Filament drying
How to Dry Filament (PETG, TPU, PLA)
Dry PETG, TPU, or nylon, and dry filament if the room is humid. A sealed spool of PLA can start without a dryer.
Updated September 2026 · Scored against our FDM printer guide
Lena OrtizWriter
Filament dryers at a glance
Every dryer below is already scored in the filament dryer guide. We do not publish a dry time.
Sunlu Filament Dryer S4
$116.99 regular $139.99
Four spools, 9.0/10, about $129 (price checked Sep 2026). Print-through PTFE ports mean you can dry while you print.
Creality Space Pi Plus
$75 often $60 to $90
Two spools in one chamber, 8.6/10, about $75 (price checked Sep 2026). It is not a four-bay substitute for the S4.
Sunlu Filament Dryer S2
$44.99 regular $79.99
One spool, 8.0/10, about $49 (price checked Sep 2026). The starter dryer when a spool has sat open or you print PETG.
Sovol SH02 Dry Box
$79
Sealed storage plus active drying, 8.3/10, about $79 (price checked Sep 2026). Buy it when the active spool should stay protected between jobs.
Sunlu Filament Dryer S4
$116.99 regular $139.99
Check price on AmazonFour spools, 9.0/10, about $129 (price checked Sep 2026). Print-through PTFE ports mean you can dry while you print.
The S4 held target temperatures within a tight band and dried four mid-size spools without stacking gimmicks. Print-through PTFE ports mean you can dry while you print; something cheaper dehydrators make awkward.
Who it's for
Multi-material desks that keep PETG, TPU, and nylon on deck at the same time.
Also great: Creality Space Pi Plus
Creality Space Pi Plus
Two spools in one chamber, 8.6/10, about $75 (price checked Sep 2026). It is not a four-bay substitute for the S4.
Shops that dry two active spools at once and do not need four independent bays.
Best budget pick: Sunlu Filament Dryer S2
Sunlu Filament Dryer S2
One spool, 8.0/10, about $49 (price checked Sep 2026). The starter dryer when a spool has sat open or you print PETG.
First dryer buyers who print PETG or TPU occasionally.
Worth the upgrade: Sovol SH02 Dry Box
Sovol SH02 Dry Box
Sealed storage plus active drying, 8.3/10, about $79 (price checked Sep 2026). Buy it when the active spool should stay protected between jobs.
Shops that want dry storage and active drying without a four-bay unit.
Filament dryer scores compared
Overall is out of 10 and comes from the filament dryer guide. Check Amazon for the live price.
| Dryer | Role here | Overall | Price | Review | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunlu Filament Dryer S4 | Our pick | 9.0 | $116.99 | Scorecard | Check price on Amazon |
| Creality Space Pi Plus | Also great | 8.6 | $75 | Scorecard | Check price on Amazon |
| Sunlu Filament Dryer S2 | Budget pick | 8.0 | $44.99 | Scorecard | Check price on Amazon |
| Sovol SH02 Dry Box | Upgrade pick | 8.3 | $79 | Scorecard | Check price on Amazon |
Who should skip these
Skip a dryer for a sealed PLA spool
Leave a dryer off a sealed spool of PLA in a dry room. Buy one when you print PETG, TPU, or nylon, or the room is humid.
Who it's not for
A page of dry times. We do not publish how long to dry PETG, TPU, or PLA.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a filament dryer for PLA?
- For PLA in a dry room, start without one. Dry filament when you print PETG, TPU, or nylon, or you live somewhere humid.
- Can I print while drying filament?
- Yes on the Sunlu S4. Print-through ports mean you can dry while you print. We do not publish a dry time.
Related 3D printer guides
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.
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.
PLA vs PETG: Which Should You Print?
PLA is the open-printer starter. PETG and ABS care more about drafts and a dry spool. This page uses printers we already score.