Pro WorkhorseCommunity Pick
At a glance
Prusa Research · FDM (filament)
- Score
- 7.8/10
- Rank
- #37/51
- Build
- 11.6 L
- Speed
- 200 mm/s
- Layer
- 0.05 mm
Prusa MK4S
Prusa MK4S
- Scores 7.8 out of 10, #37 of 51 current FDM printers.
- 11.6 L of build space (250×210×220 mm), 0.5× the 21.6 L average.
- Best at reliability: 10/10, against an average of 8.1.
- The catch: 200mm/s max is a third of what CoreXY machines do at half the price.
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 Prusa MK4S. 7.8/10, #37 of 51 FDM printers.
Buy it for the ecosystem, not the specs. PrusaSlicer, open source, community, and support that's still there in 5 years. Don't buy it if speed or price are your primary metrics: the competition has both covered.
Why buy the Prusa MK4S
- #1 of 51Joint best FDM printer for reliability10/10 vs 8.1/10 average
- #10 of 51Top 10 FDM printers for print quality9/10 vs 8.4/10 average
- #13 of 51Top 13 FDM printers for beginner-friendliness8/10 vs 7.4/10 average
The numbers behind it
Right side is the average of the 51 current FDM printers we track. Teal wins the row.
Prusa MK4SPrusa Research · FDM
vsAverage51 FDM printers
| Prusa MK4S | Spec | Average of 51 |
|---|---|---|
| 11.6 L | Build volume | 21.6 L (wins) |
| 200 mm/s | Top speed | 476 mm/s (wins) |
| 0.05 mm (wins) | Finest layer | 0.054 mm |
| 7.0 kg | Weight | 14.7 kg |
Scores out of 10
| Prusa MK4S | Spec | Average of 51 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Value | 8.5 (wins) |
| 8 (wins) | Beginner | 7.4 |
| 9 (wins) | Print quality | 8.4 |
| 6 | Speed | 7.9 (wins) |
| 10 (wins) | Reliability | 8.1 |
| 7.8 | Overall | 8.1 (wins) |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 250 × 210 × 220 mmPrusa MK4S
- 450 × 450 × 470 mmCR-M4, largest current FDM
What owners say
My MK3 ran for 5 years without a single failed print. The MK4S continues that legacy.
r/prusa3dIf reliability is your #1 priority, nothing beats Prusa. Nothing.
Thomas Sanladerer (YouTube)
Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Prusa's QC is genuinely better than anyone else's: every printer is test-printed before shipping
- +PrusaSlicer is open source and powerful, no subscription, no cloud required
- +Customer support answers in hours, not weeks
- +Spare parts available for 5+ year old models; no planned obsolescence
Cons
- −200mm/s max is a third of what CoreXY machines do at half the price
- −The price for an open-frame bed-slinger is a hard sell in 2025
- −Bambu's A1 Combo does more for much less
Full specs
| Build volume | 250 × 210 × 220 mm |
|---|---|
| Layer resolution | 0.05 to 0.35 mm |
| Top speed | 200 mm/s |
| Weight | 7 kg |
| Type | FDM (filament) |
Features
- Open source
- PrusaSlicer
- Nextruder
- Auto bed leveling
- Input shaping
- Ethernet
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.
In our guides (5)
Where the Prusa MK4S makes the cut, and what it beats.
listicleBest 3D Printers for Small Business in 2026Read the guide - listicleBest 3D Printers for TPU & Flexible FilamentRead the guide
guideBest 3D Printing Slicers 2026: Cura, PrusaSlicer, OrcaSlicerRead the guide - guideIs a 3D Printer Worth It in 2026? Honest AnswerRead the guide
comparisonPremium vs Budget: MK4S vs Ender 3 V3Read the guide
Compare the Prusa MK4S with (29)
- Prusa MK4S vs Anycubic Kobra 2 Max
- Prusa MK4S vs Anycubic Kobra 3 Combo
- Prusa MK4S vs Anycubic Kobra S1 Combo
- Prusa MK4S vs Bambu Lab A1
- Prusa MK4S vs Bambu Lab H2D
- Prusa MK4S vs Bambu Lab P1P
- Prusa MK4S vs Bambu Lab P1S
- Prusa MK4S vs Bambu Lab P2S
- Prusa MK4S vs Bambu Lab X2D
- Prusa MK4S vs Creality Ender 3 V3 KE
- Prusa MK4S vs Creality Ender 3 V3 SE
- Prusa MK4S vs Creality K1
- Prusa MK4S vs Creality K1 Max
- Prusa MK4S vs Creality K2 Plus
- Prusa MK4S vs Creality SPARKX i7
- Prusa MK4S vs Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra
- Prusa MK4S vs Elegoo Neptune 4
- Prusa MK4S vs Elegoo Neptune 4 Max
- Prusa MK4S vs Elegoo Neptune 4 Pro
- Prusa MK4S vs Flashforge Adventurer 5M
- Prusa MK4S vs Flashforge Adventurer 5M Pro
- Prusa MK4S vs Kingroon KLP1
- Prusa MK4S vs Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K S2
- Prusa MK4S vs Prusa Core One
- Prusa MK4S vs Prusa XL
- Prusa MK4S vs QIDI iBox Mono2
- Prusa MK4S vs QIDI X-Max 3
- Prusa MK4S vs QIDI X-Plus 3
- Prusa MK4S vs QIDI X-Smart 3
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the build volume of the Prusa MK4S?
The Prusa MK4S has a build volume of 250 x 210 x 220 mm.
Is the Prusa MK4S good for beginners?
The Prusa MK4S scores 8/10 for beginner-friendliness. It's a great choice for beginners.
What are the pros and cons of the Prusa MK4S?
Pros: Prusa's QC is genuinely better than anyone else's: every printer is test-printed before shipping. PrusaSlicer is open source and powerful, no subscription, no cloud required. Customer support answers in hours, not weeks. Spare parts available for 5+ year old models; no planned obsolescence. Cons: 200mm/s max is a third of what CoreXY machines do at half the price. The price for an open-frame bed-slinger is a hard sell in 2025. Bambu's A1 Combo does more for much less.
Also worth considering
fdmPrusa Mini+
Prusa
8.2/10
Community Pick
Prusa's compact desktop FDM. Small build volume, moderate speed, but best-in-class reliability, support, and PrusaSlicer integration. The choice for users who value uptime over speed.
Build
180mm
Speed
180mm/s
Layer
0.05mm
