Community Pick
At a glance
Creality · FDM (filament)
- Score
- 8.6/10
- Rank
- #10/51
- Build
- 12.1 L
- Speed
- 600 mm/s
- Layer
- 0.05 mm
The store sets the current price. Check it there before you buy.
Creality K1
- Scores 8.6 out of 10, #10 of 51 current FDM printers.
- 12.1 L of build space (220×220×250 mm), 0.6× the 21.6 L average.
- Best at speed: 10/10, against an average of 7.9.
- The catch: 220mm cube feels cramped next to the K1 Max's 300mm.
Specs from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
By Shadman Rahman · Prices checked
The verdict
Buy the K1. 8.6/10, #10 of 51 FDM printers.
Fast and enclosed at this price, which is actually a good deal. The 220mm volume is the real constraint. If you need 300mm you know it; buy the Max. If 220mm covers your work, save the difference.
Why buy the K1
- #1 of 51Joint best FDM printer for speed10/10 vs 7.9/10 average
- #10 of 51Top 10 FDM printers for overall score8.6/10 vs 8.1/10 average
- #10 of 51Top 10 FDM printers for value9/10 vs 8.5/10 average
The numbers behind it
Right side is the average of the 51 current FDM printers we track. Teal wins the row.
K1Creality · FDM
vsAverage51 FDM printers
| K1 | Spec | Average of 51 |
|---|---|---|
| 12.1 L | Build volume | 21.6 L (wins) |
| 600 mm/s (wins) | Top speed | 476 mm/s |
| 0.05 mm (wins) | Finest layer | 0.054 mm |
| 12.5 kg | Weight | 14.7 kg |
Scores out of 10
| K1 | Spec | Average of 51 |
|---|---|---|
| 9 (wins) | Value | 8.5 |
| 8 (wins) | Beginner | 7.4 |
| 8 | Print quality | 8.4 (wins) |
| 10 (wins) | Speed | 7.9 |
| 8 | Reliability | 8.1 (wins) |
| 8.6 (wins) | Overall | 8.1 |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 220 × 220 × 250 mmK1
- 450 × 450 × 470 mmCR-M4, largest current FDM
What owners say
600mm/s enclosed for [this price]. The K1 is genuinely impressive.
r/3DprintingCreality's best sub-$500 printer. The K1 just gets out of your way and prints.
Modbot (YouTube)
Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Enclosed CoreXY at 600mm/s without needing to buy the larger K1 Max
- +Auto leveling and WiFi are standard, not options
- +Toolless nozzle removal: unscrew nothing, pull the hotend out by hand
- +Handles ABS well enough that most users don't feel they need active heating
Cons
- −220mm cube feels cramped next to the K1 Max's 300mm
- −Firmware shipped with issues that needed patches before it printed well
- −Enclosure is passive, not heated: ABS warping is reduced, not eliminated
Full specs
| Build volume | 220 × 220 × 250 mm |
|---|---|
| Layer resolution | 0.05 to 0.35 mm |
| Top speed | 600 mm/s |
| Weight | 12.5 kg |
| Type | FDM (filament) |
Features
- Enclosed CoreXY
- Auto bed leveling
- WiFi
- Camera
- Direct drive
- Quick-release nozzle
Buy these with it
A printer does nothing without these. Grab them in the same order.
- ELEGOO PLA filament, 1kgThe easy filament to start on. Prints at low temperatures and warps less.
- ELEGOO PETG filament, 1kgTougher and more heat tolerant than PLA, for parts that get handled or sit in the sun.
- SUNLU filament dryer S1 PlusWet filament causes stringing and rough surfaces. A dryer fixes that before you blame the printer.
Compare the K1 with (14)
- K1 vs Anycubic Kobra 2 Max
- K1 vs Anycubic Kobra 3
- K1 vs Anycubic Kobra S1 Combo
- K1 vs Bambu Lab A1 Mini
- K1 vs Bambu Lab H2D
- K1 vs Bambu Lab X2D
- K1 vs Creality K1 Max
- K1 vs Creality K2 Plus
- K1 vs Creality SPARKX i7
- K1 vs Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo
- K1 vs Prusa Core One
- K1 vs Prusa MK4S
- K1 vs Qidi Q2
- K1 vs Sovol SV08
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the build volume of the Creality K1?
The Creality K1 has a build volume of 220 x 220 x 250 mm.
Is the Creality K1 good for beginners?
The Creality K1 scores 8/10 for beginner-friendliness. It's a great choice for beginners.
What are the pros and cons of the Creality K1?
Pros: Enclosed CoreXY at 600mm/s without needing to buy the larger K1 Max. Auto leveling and WiFi are standard, not options. Toolless nozzle removal: unscrew nothing, pull the hotend out by hand. Handles ABS well enough that most users don't feel they need active heating. Cons: 220mm cube feels cramped next to the K1 Max's 300mm. Firmware shipped with issues that needed patches before it printed well. Enclosure is passive, not heated: ABS warping is reduced, not eliminated.
Also worth considering
fdmBambu Lab A1 Combo
Bambu Lab
9.2/10
Reddit Favorite
Multi-color printing out of the box, reliable enough for beginners, fast enough for anyone who's tired of watching a print head crawl.
Build
256mm
Speed
500mm/s
Layer
0.05mm
fdmBambu Lab A1
Bambu Lab
9.2/10
Best First Printer
The A1 without the AMS Lite. Full 256mm bed, full Bambu quality, single-color only.
Build
256mm
Speed
500mm/s
Layer
0.05mm
