Accessories
Best 3D Printer Accessories and Upgrades, in Buying Order
The best 3D printer accessories are the ones that fix a real failure: a PLA film, a filament dryer, a PEI build plate that fits the bed, a tool kit, and a hardened nozzle only when the filament is abrasive.
Updated September 2026 · Scored against our accessory guides
Lena OrtizWriter
The best 3D printer upgrades, in buy order
Buy Magigoo Original if PLA corners lift on a plate you have already washed. Buy the Creality Space Pi Plus if PETG, TPU, or a humid room is the failure. Buy the BIQU CryoGrip Frostbite if the bed is a 257 mm Bambu A1, P1, or X1 sheet and the stock surface is the limit. Buy the 34-piece tool kit if the bench has no scraper or nozzle needle. Buy the Bondtech CHT only for abrasive filament on an MK8 hotend. Buy the Panda Shelter only as a draft tent for an open A1 or A1 Mini.
That is the whole list of best 3D printer accessories we would spend money on before a second printer. A sealed PLA spool does not need a filament dryer on day one. A stock PEI build plate that holds does not need a replacement. Plain PLA does not need a hardened nozzle. An enclosed CoreXY does not need a fabric tent. The how-to for the PLA film is Magigoo bed adhesive and first-layer setup. If the machine on the bench is a new A1 Mini, finish the A1 Mini setup guide before you buy a plate that does not fit. Printer discounts and accessory discounts are different carts. The printer side of a Black Friday buy is the eight-printer price table.
Best 3D printer accessories at a glance
Every accessory below is already scored in its own guide. Roles here are the buy order for a printer you already own, not a second lab test.
Magigoo Original
$20 often $15 to $25
The first accessory that matters for a clean PLA first layer. About $20 (price checked Sep 2026), often $15 to $25, overall 8.8/10, ease of use 9.2/10, print quality 9.1/10. A thin film holds PLA, the part lets go as the bed cools, and water washes the film off. Skip it on day one if a washed stock plate already holds. Original is a PLA adhesive. It is not a nylon or polypropylene fix.
Creality Space Pi Plus
$75 often $60 to $90
The two-spool filament dryer, Creality's Space Pi Plus. About $75 (price checked Sep 2026), often $60 to $90, overall 8.6/10, ease of use 8.6/10. Both rolls share one chamber and one temperature, 45 to 70 °C. Buy it for PETG, TPU, or a spool that has gone stringy in a humid room. Skip it for a sealed PLA spool on the first print. One spool on a small desk is the Sunlu S2.
Generic 34-Piece Printer Tools Kit
$19
The everyday removal and finishing kit, and the our-pick on the tool kit guide. About $19 (price checked Sep 2026), overall 8.8/10, value 9.4/10, ease of use 9.0/10. Scrapers, needles, files, flush cutters, and a case cover most bench jobs. Blade steel is mid-tier. On this page it is the budget buy, because $19 belongs on the bench before a second gadget. Skip another kit if you already use the scrapers and needles you own.
BIQU CryoGrip Pro Frostbite 257 mm
$35
The PEI build plate our-pick on the build sheet guide, for cold-plate adhesion. About $35 (price checked Sep 2026), overall 9.1/10, ease of use 9.4/10, print quality 9.0/10. It is a 257 mm double-sided sheet for a Bambu A1, P1, or X1 bed, with strong PLA and PETG grip at lower bed temperatures and a flex release. Skip it for an A1 Mini or a 235 mm Ender-class bed. This sheet does not fit those machines. Skip it when a washed stock plate already holds.
Bondtech CHT BiMetal MK8 0.4 mm
$41
The hardened nozzle our-pick, and only when the filament is abrasive. About $41 (price checked Sep 2026), overall 9.2/10, print quality 9.4/10, durability 9.6/10. It is a 0.4 mm MK8 CHT tip for carbon fiber, glow, or wood-filled filament. Skip it for plain PLA or PETG. The scorecard calls it overkill for those. Skip it on an A1 or A1 Mini. Those printers take the Bambu-style hardened hotend, not an MK8 tip. A K1C already ships with a hardened nozzle.
Magigoo Original
$20 often $15 to $25
Check price on AmazonThe first accessory that matters for a clean PLA first layer. About $20 (price checked Sep 2026), often $15 to $25, overall 8.8/10, ease of use 9.2/10, print quality 9.1/10. A thin film holds PLA, the part lets go as the bed cools, and water washes the film off. Skip it on day one if a washed stock plate already holds. Original is a PLA adhesive. It is not a nylon or polypropylene fix.
Magigoo Original is the bed adhesive we recommend first for PLA. A thin film holds the first layer, parts release as the plate cools, and water washes the film off. It costs more per bottle than a glue stick and the Original formula is a PLA adhesive, not a universal fix for nylon or polypropylene.
Who it's for
PLA printers who are tired of glue-stick residue on PEI or glass.
Also great: Creality Space Pi Plus
Creality Space Pi Plus
The two-spool filament dryer, Creality's Space Pi Plus. About $75 (price checked Sep 2026), often $60 to $90, overall 8.6/10, ease of use 8.6/10. Both rolls share one chamber and one temperature, 45 to 70 °C. Buy it for PETG, TPU, or a spool that has gone stringy in a humid room. Skip it for a sealed PLA spool on the first print. One spool on a small desk is the Sunlu S2.
Shops that dry two active spools at once and do not need four independent bays.
Best budget pick: Generic 34-Piece Printer Tools Kit
Generic 34-Piece Printer Tools Kit
The everyday removal and finishing kit, and the our-pick on the tool kit guide. About $19 (price checked Sep 2026), overall 8.8/10, value 9.4/10, ease of use 9.0/10. Scrapers, needles, files, flush cutters, and a case cover most bench jobs. Blade steel is mid-tier. On this page it is the budget buy, because $19 belongs on the bench before a second gadget. Skip another kit if you already use the scrapers and needles you own.
Anyone setting up a first FDM printer or stocking a shared makerspace bench.
Upgrade picks
BIQU CryoGrip Pro Frostbite 257 mm
The PEI build plate our-pick on the build sheet guide, for cold-plate adhesion. About $35 (price checked Sep 2026), overall 9.1/10, ease of use 9.4/10, print quality 9.0/10. It is a 257 mm double-sided sheet for a Bambu A1, P1, or X1 bed, with strong PLA and PETG grip at lower bed temperatures and a flex release. Skip it for an A1 Mini or a 235 mm Ender-class bed. This sheet does not fit those machines. Skip it when a washed stock plate already holds.
P1S / X1 / A1 owners who want fewer warps and easier part removal.
Bondtech CHT BiMetal MK8 0.4 mm
The hardened nozzle our-pick, and only when the filament is abrasive. About $41 (price checked Sep 2026), overall 9.2/10, print quality 9.4/10, durability 9.6/10. It is a 0.4 mm MK8 CHT tip for carbon fiber, glow, or wood-filled filament. Skip it for plain PLA or PETG. The scorecard calls it overkill for those. Skip it on an A1 or A1 Mini. Those printers take the Bambu-style hardened hotend, not an MK8 tip. A K1C already ships with a hardened nozzle.
Anyone printing nylon-CF, PETG-CF, or glow PLA who wants one tip that lasts seasons, not weeks.
Bed adhesive: a thin PLA film, then stop
Magigoo Original is the our-pick for people who print PLA and are tired of glue-stick haze. Spread a thin film only where the part sits, let the bed cool, and wash the coat off with water when it looks patchy. The scorecard is 8.8/10 at $20, often $15 to $25, with ease of use at 9.2/10. The full routine is the Magigoo first-layer guide, and the bottle is the Magigoo Original scorecard.
Skip Magigoo when a washed plate already holds, and skip it when the plastic is nylon or polypropylene. The Bambu Lab liquid glue pen is the second bottle for Bambu plates: 8.3/10, $15, often $10 to $20, on the Bambu liquid glue scorecard. The Creality PVP glue stick is the spare in the drawer: 7.5/10, $8, often $5 to $12, on the Creality glue stick scorecard. It names PLA and PETG, and it leaves more haze. The rest of the category is the bed adhesives guide.
Filament dryer: Space Pi Plus for two wet spools
Creality's Space Pi Plus is the dryer to buy when two spools need the same cycle. Both rolls share one chamber and one temperature, 45 to 70 °C, with a 160 W PTC heater and a timer up to 48 hours. We score it 8.6/10 at $75, often $60 to $90. It is the right box for PETG or TPU that has gone stringy or brittle. It is not a four-bay dryer with a different preset per material. The card is the Space Pi Plus scorecard.
Skip a dryer for a sealed PLA spool on the first print. If you only ever dry one spool, the Sunlu S2 is the budget one-spool unit at $49 and 8.0/10. Its button is further down this page. The wider comparison is the filament dryer guide. A dryer does not choose your printer. PETG and ABS limits still depend on the machine, which is the engineering filament guide.
PEI build plate: Frostbite on a 257 mm bed
The BIQU CryoGrip Pro Frostbite is the PEI build plate we score as the our-pick for cold-plate adhesion. It is 257 mm, double-sided, and meant for a Bambu A1, P1, or X1 class bed. PLA and PETG hold at lower bed temperatures, and the part pops with a flex. Overall is 9.1/10 at $35, with ease of use at 9.4/10. The card is the CryoGrip Frostbite scorecard.
Skip it when the stock plate, washed, already holds. Skip it on an A1 Mini. That bed is a 180 mm cube, and this 257 mm sheet does not fit. The A1 Mini setup guide starts on the textured plate in the box. Skip it on a 235 mm Ender-class bed too. Other sizes live on the PEI build plate guide. This page has no Amazon button for a sheet that does not match the bed you own.
Tools: a 34-piece kit before another gadget
The 34-piece kit is the our-pick on the tool guide and the budget buy on this page. About $19 (price checked Sep 2026) and 8.8/10, with value at 9.4/10. It is scrapers, cleaning needles, files, flush cutters, and a case. Individual tools are not heirloom steel. The set covers day-one removal and finishing without a scavenger hunt. Who it is for: a first FDM bench, or a shared makerspace that keeps losing needles. The card is the 34-piece tool kit scorecard.
Skip a second assortment if you already own scrapers and needles you use. A dedicated metal scraper, for lifting a cooled part without gouging PEI, is the BIQU Panda Edge kit at $16 and 8.2/10, on the scraper kit scorecard. Keep the blade flat. Water removes Magigoo. The blade does not. The rest of the category is the printer tool kit guide.
Hardened nozzle: abrasive filament, or skip it
The Bondtech CHT BiMetal MK8 0.4 mm is the hardened nozzle our-pick. Overall is 9.2/10 at $41, print quality 9.4/10, durability 9.6/10. Buy it for nylon-CF, PETG-CF, glow PLA, or wood-filled filament on an MK8 hotend. Skip it for plain PLA and PETG. The scorecard lists that use as overkill, and value is 7.8/10 for a reason. The card is the Bondtech CHT scorecard.
Match the tip to the printer. An A1 or A1 Mini takes the hardened hotend kit further down this page, not this MK8 nozzle. A V6 hotend is the E3D Obsidian at $28 and 8.7/10, on the E3D Obsidian scorecard. A Creality K1C already ships with a hardened steel nozzle. Do not buy a second tip because a comparison mentioned abrasive filament. That printer decision is K1C vs Kobra 3 Combo. The category, including tips we are not featuring here, is the hardened nozzle guide.
Draft tent, one spool, and the A1 hotend
Three scored accessories stay off the main shortlist because most benches should skip them. The BIQU Panda Shelter is for an open A1 or A1 Mini that curls in a draft or collects dust. It is a fabric tent, about $79 (price checked Sep 2026), often $50 to $110, overall 7.4/10. The A1 size and the A1 Mini size differ, and the larger fit has room for AMS Lite. It does not heat a chamber, so it is not an ABS upgrade. A closed tent can warm the electronics and an AMS Lite. Skip it if you already own an enclosed CoreXY such as a K1C, P1S, or AD5M Pro. The card is the Panda Shelter scorecard, and the category is the enclosure guide.
The Sunlu S2 is the one-spool dryer at $49 and 8.0/10. Buy it instead of the Space Pi Plus when a single PETG or TPU roll is the whole humidity problem. The Bambu-style hardened hotend kit is $18 and 8.6/10, and it fits the A1 and A1 Mini only. Buy it before the first abrasive spool on those machines. Skip it for plain PLA, and skip it on an MK8 or V6 hotend.
BIQU Panda Shelter · $99.99
About $79 (price checked Sep 2026), often $50 to $110, overall 7.4/10. A fabric draft and dust tent for the Bambu A1 or A1 Mini. The two sizes differ. It does not heat a chamber, and a closed tent can warm the electronics and an AMS Lite. Skip it if the printer is already an enclosed CoreXY.
Sunlu Filament Dryer S2 · $44.99
About $49 (price checked Sep 2026), overall 8.0/10, one spool. The budget filament dryer when you only run one roll of PETG or TPU. Skip it if two spools need the same cycle. That job is the Space Pi Plus.
Bambu Lab–compatible A1 / A1 Mini Hardened Hotend Kit · $18
About $18 (price checked Sep 2026), overall 8.6/10. The hardened hotend kit for an A1 or A1 Mini before the first carbon-fiber, glow, or wood-filled spool. Compatibility is 7.5/10 because it is not an MK8 or V6 tip. Skip it for plain PLA and PETG, and skip it on any printer that is not an A1 or A1 Mini.
Multi-color is a Combo, not an accessory we sell
There is no AMS, AMS Lite, or ACE Pro accessory in this catalog. Do not shop this page for a standalone multi-color unit. AMS Lite is part of the Bambu Lab A1 Combo we score at $399 (prices change often, so check the live price on Amazon, 9.0/10). A standard A1 Mini does not include it. The open Combo against the Mini is A1 Combo vs A1 Mini, and the Combo scorecard is the A1 Combo scorecard.
The Anycubic Kobra 3 Combo is the other scored bundle, about $349 (price checked Sep 2026) and 8.1/10, with the ACE Pro included. It is an open bed-slinger. The enclosed single-extruder alternative is the Creality K1C, which already has a hardened nozzle and does not include a color unit. That head-to-head is K1C vs Kobra 3 Combo. The open A1 Combo against the K1C is A1 Combo vs K1C. The Kobra card is the Kobra 3 Combo scorecard, and the K1C card is the K1C scorecard.
Affiliate disclosure
3DPrintersRank does not sell accessories. Each Check price on Amazon button uses the affiliate link already stored on that scorecard. We may earn a commission if you buy, and we do not set the price. The figures on this page are the published prices (price checked Sep 2026). Amazon shows the price you would pay today. We do not list a standalone AMS, and we do not score printer stands.
Accessory scores compared
Overall is out of 10 and comes from the matching accessory guide. Check Amazon for the live price.
| Accessory | Role here | Overall | Price | Review | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magigoo Original | Our pick | 8.8 | $20 | Scorecard | Check price on Amazon |
| Creality Space Pi Plus | Also great | 8.6 | $75 | Scorecard | Check price on Amazon |
| Generic 34-Piece Printer Tools Kit | Budget pick | 8.8 | $19 | Scorecard | Check price on Amazon |
| BIQU CryoGrip Pro Frostbite 257 mm | Upgrade pick | 9.1 | $35 | Scorecard | Check price on Amazon |
| Bondtech CHT BiMetal MK8 0.4 mm | Upgrade pick | 9.2 | $41 | Scorecard | Check price on Amazon |
Who should skip these
Skip Magigoo if the plate already holds, or the plastic is not PLA
Wash the stock sheet with water first. Magigoo Original is a PLA film, about $20 (price checked Sep 2026) and 8.8/10. It is the wrong bottle for nylon or polypropylene, and we do not score those formulas. A rocking bench is a placement problem. Glue will not level the gantry.
Skip a hardened nozzle if you only print PLA and PETG
The Bondtech CHT is $41 and 9.2/10, and it is an MK8 tip. Buy it for carbon fiber, glow, or wood-filled filament on a matching hotend. An A1 or A1 Mini needs the hardened hotend kit instead. A K1C already includes a hardened nozzle, so do not add a second tip to win a printer comparison.
Skip the Panda Shelter if you already own an enclosed CoreXY
The BIQU Panda Shelter is a fabric tent for an open A1 or A1 Mini, about $79 (price checked Sep 2026), and the two sizes differ. It blocks drafts and dust. It does not heat a chamber, and a closed tent can warm the electronics. A K1C, P1S, or AD5M Pro already has a shell. Do not put a tent over that box.
Who it's not for
People who are still choosing a printer. That question has its own guides. This page is also the wrong place for a heated chamber, a printer stand, or a standalone multi-color unit. We do not score specialty Magigoo formulas for nylon or polypropylene, and we do not list AMS Lite or ACE Pro as accessory SKUs. Multi-color ships inside a scored Combo.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best 3D printer accessories to buy first?
- Magigoo Original if PLA lifts off a clean plate, the 34-piece tool kit if the bench has no scraper, and then stop. Add the Creality Space Pi Plus when PETG, TPU, or humidity shows up. Add the BIQU CryoGrip Frostbite only if the bed is a 257 mm Bambu A1, P1, or X1 sheet that the stock plate is no longer handling. A hardened nozzle waits until the filament is abrasive.
- Do I need a filament dryer for the first PLA spool?
- No, if the spool is still sealed and the prints are not brittle or stringy. Buy the Space Pi Plus ($75, often $60 to $90, 8.6/10) when two spools of PETG or TPU need the same cycle. Buy the Sunlu S2 ($49, 8.0/10) if you only dry one spool. Both rolls in the Space Pi Plus share one temperature.
- Which PEI build plate should I buy?
- The BIQU CryoGrip Pro Frostbite, if the bed is 257 mm and the printer is a Bambu A1, P1, or X1. We score it 9.1/10 at $35 for cold-plate PLA and PETG adhesion. It does not fit an A1 Mini (180 mm) or a 235 mm Ender-class bed. Other sizes are on the PEI guide. This page does not put an Amazon button on a sheet that does not fit.
- Is Magigoo the bed adhesive to buy, or a glue stick?
- Magigoo Original if you want a thin PLA film that releases when cool and washes off with water (8.8/10, $20, often $15 to $25). The Bambu Lab liquid glue pen is the second bottle for Bambu plates (8.3/10, $15, often $10 to $20). The Creality PVP glue stick is the budget spare (7.5/10, $8, often $5 to $12) and it leaves more haze. None of the three levels the bed.
- When should I buy a hardened nozzle?
- When the filament is carbon fiber, glow-in-the-dark, or wood-filled. The Bondtech CHT hardened nozzle is the MK8 our-pick at $41 and 9.2/10. The Bambu-style hardened hotend kit ($18, 8.6/10) is the swap for an A1 or A1 Mini. The E3D Obsidian ($28, 8.7/10) is the V6 tip. Skip all three for plain PLA and PETG. A K1C already ships with a hardened nozzle.
- Is the Panda Shelter a heated enclosure?
- No. It is a fabric draft and dust tent for the Bambu A1 and A1 Mini, about $79 (price checked Sep 2026), often $50 to $110, overall 7.4/10. The A1 and A1 Mini sizes differ. It does not make ABS reliable, and a closed tent can warm the electronics and an AMS Lite. Skip it if the printer is already an enclosed CoreXY.
Related 3D printer guides
Magigoo Review and First-Layer Setup Guide
Magigoo Original is the 3D printer bed adhesive for a clean PLA first layer. Spread a thin film, let the part cool, and wash the plate with water. The Bambu liquid glue pen is the second bottle. A Creality PVP glue stick is the cheap spare.
Bambu A1 Mini Setup Guide: From Unboxing to Your First Successful Print
A practical Bambu A1 Mini setup guide: what is in the box, what you screw on, how to use the Bambu app or LAN, and how to finish a small PLA part.
Bambu Lab P1S vs A1 Combo: Which Should You Buy?
Bambu Lab P1S vs A1 is an enclosed 256 mm CoreXY against the full-size open A1 we score, the A1 Combo with AMS Lite in the box. Take the P1S for the shell. Take the Combo for multi-color at a lower tracked price. We do not score a bare A1.
Creality K1C vs Anycubic Kobra 3 Combo: Which Should You Buy?
Creality K1C vs Anycubic Kobra 3 Combo is an enclosed CoreXY with a hardened nozzle against an open 250 mm bed-slinger with the ACE Pro in the box. Take the K1C for the shell. Take the Combo for four-color prints. Neither machine wins both jobs.
Bambu A1 Combo vs Creality K1C: Which Should You Buy?
A1 Combo vs K1C is an open 256 mm bed-slinger with AMS Lite against an enclosed CoreXY with a hardened nozzle. Take the Combo for the bed and the color unit. Take the K1C for the closed shell. Neither machine wins both jobs.
Bambu A1 Combo vs A1 Mini: Which Should You Buy?
A1 Combo vs A1 Mini is a bed and color decision. The Mini is enough at 180 mm and one spool. The Combo is worth it when you need 256 mm or AMS Lite in the box.
The best 3D printer for PETG, ABS, and engineering filaments
The best 3D printer for PETG, ABS, and engineering filament is enclosed, and the spool has to be dry. Abrasive blends still need a hardened nozzle.