MakerBot review
Updated September 30, 2026 · GizmoCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 30, 2026
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Our verdict
MakerBot sells a US maker line for people who want an enclosed, multi colour desktop printer and can live with a short warranty. Machines start at $799, which puts them far above Sovol, while the build volume of 220 mm sits at the bottom of the field.
Key facts
- Best for
- Enclosed, multi colour filament printing bought direct in the US
- Price from
- $799 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Largest build size (mm)
- 220 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Multi-colour printing
- Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Warranty
- 1 year (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Top print speed (mm/s)
- 300 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Enclosed models
- Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Markets
- US (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Legal entity
- MakerBot Industries, LLC (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United States (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Phone, Help-centre, Community (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Products
- Fdm printer
- Official website
- makerbot.com
Apps and profiles
Pros and cons
Pros
- The build chamber is enclosed, so print runs stay contained rather than open on the bench.
- Multi colour printing, which 89.5% of the ranked field also offers.
- Maximum print speed of 300 mm/s mm a second keeps short runs and prototypes brisk.
- Warranty of 1 year ranks at 5 of 20 brands on cover length.
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre, giving a phone route as well as a help centre and community.
Cons
- Cover of 1 year sits below the site upper quartile of 2 years, so buyers after a longer term are not served here.
- Sovol lists from $89, so MakerBot's $799 entry is a different tier of spend rather than a small step up.
- Build volume of 220 mm ranks at 23 of 23 brands, the compact end of the field.
- The range is fdm printer only, so resin printing, scanning and laser cutting sit with MatterHackers at fdm printer, resin printer and 3d scanner.
Who it suits
- US makers who want a contained, enclosed filament printer bought direct from the maker.
- Workspaces that want phone and help centre support on email, phone and help centre in one place.
- Buyers who put enclosure, colour and speed ahead of a long warranty or a large build volume.
Who should look elsewhere
- Makers who need resin printing, scanning or laser work, who should weigh MatterHackers, whose catalogue runs to fdm printer, resin printer and 3d scanner.
- Buyers chasing the lowest way in, who will find Sovol starting at $89.
- Shoppers who want printers and scanners in one distributor basket, where Farnell lists fdm printer and 3d scanner.
What it does well
The range prints in filament, and the detail that sets it apart at this price is that the build chamber is enclosed rather than open. Maximum print speed is 300 mm/s mm a second, quick enough for a same day prototype, and multi colour printing is supported, so a part does not need a manual filament swap partway through. The trade is volume and cover. The build area is 220 mm, at the compact end of what the category offers, and the warranty runs 1 year. Buyers are choosing control, speed and colour here rather than large parts or long cover.
Where it sits among rivals
On price from, MakerBot sits at 22 of 27 brands, so entry cost is toward the dear end of the category. Build size tells a different story: 23 of 23 on that measure, effectively the back of the field. Warranty is the outlier in the brand's favour at 5 of 20, which in a category with short cover means MakerBot is competitive rather than generous. Read together, the picture is a brand priced at the upper end, compact in build volume, and unremarkable on warranty length.
Who runs it
The company behind the printers is MakerBot Industries, LLC, based in the United States. Support runs on email, phone and help centre, so a buyer can pick the route that suits the problem: a phone call for a fault that stops work, a help centre for setup, a community for print troubleshooting, or email for anything in writing. That mix suits a buyer who wants a person on the other end of an urgent fault as much as one who would rather search at their own pace.
How MakerBot compares
- 8.6 vs 9.1
- 8.6 vs 8.6
8.6 vs 8.7
8.6 vs 8.8- 8.6 vs 8.6
- 8.6 vs 9.1
8.6 vs 8.8
8.6 vs 9.2- 8.6 vs 9.1
- 8.6 vs 8.9
- 8.6 vs 9.2
8.6 vs 9.0
8.6 vs 9.3- 8.6 vs 9.5
8.6 vs 9.5
8.6 vs 9.4- 8.6 vs 9.3
- 8.6 vs 9.1
8.6 vs 9.0- 8.6 vs 9.0
- 8.6 vs 8.9
8.6 vs 8.8
8.6 vs 8.6
8.6 vs 8.6
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Where MakerBot is available
- Available
- United States
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How much does a MakerBot printer cost?+
The range starts at $799, a one-off hardware price rather than a recurring plan. On entry cost the brand ranks at 22 of 27 brands in the category, which puts it toward the dear end of the field.
What type of printer is it?+
The range covers fdm printer, and the build chamber is enclosed, which suits filament work that needs containing. Multi colour is supported, so a part can carry more than one filament without a manual swap partway through.
How large a print can it make?+
The build volume is 220 mm, ranking at 23 of 23 brands on that measure. The site median is 390 mm, so the chamber is well under a typical one on this site.
How fast does it print?+
Maximum print speed is 300 mm/s mm a second, which describes the fastest head movement rather than the pace of a whole job. Real throughput usually sits below that ceiling once acceleration and infill are counted.
What warranty comes with the printer?+
Cover runs 1 year, placing MakerBot at 5 of 20 brands on warranty length. The site median is 1 years, so the term is typical of the category rather than generous within it.
Where is MakerBot based and where does it ship?+
The company behind the machines is MakerBot Industries, LLC, based in the United States, and the markets it ships to are US. Buyers elsewhere should check delivery terms and warranty handling with a local supplier, since both the cover and the shipping policy are written around the home market.
How do I get help with a fault or a failed print?+
Support runs on email, phone and help centre, so email, phone, a help centre and a community are all in scope. A phone call suits an urgent hardware fault, while the help centre and community fit setup questions and print troubleshooting at your own pace.
How does it compare with cheaper printer brands?+
Sovol lists from $89, well under the $799 MakerBot entry point, so the gap is a tier of spend. What the higher outlay buys here is an enclosed chamber, multi colour support and a 300 mm/s mm a second ceiling.
Sources
- makerbot.com/3d-printers checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Price from
“MakerBot Sketch 3D printers. Fast. Reliable. Incredibly easy to use. Starting at $799.00”
- makerbot.com/3d-printers/sketch-sprint checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Largest build size (mm), Enclosed models, Top print speed (mm/s), Products
“Sketch Sprint Build Volume 220mm x 220mm x 220mm (8.66 x 8.66 x 8.66 inches)”
- makerbot.com/3d-printers/ultimaker-s6 checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Multi-colour printing
“The dual extrusion design works together with software and firmware features to allow you to combine any 2 materials”
- makerbot.com/contact-us checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Support channels
“Visit our Support Knowledge Base ... Or submit a ticket and our experts will get back to you.”
- makerbot.com/legal/limited-warranty-period checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Warranty
“The Warranty Periods noted below are in months. Sketch Sprint 12 12 12 12”
- makerbot.com/legal/makerbot-limited-warranty checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Headquarters, Legal entity
“MakerBot Industries, LLC, headquartered at One MetroTech Center, Floor 21, Brooklyn, NY 11201”
- makerbot.com/legal/makerbot-shipping-policies checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Markets
“MakerBot.com ships to the US only.”
Compiled from 7 source pages, checked September 30, 2026. We did not open an account.