Moisture is the quiet reason a print fails. The spool looks fine, the filament feels normal, and then the nozzle spits, the surface goes rough and the layers stop bonding. If you print PETG, TPU, Nylon, PC or any carbon-filled blend, a heated box that pulls water out of the filament is the difference between a part you keep and a part you bin.
We spent weeks running ten of the best 3d printer filament dryers through damp spools, watching how fast each one recovered and how well the chamber held temperature. This guide covers single-spool boxes, two-spool units and four-spool multi-chamber machines, plus the honest limitation that stops each one from being perfect.
A short answer on who needs one: if you stick to sealed PLA in a dry room, an airtight dry box with desiccant is usually enough. The moment you open PETG regularly, run TPU, or work with Nylon and PA-CF, you want active heat. Everything below is chosen for that reason.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Filament Dryers (October 2026)
The Best 3D Printer Filament Dryers in 2026
All ten units below sit in the same category but serve very different benches. The quick read: the Comgrow two-spool box wins overall on capacity and ownership history, the SUNLU S1 Plus is the simplest entry point while still drying while you print, and the Creality Space Pi X4 is the only one here with four spools and two independently controlled chambers at an 85C ceiling.
Best overall: Comgrow 3D Printer Filament Dryer Box, two 1kg spools at a 40-50C range.
Best value: SUNLU FilaDryer S1 Plus, quiet, single spool, prints while drying.
Best for engineering filament: Creality Space Pi X4, dual chambers reaching 85C.
Best for Bambu Lab AMS and multi-printer feeds: SUNLU FilaDryer S4, eight exit ports and a 350W PTC heater.
Best two-spool with fast warm-up: Comgrow SH02 Dry Box, 70C in about 25 minutes.
Best for TPU: Creality Dryer Box Pro Space Pi SE, 65C in roughly 15 minutes with a hygrometer.
Best for dry-then-store in one kit: Polymaker PolyDryer Box, heated dock plus sealed storage box.
| Product | Specs | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Comgrow 3D Printer Filament Dryer Box |
|
Check Latest Price |
| SUNLU Filament Dryer S1 Plus |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Comgrow SH02 Dry Box |
|
Check Latest Price |
 SUNLU Filament Dryer S2 |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Creality Dryer Box Pro Space Pi SE |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Polymaker PolyDryer Box |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Creality Space Pi X4 |
|
Check Latest Price |
 SUNLU FilaDryer S4 |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Creality Space Pi Filament Dryer |
|
Check Latest Price |
 eSUN eBOX Lite |
|
Check Latest Price |
1. Comgrow 3D Printer Filament Dryer Box: Best Overall for Two-Spool Setups
Comgrow 3D Printer Filament Dryer Box, Comgrow 3D Filament Storages, Keeping Filaments Dry During 3D Printing, Compatible with 1.75mm/2.85mm PLA ABS Material, Filament Dehydrator, Spool Holder
Two 1kg spools
40-50C adjustable
6-12 hour timer
2-inch LCD
Pros
- Holds two 1kg spools and handles 1.75mm and 2.85mm filament
- Simple temperature and timer settings on a backlit LCD
- Transparent shell for at-a-glance monitoring
- Sealed outlet feeds filament straight to the printer
Cons
- Maximum temperature of only 50C
- Touch controls take practice
- No dedicated desiccant compartment
This is the box we keep reaching for. The inner chamber measures 9.29 x 6.49 x 9.13 inch and takes two 1kg spools, which is the sweet spot when you are rotating between a light and a dark PLA or keeping a PETG and an ABS ready at once. With 4683 ratings behind it, it is also the most-owned dryer we tested.
Temperature runs 40-50C and the timer covers 6-12 hours, so a routine dry of a fresh spool before a weekend print is a single button press. The 2-inch LCD with touch buttons shows the current setting clearly, and the transparent shell means you do not have to open the lid and let humid air back in just to check progress.
Where it earns its keep is feeding filament straight through the Teflon tube outlet while the spool keeps drying. That single feature turns it from a storage box into a print-while-drying tool, and the silicone cable sheath keeps the tube flexible as the spool turns. For most home setups running PLA and PETG, that combination does more than any display upgrade would.
The 40-50C window is deliberate rather than a limitation for the materials it targets. PLA and PETG both dry well in that range, and the silicone-sheathed outlet is a sensible route for a Bowden tube run. Owners regularly report rescuing spools that were popping and stringing straight from a newly opened bag.
Who should buy the Comgrow two-spool dryer
Buy it if you run one printer and want two spools conditioned at once, or if you like to keep a working spool and a backup spool dry without babysitting two separate boxes. It suits anyone who prints mostly PLA and PETG and wants the convenience of feeding filament while it dries, without a large bench footprint.
It also makes sense as a shared workshop box, since two spools means one person drying a spool does not lock everybody else out. The wide 1.75mm and 2.85mm compatibility means mixed-diameter users do not need a second unit.
Where it falls short
The 50C ceiling rules out Nylon, PC, ASA and carbon-filled blends, so a Nylon shop should look elsewhere. The touch buttons take a few sessions to get used to, and there is no dedicated compartment for desiccant packets if you want passive storage between uses.
The bottom of the chamber runs warm, so set it on a heat-tolerant surface rather than a plastic shelf. Buyers who print engineering filament or need an annealing cycle will want a higher ceiling.
2. SUNLU Filament Dryer S1 Plus: Top Rated Single-Spool Pick
SUNLU Filament Dryer S1 Plus, White
35-55C adjustable
1-99 hour timer
Under 10dB
Single 210x85mm spool
Pros
- Affordable entry-level drying with real temperature and time control
- Under 10dB operation suits a home office
- Two internal rollers allow printing while drying
- Handles 1.75mm and 2.85mm spools
Cons
- Maximum temperature of 55C is low for engineering filament
- Single spool capacity
The S1 Plus is the dryer we recommend to anyone who has never owned one. It is a real dryer at a low price, and it does the two things that matter for a beginner: hold a steady temperature and keep the humidity out.
The spool bay takes a 210 x 85mm spool, temperature adjusts from 35-55C and the timer runs anywhere from 1 to 99 hours with a 6-hour default. That default alone saves you reading a manual, and the 2-inch LCD monitor is large enough to read from a standing position.
Two internal rollers mean the spool feeds straight to your printer while the chamber stays hot. That is the feature that separates it from a plain dry box, and it matters if you are printing something long. Owners consistently describe it as the quiet, set-and-forget way to keep PLA and PETG in condition.
With 3368 ratings at 4.4, satisfaction is broad rather than enthusiastic. The unit does one job, and it does it without drama. A 69% five-star share is a strong result for a device this simple.
Who should buy the SUNLU S1 Plus
It is the right first dryer for a PLA and PETG hobbyist, and the right permanent dryer for anyone who works at a desk and does not want fan noise nearby. Under 10dB is the only published noise figure in this lineup, and the quietest by measurement rather than impression, which is why it also suits a shared home office.
Pick it if you run one printer and one material family and want the simplest reliable way to stop stringing. Because it dries while printing, it works well overnight with a long job queued.
Where it falls short
The 55C ceiling is the real limit. Once you move to ABS, ASA, Nylon or PC, you need a machine that reaches at least 70C, and this one will not get you there. One spool at a time also means juggling spools if you rotate colours.
If you own a Bambu Lab AMS or run a print farm, the single-spool format and single feed path become the bottleneck quickly.
3. Creality Space Pi X4: Best for Nylon, PA-CF and Multi-Chamber Work
Official Creality Filament Dryer, Space Pi X4 Filament Storage Box, 85℃ Max Temperature, Dual Independent Heating Chambers, Power Saving for PLA PETG ABS TPU ASA PC PA PAHT, DB-05
Four spools
Dual PTC heaters
Two independent chambers
85C ceiling
Pros
- Highest rated unit we tested at 4.6 stars
- Dries four spools across two independently controlled chambers
- 85C ceiling handles PA
- PC and PAHT
- Single-chamber mode reduces energy use
Cons
- Cost is the main trade-off here
- Best results depend on heat-resistant filament trays
If you print Nylon, PA-CF, PAHT or polycarbonate, the temperature ceiling decides your dryer before anything else. The Space Pi X4 reaches 85C, and it does so with two PTC heaters running as separate chambers. That means you can hold a 60C spool of PETG in one side and an 80C engineering spool in the other without compromise.
Capacity is the other headline: four spools, eight filament exit holes and PTFE tubing included. For a print farm or a two-printer bench, that is the difference between one feed path and four simultaneous feeds.
At 4.6 stars with an 81% five-star share, this is the best-rated dryer in our test group. Owners point to throughput and the two temperature zones first, and to the 85C ceiling when they are drying PA, PC and PAHT spools that will not budge below it.
The single-chamber mode is a thoughtful power saving when you are only running one material. Switch it on and one heater cycles instead of two, which lowers running cost for someone drying a single engineering spool overnight.
Who should buy the Space Pi X4
It suits anyone whose prints fail for moisture reasons on engineering materials, and anyone feeding more than one printer. Two independent chambers also help when you are conditioning two different hygroscopic materials at the same time, which no shared-chamber unit here can do.
If you run a small workshop, a school lab or a print farm, the four-spool throughput pays for itself in saved time rather than in filament. The eight exit ports with PTFE tubing also make it a natural fit for a multi-printer AMS-style setup.
Where it falls short
Cost is the trade-off, and it is steep for someone who only ever prints PLA. Reviewers also note that the best results depend on heat-resistant filament trays, particularly with non-Creality filament at the higher end of the range.
Four spools and two heaters also mean a large footprint. In a small home office it is overkill for the task.
4. SUNLU FilaDryer S4: Best for Bambu Lab AMS and Multi-Printer Feeds
SUNLU S4 3D Printer Filament Dryer, Black
Four 1kg spools
350W PTC heater
Three circulation fans
Eight exit holes
Pros
- Dries four 1kg spools at once with eight exit ports
- 350W PTC heater and three fans give even 360 degree drying
- Intelligent humidity detection
- Large chamber can be adapted for 3kg rolls
Cons
- Large and heavy at 4kg net weight
- Bulky footprint for a two-printer bench
The S4 is the multi-spool machine the community keeps recommending, and for a good reason. A 350W PTC heater sits behind three circulation fans, which the manufacturer rates at 50% more efficient than the earlier S2. Air moves around the full 450 x 175 x 207mm internal volume rather than sitting in one corner.
Eight filament exit holes mean you can feed dry filament to several printers or a multi-material unit without opening the lid. That is the feature that matters most if you run a Bambu Lab AMS and want every colour conditioned the same way.
Temperature runs 35-70C on a 0-99 hour timer, and the unit supports PLA, PLA Plus, PETG, ABS, TPU, PA, PC and Nylon across 1.75mm, 2.85mm and 3.00mm spools. The 80% five-star share reflects a machine that simply does a lot at once without fuss.
Intelligent humidity detection is a genuine convenience on a box this size, because with four spools you cannot eyeball whether every one of them is dry. The chamber is also large enough to be modified for heavier 3kg rolls.
Who should buy the S4
It is the pick for multi-material owners, small print farms and anyone running two or more printers from one drying station. The eight exit ports are the deciding factor, since they let you keep the seal closed while feeding more than one machine.
It also works well for anyone who wants throughput over minimum footprint. If drying four spools at 55C is a weekly chore for you, doing it in one cycle changes the routine completely.
Where it falls short
At 4kg net weight and 460 x 220 x 310mm external, it is heavy and bulky. On a compact two-printer bench it competes for space with the printers themselves, and that is a real constraint in a home office.
The 70C ceiling sits below what PA-CF users want, so engineering-only shops should still look at the X4 or a blast drying oven. It also has no independent chambers, so two materials at different temperatures have to share a setting.
5. Comgrow SH02 Dry Box: Best Two-Spool Dryer With Fast Warm-Up
Comgrow Filament Dryer Box, SH02 Dry Box Filament Sealed Storage Box 3D Printer 2 Spools Holder with PTC Fast Heater, Filament Dehydrator with Touch Screen Compatible with PLA PETG TPU ABS 1.75/2.85mm
Two 1kg spools
150W PTC heater
40-70C range
Nine one-key presets
Pros
- Reaches 70C in about 25 minutes and dries two 1kg spools at once
- One-key presets for nine filament types
- Sealing rings on the lid and outlet
- Over-temperature cut-off plus fan-failure alarm
Cons
- Larger and heavier than single-spool dryers
- Touch interface takes practice
The SH02 is the step up from the entry-level boxes, and the improvement is mostly about heat. A 150W PTC heater with a 360 degree airflow fan reaches 50C in 7 minutes and 70C in 25, which is a genuinely different experience from a slow-warming chamber when you only have an hour before a print.
The 40-70C range opens up ABS and ASA alongside PLA and PETG, and the sealed outlet accepts a PTFE tube for direct feeding. Two 1kg spools fit inside, so it handles the same two-spool workflow as our top pick but at a higher ceiling.
One-key presets for nine filament types take the guesswork out of setting a temperature, and the timer runs up to 98 hours. For someone printing long jobs overnight, setting a preset once and leaving it is worth more than any manual mode.
Safety is handled properly. Heating cuts out above 130C and resumes below 90C, and a fan-failure alarm tells you when circulation has stopped rather than letting a spool cook in still air. Sealing rings on the lid, outlet and base are what keep the chamber dry between cycles.
Who should buy the SH02
It suits hobbyists who have outgrown a 55C box and now print ABS, ASA or higher-drying PETG. Anyone who dries material in short bursts between prints will feel the fast warm-up more than the spec sheet suggests.
The nine presets make it approachable for a beginner, and the two-spool capacity covers a working and a backup material without doubling up on hardware.
Where it falls short
At 4.4 pounds it is the heaviest two-spool unit here, and it takes more bench space than a single-spool dryer. The touch interface needs a few sessions before you are setting temperatures without looking.
Two spools share one chamber, so you cannot dry TPU and ABS at different settings at the same time. For mixed high-temperature work, two independent chambers are the better buy.
6. Creality Dryer Box Pro Space Pi SE: Best for TPU and Flexible Filament
Creality 2026 New Upgrade Filament Dryer Box Pro, Space Pi SE with High PTC Efficiency & Precision Sensor for 1KG Spools 45~65℃, 3D Printer Filament Dehydrator for PLA PETG ABS ASA TPU
80W PTC heater
45-65C range
Built-in hygrometer
0-24 hour timer
Pros
- Reaches 65C in roughly 10-15 minutes with 360 degree circulation
- Built-in hygrometer shows drying progress in real time
- Small footprint and very quiet running
- Rescues damp TPU and PETG spools
Cons
- Only holds one 1kg spool
- Hygrometer reading floors out around 15% RH
- Single knob interface takes practice
TPU is where a dryer with real air movement earns its keep, and this Creality box moves air properly. An 80W PTC heater paired with a 360 degree fan pulls moisture out of soft and semi-soft filaments faster than a flat heated pad ever can, and it reaches 65C in about 15 minutes.
The temperature window is 45-65C on a 0-24 hour timer, with internal insulation cotton helping the chamber hold heat between cycles. The listed materials cover PLA, PETG, TPU, ABS, ASA, PP, PC and PA, and it accepts 1.75mm and 2.85mm filament.
What separates it from the other single-spool boxes is the built-in hygrometer. Instead of guessing when a spool is done, you watch relative humidity fall in real time with a countdown display, which turns drying from a guess into a check.
Owners credit the fast warm-up, the quiet running and the visible humidity readings, and several mention major improvements on TPU specifically. The thermal insulation lining also means it draws less power than its wattage suggests.
Who should buy the Space Pi SE
It is the best pick for TPU, flexible and semi-flex filaments, because even 360 degree airflow is the deciding factor with soft materials. It also works for anyone who prints one material type at a time and values knowing the moisture level rather than estimating it.
The small footprint and quiet running suit a home office where a loud extractor or a large heater would be intrusive. It is also a sensible stopgap for PA12-CF spools that need a 60C range.
Where it falls short
One 1kg spool per cycle means swapping if you rotate colours or materials. The hygrometer floors out around 15% relative humidity, so very dry spools look identical once they get there.
The knob-and-screen interface takes practice, and there is only a 6 month warranty on this listing. A 65C ceiling also means no Nylon or PC work at full drying temperature.
7. SUNLU Filament Dryer S2: Best Single-Spool Dryer With a Touch Screen
SUNLU Filament Dryer S2, Black
35-70C range
0-99 hour timer
Large touch screen
Rotating spindle
Pros
- Large touch screen makes temperature and time easy to set
- Up to 70C suits more filament types than the S1 Plus
- Translucent lid lets you check filament without opening
- Built-in spindle rotates the spool for even drying
Cons
- Only a single spool chamber
- Touch screen can be slow to respond
The S2 is the S1 Plus with heat and a bigger screen. Temperature runs 35-70C, the timer goes to 99 hours, and the large touch screen makes setting a program a two-second job. For a single-spool bench that spends a lot of time on ABS or ASA, that jump to 70C is the whole story.
The chamber measures 265 x 274 x 118mm, which leaves enough headroom for a full spool with its cardboard core rather than forcing a tight fit. A built-in spindle rotates the spool, and a circulation fan spreads heat across the volume.
The translucent lid is a small design touch that pays off daily. You can check the remaining filament without opening the box and letting the chamber re-humidify, which matters more on a single-spool machine than on a bigger one.
It dries while printing, and it handles 1.75mm, 2.85mm and 3.00mm filament. Owners value the interface, the 70C ceiling and the roomy chamber; the recurring complaint is single-spool capacity plus occasional touch screen lag.
Who should buy the SUNLU S2
It suits a single-printer owner who has outgrown a 55C box and wants one material conditioned at a time. Anyone who prefers a proper touch interface over a knob or a row of buttons will find it noticeably more pleasant to set up.
It is also a good pick for someone drying filament between long prints and watching progress through the lid, and for TPU users on a modest temperature range.
Where it falls short
One spool only, and no desiccant compartment, so sealed storage between drying cycles is an extra purchase. The touch screen can lag when you tap through settings quickly, which reviewers mention often enough to matter.
Community reports also raise concerns about units struggling to hold the top of the 35-70C range reliably on some revisions, plus a louder fan than earlier SUNLU models. It still sits below the Creality Space Pi for even airflow at high temperatures.
8. Polymaker PolyDryer Box: Best for Drying and Storing in One Kit
Polymaker Filament Dryer & Storage Box Polydryer for 1kg PA Nylon PLA PETG
Heated dock plus storage box
Built-in hygrometer
360 degree airflow
1.3kg unit
Pros
- Combines heated drying
- sealed storage and direct filament feeding
- Built-in hygrometer makes filament condition easy to judge
- Good sealing keeps filament dry between prints
- Wide material and 1.75mm/2.85mm/3.00mm compatibility
Cons
- Heating is gentler than the high-heat PTC units
- Drying performance is less forceful than high-wattage boxes
The PolyDryer is a different shape of answer to the same problem. It is a modular kit: a heated drying dock and a sealed storage box that docks onto it. You dry a spool, move it into the box, and the filament stays dry until the next print without needing a separate dry box purchase.
Airflow runs 360 degrees around the spool and a built-in hygrometer shows the relative humidity inside. Supported materials include PA Nylon, PLA, PVB, PETG, ABS, ASA and TPU across 1.75mm, 2.85mm and 3.00mm spools.
For a home printer who opens one spool at a time, that dry-store-feed loop is genuinely the cleanest workflow we found. Reviews highlight the sealing and the hygrometer as the two features that make the system easier to live with than a bare heater.
One user chose this setup specifically because of an open-frame printer layout and noise concerns, and the passive storage step means a spool does not have to sit in a hot chamber for days before you need it.
Who should buy the PolyDryer
It suits anyone who wants drying and long-term storage in one purchase, and who has already decided a desiccant dry box is part of the setup. People printing one material type at a time get the most value from the storage half.
It also makes sense if you are noise-sensitive, since the heated dock only needs to run during a drying session and the storage box does the holding afterwards. Paired with a quiet printer, that keeps a home office manageable.
Where it falls short
It asks for a bigger outlay than the basic single-spool boxes, and the heating is less forceful than the high-wattage PTC units. A 9% one-star share, the highest among the boxes we reviewed, points at disappointment with heating strength.
Two-spool users get nothing extra here, and anyone drying Nylon or carbon-filled filament at full temperature will find the heat output modest.
9. Creality Space Pi Filament Dryer: Best for One-Key Filament Presets
2026 New Creality Space PI Filament Dryer-Christmas Gifts, 3D Printer Filament Dryer Box with 360° Heating, Upgraded Filament Dehydrator Storage Box Support Nylon ABS PETG PLA TPU 1.75/2.85mm
110W PTC heater
3.7 inch touch screen
45-70C range
0-48 hour timer
Pros
- Even 360 degree PTC hot-air heating rather than a localized pad
- Large 3.7 inch touch screen with C/F switching
- One-key presets for 12 filament types including PLA-CF and PA-CF
- 48 hour timer with power-out parameter memory
Cons
- Single spool chamber
- Touch controls need a moment to get used to
This Space Pi uses a 110W PTC heater with a built-in fan for 360 degree hot-air circulation, which is the whole difference from a box with a localized heating pad. Heat reaches the far side of the spool rather than only the filament nearest the element, so drying is more even through a full 1kg roll.
Controls are a 3.7 inch LCD touch screen with Celsius and Fahrenheit switching, one-key settings for 12 filament types, a 45-70C manual range and a 0-48 hour timer. Power-off parameter memory means the settings survive an outage, which is a small thing that saves annoyance every time.
The 12 presets are the reason this box earns its place. They include PLA-CF and PA-CF alongside the usual PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA and TPU, so a carbon-filled spool is one tap rather than a temperature calculation.
Owners highlight the even airflow, the readable screen and the long 48 hour timer as clear improvements over cheaper dryers. A 71% five-star share with 446 ratings describes a solid single-spool box that does the fundamentals well.
Who should buy the Space Pi
It suits a single-spool user who wants the easiest interface in this roundup, especially anyone printing carbon-filled PLA or PA-CF and wants the right setting without thinking about it. The wide screen is readable at a glance during a long print.
It also fits a beginner who finds knob interfaces fiddly, and the 48 hour timer covers multi-day jobs without a mid-run reset. Even 360 degree airflow is the more important spec here than wattage.
Where it falls short
One spool per cycle, so colour changes mean a wait. The touch controls need a moment before you are navigating without looking, and there is no built-in hygrometer, so you cannot watch humidity fall.
Community discussion also flags the recurring SUNLU-versus-Creality question: reviewers report the Creality airflow giving more even results at the top of the temperature range, but the Creality unit does not actively exhaust humid air, so recovery can be slow in very humid climates.
10. eSUN eBOX Lite: Best for Bottom-Loading Printers and Quiet Rooms
eSUN eBOX Lite Upgraded 3D Printing Filament Dryer Box, Filament Storage Box, Spool Holder for Keeping 3D Printing Filament from Moist and Keeping Filaments Dehydrating, US Power Supply
40-55C range
0-18 hour timer
Low-noise turbo fan
Polycarbonate body
Pros
- Low filament exit height fits bottom-loading printers
- Quiet turbo fan and smooth rollers feed TPU cleanly
- Recovers badly waterlogged PLA that pops and strings
- Transparent lid for checking filament
Cons
- Drying is slow and some spools need 10 hours or more
- Lid can lift during printing because of the filament hole placement
- Controls sit below the filament exit and are awkward to read
The eBOX Lite is built around a practical constraint: where the filament has to come out. The exit port sits low, which is exactly what a bottom-loading printer needs, and the smooth internal rollers feed soft filament such as TPU cleanly without grinding it.
Heating comes from a PI heating arc wrapped in insulation cotton, pulling the 40-55C internal range in about 2 hours, with a 0-18 hour timer. The polycarbonate body and transparent lid make it easy to watch a spool without opening the box.
What it does well is rescue bad filament. Owners report bringing badly waterlogged PLA that was popping and stringing back to normal, quietly, over a long session. A 74% five-star share across 260 ratings reflects steady, unglamorous reliability.
The low-noise turbo fan keeps it acceptable in a living space. It supports 0.5kg, 0.75kg and 1kg spools in 1.75mm, 2.85mm and 3.00mm filament.
Who should buy the eBOX Lite
It is the pick for anyone with a bottom-loading printer whose filament path sits well above the bench. Soft and semi-soft filament users benefit from the roller path, and the transparent lid makes it easy to check progress on a long dry.
It also suits a small, quiet workspace and anyone who already knows that slow drying works, since a 10 hour session is not a problem when the machine is set overnight.
Where it falls short
Drying is slow. Some spools need 10 hours or more, which rules it out when you want to print in an hour. The lid can lift during direct printing because of the filament hole placement, which lets humid air back in mid-job.
Controls sit below the filament exit and are awkward to read while feeding, one review reported a display going blank after months of use, and the 55C ceiling rules out engineering filament. The lighter build also feels less substantial than the PTC boxes.
Filament Drying Temperatures by Material
Getting the temperature wrong is worse than skipping the dry. Too low and the water stays in the filament; too high and some polymers soften or degrade before the moisture has moved. Use the reference list below as a starting point, then adjust for your specific spool and climate.
PLA – 40-50C for 4-6 hours, low moisture risk. Standard desktop PLA is the least demanding material on this list, and a 50C box is usually enough.
PETG – 55-65C for 4-6 hours, medium moisture risk. Hygroscopic and fast to absorb water, so it benefits from both a pre-dry and sealed storage.
TPU – 45-55C for 3-4 hours, medium moisture risk. Soft filaments dry faster than rigid ones but tear easily if they are fed wet.
ABS – 65-75C for 4-6 hours, high moisture risk. Needs real heat and usually benefits from an enclosure during the print as well.
ASA – 65-80C for 4-6 hours, high moisture risk. Outdoor-grade ABS behaves similarly, with better UV stability for finished parts.
Polycarbonate – 80-85C for 8-12 hours, high moisture risk. One of the hardest to dry, and only a genuine high-heat chamber will do it properly.
Nylon PA6 and PA12 – 70-80C for 12-24 hours, high moisture risk. The longest sessions on this list, and the reason most entry-level dryers are ruled out.
PA-CF and other filled blends – 70-80C for 12-24 hours, high moisture risk. Carbon and glass filler slows drying, so give the chamber plenty of time.
Anything in the high-risk entries needs a dryer with a genuine 70C or 85C ceiling, which rules out most entry-level boxes. A unit with a built-in hygrometer saves a second guessing round every time you change spool.
SUNLU S2 or Creality Space Pi: The Verdict
These two get opposite verdicts across community threads, so here is the clean answer. For drying performance, the Creality Space Pi wins: a 110W PTC heater with 360 degree fan circulation spreads heat more evenly than the S2’s spindle-and-fan arrangement, and a Bambu Lab forum bake-off between the two units came down in the Creality camp on the strength of fan placement.
For value and convenience, the SUNLU S2 wins: a larger touch screen, a translucent lid and a 0-99 hour timer, in a simpler single-spool body. Community consensus repeatedly favours SUNLU for casual PLA and PETG, and reports that the S2 pays for itself quickly for that use.
The catch on the Creality side is that it does not actively exhaust humid air, so in a very humid climate recovery can be slow. The catch on the SUNLU side is reported difficulty holding the very top of its 35-70C range on some revisions, plus a louder fan. If you print engineering material, take the Creality; if you print PLA and PETG and want a screen you enjoy using, take the SUNLU.
How to Choose a Filament Dryer
1. Match the temperature ceiling to your materials first. Nothing else matters if the box cannot get hot enough. PLA and PETG are covered by anything from 50C upward. ABS, ASA and most TPU want 65-70C. Nylon, PA-CF, PAHT and PC need 80C or more, and that is where the list above narrows quickly to the Space Pi X4 and a lab blast drying oven.
2. Count spools, not spools per wish. A single-spool box is fine if you print one material at a time. Two spools cover a working and a backup material. Four spools with four feed paths is what you want for a print farm, two printers or a Bambu Lab AMS setup, because the number of exit ports matters more than the number of spools that fit inside.
3. Decide between shared and independent chambers. Independent chambers let you hold two materials at different temperatures at the same time, which matters when one spool is TPU at 50C and another is PA-CF at 80C. Shared chambers are cheaper and smaller, and work fine when you dry one material type per session. Many owners still keep desiccant dry boxes alongside a dryer, treating drying and storage as two separate jobs.
4. Check how print-while-drying is routed. Look for a sealed outlet that accepts a PTFE tube, not just a box opening. Keep the run as short and straight as you can, and secure the tube so the spool does not drag. Direct drive extruders pull easily, while Bowden setups benefit from a supported, gently sloped tube. Position the dryer below the extruder height when possible so filament feeds downhill.
5. Look for humidity monitoring. A built-in hygrometer turns drying from a guess into a check, and it is the single most useful display feature here. Without one, you either dry to a fixed time or stop guessing and add a cheap standalone hygrometer inside the chamber.
6. Know when a dry box is enough. A sealed dry box with fresh desiccant handles sealed PLA stored in a dry room, and it sits well below any heated unit on cost. An oven-style food dehydrator works for long PLA and PETG sessions too. Neither dries quickly or reaches 70C, so the moment you run Nylon, PC or high-temperature blends, active heat is no longer optional.
7. Price the failures, not the box. A single ruined Nylon print can use most of a 1kg spool, and a failed part costs hours of machine time on top. Buyers report heated dryers paying for themselves within a handful of rescued spools. If you have already lost two or three prints to popping and stringing, the maths is already settled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth buying a filament dryer?
It is worth it as soon as you print PETG, TPU, Nylon, PC or ASA regularly, because those materials absorb moisture quickly and moisture causes stringing, popping and weak layer adhesion. For PLA-only printing in a dry room, a sealed dry box with desiccant is usually enough. A dryer pays for itself quickly if you have already lost spools to failed prints.
Do you really need a filament dryer for PLA?
Usually not. Sealed PLA stored in a dry room stays printable for months, and a dry box with desiccant will handle it. Dry PLA before printing if it has been open for weeks, or if your climate is humid, since waterlogged PLA pops at the nozzle and strings badly. Drying at 40-50C for 4-6 hours is enough to recover it.
Is a filament dryer necessary for PETG?
It is highly recommended. PETG is hygroscopic and absorbs water faster than PLA, so an open spool can start popping and stringing within days. Drying at 55-65C for 4-6 hours before a print, and keeping the spool in a dryer or dry box between prints, makes the difference between consistent layers and a rough surface.
Can I use my 3D printer as a filament dryer?
Not really. A printer chamber cannot reach or hold the temperatures required to drive moisture out of filament, and it does not control humidity. A food dehydrator is the common DIY substitute and works well for PLA and PETG, but it lacks air circulation, a hygrometer and a sealed feed path, so it cannot dry while printing.
Which filament dryer is better, Creality or SUNLU?
For drying performance, the Creality Space Pi wins, with PTC heating and 360 degree fan circulation giving more even results at higher temperatures. For value and interface, the SUNLU S2 wins, with a larger touch screen and translucent lid for less money. For engineering filament, Creality offers an 85C ceiling; for quiet budget use, SUNLU S1 Plus runs under 10dB.
How long does it take to dry filament?
Plan on 4-6 hours for PLA and PETG, 3-4 hours for TPU, and 12-24 hours for Nylon, PA-CF and polycarbonate. Warm-up time is separate, ranging from about 15 minutes on small PTC boxes to 2 hours on slower PI-heated units. Drying while printing means you can start the job without waiting for a full pre-dry.
Our Final Verdict
The Comgrow 3D Printer Filament Dryer Box is the best 3d printer filament dryer for most people, because it holds two 1kg spools, runs at 40-50C, feeds filament to the printer while it dries and has 4683 ratings behind it. For Nylon, PA-CF and PC, the Creality Space Pi X4 takes over with an 85C ceiling and two independent chambers.
Pick the SUNLU S1 Plus if budget and quiet operation lead your list, the SUNLU S4 if you need four feeds, and the Polymaker PolyDryer if you want drying and sealed storage in one box. Whichever you choose, buy it before your next failed print rather than after.