A filament dryer is the cheapest upgrade in 3D printing — typically $40–120 — and it fixes the most common print defects. Here's how to choose and use one.
How dryers work
They heat the spool chamber to 40–100 °C while circulating air, driving absorbed moisture out. Key spec: temperature control. Fixed-temperature "warm boxes" can't dry nylon (needs 80 °C) or PC (100 °C).
Built-in vs standalone
- Standalone dryer: works with any printer, holds 1–2 spools, often prints directly from the unit
- Printer-integrated: some 2026 printers include drying chambers — convenient but single-vendor
- Dry boxes: passive storage with desiccant — keeps dry filament dry, can't restore wet filament
Settings per material
PLA 45–50 °C · PETG 65 °C · ABS/ASA 80 °C · PA/PA-CF 80 °C · PC 100 °C · TPU 70 °C. Times: 4–8 h depending on how wet. See the full drying chart.
Buying advice
Buy a dryer with adjustable temperature, a fan, and enough capacity for your biggest spool (3/5 kg needs a big unit). Print farms should budget one dryer per 3–4 printers.