0.08 years.
- Laser power (W) is higher at Formlabs: 120 vs 100.
- Formlabs is available in 31 more countries.
- Products: only MatterHackers offers Fdm printer, 3d scanner, Laser engraver.
- Markets: only Formlabs offers AT, BE, BG.
Our verdict on each
Formlabs
Formlabs suits makers and small studios who need clean, accurate resin parts rather than fast plastic prototypes. Entry sits at fees of $2,625 for the Formlabs complete package, a resin-only range with a build size of 565 mm and support on email, phone and help centre.
MatterHackers
MatterHackers suits makers who want printing, scanning, laser and cutting from one seller, with entry prices from $179 and machines well past the standard desk size. Buyers making parts too large for a normal bed will find the range worth it, though the warranty terms deserve a close read.
Score breakdown
| Area | Formlabs | MatterHackers |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.0Entry at $2,625 ranks 27 of 27, with cover of 1 year at the category median. | 9.4HigherEntry at $179 places the brand at position 8 of 27 on price from, mid range rather than the cheapest way in. |
| Offer | 9.2Resin only across resin printer, an enclosed chassis and a build size of 565 mm above the 350 median. | 9.5Higherfdm printer, resin printer and 3d scanner sits alongside 100 W of laser output and email, phone and help centre. |
| Trust | 9.9US base in US, operating since 2011, with phone and help centre among email, phone and help centre. | Not confirmed |
Licences and countries
| Country | Formlabs | MatterHackers |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
Available in 2 countries for both. Additional countries for Formlabs: 31.
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Formlabs | MatterHackers |
|---|---|---|
| 3D printers | 32 of 39 | 23 of 39 |
By the numbers
| Fact | Formlabs | MatterHackers |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $2,625 | $179 |
| Largest build size (mm) | 565 | 1,800 |
| Warranty | 1 year | 0 to 0.08 years |
| Laser power (W) | 120 | 100 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Formlabs | MatterHackers |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Resin printer | Fdm printer, Resin printer, 3d scanner, Laser engraver, Cutting machineCovers more |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | MatterHackers Inc. |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 2011 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre, Community | Email, Phone, Help centre, Community |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Formlabs | MatterHackers | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $2,625highest quarter | $179below the median | $224 |
| Largest build size (mm) | 565highest quarter | 1,800highest quarter | 390 |
| Warranty | 1 yearat the median | 0 to 0.08 yearslowest quarter | 1 year |
| Laser power (W) | 120highest quarter | 100highest quarter | 60 |
Median across 23 listed brands.
Pros and cons
Formlabs
Pros
- Resin only focus, so the range is resin printer with no filament machines to sort through
- A build size of 565 mm that sits above the category median of 350
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre, including the phone and help centre options most rivals in the ranking skip
Cons
- Entry price of $2,625 puts it at 27 of 27 brands ranked on price from
- Multi colour is a no, so parts come off the machine one colour at a time
- Warranty of 1 year matches the category median of 1 and ranks at 5 of 20
MatterHackers
Pros
- Build size reaches 1,800 mm, and the brand holds position 1 of 23 on that measure.
- Product types cover FDM printers, resin printers, scanners, laser engravers and cutting machines, a wider list than fdm printer and 3d scanner at Farnell and fdm printer at Sovol.
- Multi colour printing and an enclosed build are listed, with multi colour appearing in 65.4% of comparable listings in this category.
Cons
- Warranty terms run 0 to 0.08 years, shorter than the 1 year median warranty across the printers compared.
- Sales and support cover US and CA only, so buyers in other regions face a longer freight route and cross border warranty handling.
- Resin and enclosed models carry the same 0 to 0.08 years of warranty as the entry FDM units, so higher spend buys no longer stated cover.
Who each suits
Formlabs
Who it suits
- Makers printing fine resin detail where a build size of 565 mm is enough for the parts they need
- Studios that want phone and help centre support on email, phone and help centre
- Buyers in the US or Europe, since delivery covers US, CA and AT
Who should look elsewhere
- Multi colour work, since multi colour is a no here
- Hobbyists after filament machines, where SOVOL lists fdm printer
- Shoppers who need a broad one basket range, since Formlabs covers resin printer
MatterHackers
Who it suits
- Makers who want the whole workflow under one roof, since fdm printer, resin printer and 3d scanner is wider than fdm printer and 3d scanner at Farnell and fdm printer at Sovol.
- Large format buyers who weight build size, where the brand holds position 1 of 23.
- US and Canadian shops, since US and CA keeps support close to the US base.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who want a longer warranty, since 0 to 0.08 years sits under the 1 year median, and the choice at Sovol is limited to fdm printer.
- Shops outside US and CA, where the shorter list at LONGER, fdm printer, resin printer and laser engraver, is a simpler thing to weigh against freight and cross border warranty handling.
- Buyers after a cutting machine who expect one long warranty policy, since the cutting machine in fdm printer, resin printer and 3d scanner carries the same 0 to 0.08 years of terms as the rest of the catalog.
Country by country
| Country | Formlabs | MatterHackers |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | Yes | No |
| Belgium | Yes | No |
| Bulgaria | Yes | No |
| Croatia | Yes | No |
| Cyprus | Yes | No |
| Czechia | Yes | No |
| Denmark | Yes | No |
| Estonia | Yes | No |
8 of 33 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
Formlabs
What does a Formlabs printer cost to buy?+
Entry is fees of $2,625 for the Formlabs complete package, which is the figure that sets the starting budget. That places Formlabs at 27 of 27 brands ranked on price from, so buyers should treat it as one of the higher entries in the category rather than a budget machine.
How big a build volume can I get?+
The build size is 565 mm, which ranks 5 of 23 on size across the category. For scale, the median machine in this ranking manages 350 and the largest reaches 1,800.
MatterHackers
What does a MatterHackers machine cost to start with?+
Entry pricing starts at $179, and the brand sits at position 8 of 27 on price from, which places it mid range here rather than at the budget end. Anything with a build size beyond the entry machine, or a laser above 100 W of output, costs more. Treat $179 as the floor of the range, not the typical spend.
How large a build volume can MatterHackers printers handle?+
Build size reaches 1,800 mm, and that figure puts the brand at position 1 of 23 on this measure. It is the standout spec in the range, covering everything from a small desktop FDM machine to an enclosed large format printer for parts that will not fit a standard bed.