Our Picks
Tested recommendations. We only list what we'd buy ourselves.
Filament
Since Bambu cut its own filament prices on September 16, 2026 (PLA Basic refill $15.99, PETG Basic refill $13.99 in the Bambu US store), third-party filament is no longer automatically the cheaper choice. Refills come without a spool, so you need a reusable spool for them. Community-tested picks.
Hatchbox PLAStandard PLA
Plain 1.75 mm PLA. A second option when your usual brand is out of the color you need.
Overture PLAPopular
Budget everyday PLA, now sold by Overture as High Speed PLA. Its cardboard spool can tangle or slip in the AMS; Bambu strongly advises an adapter ring there.
Polymaker ASAASA, enclosed only
UV- and weather-resistant ASA for outdoor parts. Enclosed printers only (P1S, P2S, X1, X2D, H2 series); Bambu rules out the A series, P1P and the AMS lite. Use glue, keep the door closed (styrene) and fit a spool adapter ring for the cardboard spool in the AMS.
Overture TPU 95AFlexible
Flexible 95A TPU for a dry box or the external spool, not for the AMS. Bumpers, seals, gaskets, grips.
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Accessories
What you actually need alongside your printer. For the full comparisons, see our build plate guide and our filament dryer guide.
SUNLU FilaDryer S2
Heated filament dryer. Dries while printing. Rated for 70 °C by SUNLU: PLA, PETG and TPU; nylon only with long runs.
SUNLU FilaDryer S4
Dries four spools at once: the step up from the S2 for a full AMS or AMS lite (the AMS 2 Pro and AMS HT dry on their own). Rated for 70 °C by SUNLU: PLA, PETG and TPU; nylon only with long runs.
Capricorn PTFE Tube XS
Capricorn XS, 1.9 mm ID. Narrower than Bambu's stock tubes (2.0 mm inside the AMS and on the X1/P1, 2.5 mm on the A1, A1 mini, A2L, P2S, X2D, H2C, H2D and H2S); Bambu advises against a smaller ID because it adds friction. In our own printers it has still worked better than the stock tube, which is why we keep recommending it; if feeding gets worse, go back to the stock size.
BIQU PyroGrip PEI Plate 257x257
Third-party textured PEI. Same mount as the stock plate. Get a spare for swapping; on the P2S and X2D, BIQU says to turn off build plate detection.
BIQU CryoGrip Frostbite
Very grippy cold plate for PLA and PETG only (we have not tested it). Per BIQU: bed at 30–50 °C for PLA and 50–70 °C for PETG, no TPU, water and soap only, no alcohol; fits A1, P1, X1, P2S and X2D (turn off build plate detection on the P2S and X2D), not the A1 mini or H2 series.
Kynup Digital Caliper 6in
Measure filament and check print dimensions. Per Kynup: 0.01 mm resolution, a large display and a splash-proof screen.
WOLFBOX Electric Air Duster
Rechargeable replacement for cans of compressed air. Bambu's wiki blows out the extruder gear and the fans with compressed air: printer off, fan blades held in place.
Heat-Resistant Gloves
Bambu's A1 tool list includes heat-resistant gloves. For briefly handling a warm hotend or part; most of Bambu's procedures still want a cold nozzle.
Starbond Thin CA Glue Kit
Thin CA that wicks into seams. Bambu calls super glue ideal for PLA and recommends two-part epoxy for PETG and ABS.
LEVOIT Core 300-P Air Purifier
Room purifier with a HEPA-grade filter, AHAM VERIFIDE at 143 CFM CADR. A built-in H12 HEPA stage is only on the X1E, X2D and the H2 series. Not tested by us.
99% Isopropyl Alcohol
For wiping carbon rods, build plates and the nozzle area; Bambu washes textured PEI with dish soap instead, and BIQU rules out alcohol on the CryoGrip Frostbite. Flammable: only with the printer off and the hotend and bed cold.
Microfiber Cloths 24-pack
Lint-free cloths for IPA wipes on rods and plates. Bambu's maintenance lists call for a clean cloth; these are cheap enough to toss when greasy.
SanDisk High Endurance microSD
For printers with a microSD slot (A1, A1 mini, P1 and X1 series): timelapses and print files. Format it in the printer, Bambu supports FAT32 only. The P2S, X2D and H2 series take a USB drive instead.
Orange Silica Beads 5.5 lb
Reusable orange beads for the AMS. Bake them back to orange instead of rebuying. Cobalt-free indicator.
Mini Hygrometer 2-pack
Fits the round 46 mm slot in popular AMS dry-pod prints, so you measure humidity instead of guessing from bead color. At about ±5% RH it shows the trend, not a lab value.
MarsWork Reusable Spools
Plastic spools for Bambu refills (about 82 mm core per the listing). No RFID tag, so set the filament in the AMS by hand; the AMS fit is the seller's claim, not Bambu's.
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Printers
Quick answer
New to 3D printing? A1 mini ($199). Want more room? A1 ($259). Want the biggest bed on a budget (or a cutting plotter)? A2L ($439). Need ABS/ASA? P1S ($349) is the budget pick, P2S ($449) the newer machine. Want dual nozzle + active chamber? X2D ($589). What each step up adds for the extra money: the price ladder.
| Printer | Price | Best for | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
 A1 mini | $199 | First printer | AmazonBambu Lab |
 A1 | $259 | Best value | AmazonBambu Lab |
 A2L New | $439 | Budget big volume, cutting plotter | Bambu Lab |
 P2S | $449 | ABS/ASA enclosed | Bambu Lab |
 P1S | $349 | Cheapest enclosed | AmazonBambu Lab |
 X1 Carbon Discontinued | $1,199 | Lidar + AI (EOL, successor: X2D) | See X2D |
 X2D New | $589 | Dual nozzle, active chamber | Bambu Lab |
 H2S | $1,049 | Engineering | Bambu Lab |
 H2D | $1,399 | Dual nozzle | Bambu Lab |
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Prices: Bambu US store, checked November 3, 2026. Struck-through = Bambu's "Typical Price", the median store price on at least 7 of the last 90 days, excluding promotions (shown on nine models, the A1 mini, A1, A2L, P1S, X2D, P2S, H2S, H2D and H2C). X1 Carbon: launch price, no longer sold new. Full price tracker Always verify at the official store.
What to Skip
Don't buy new: P1P
Discontinued. The P2S is better, and at $449 it costs less than the P1P did at its $699 launch price.
P1S: the cheapest enclosed Bambu
At $349 it is the cheapest way into an enclosed Bambu, $100 under the newer P2S. The P2S is faster and newer; the P1S is the one to buy if the enclosure matters more to you than the speed.
Don't buy new: X1 Carbon
Discontinued (EOL March 2026). Its successor, the X2D, adds an active chamber and dual nozzle for less.
Think twice: H2D without specific need
$350 more than the H2S at current prices ($1,399 vs $1,049). Only if you need the dual nozzle or the 40W laser (both take the 10W laser and cutting module).
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