• Wireless Pen
• 55mm Filament
• Includes stencils and Doodlepad
• 30-Minutes to charge

Your child will be able to bring their ideas to life with this 3Doodler Pen Start+. This is a tactile tech that will nurture a kid’s creative imagination. This particular pen is one of the top 3D pens for kids aged 6+. What impressed us with its design is that it had no hot parts, which meant no possible burns ahead.

We could also touch the plastic with no burn risks, with only the safest 3Doodler Start filaments being used. Compared to the previous version, this version of the 3D pen features refined extrusion gears that made for a smoother 3D drawing experience. It works wireless and needed just a 30-minute charge before we could use it.

The primary focus is on STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), to combine art with technology. We found that this made STEM learning fun and easier to grasp. The best part about this 3D pen is that the filament is warm but safe to touch. This allowed us to re-shape it with our hands to land on the perfect look.

While great, we were left feeling disappointed by the fact that the pen was only compatible with 3Doodler’s 2.5mm filaments. More affordable filaments only come in 3mm and 1.75mm sizes. The 2.5mm filament can get used up quickly and refills are quite expensive.

Nonetheless, we’d still recommend it. This 3D pen came in a kit featuring 72 filament strand refills, a Doodlepad, and 10 activities that helped us quickly become familiar with using it.

MYNT3D Super 3D Pen Review

• Wired connection
• 75mm filament
• Includes three rolls of ABS plastic filament
• Compatible with ABS and PLA plastic filament

The MYNT3D Super 3D pen is a pretty versatile pen that allows for more control over your creative 3D drawing. It features a variable feed speed control that allowed us to regulate the flow of the filament for precision. We were further impressed by the multiple temperature settings that accommodate the different temperature needs of the ABS and PLA filaments.

We have no doubt that the ultrasonic nozzle, which is part of the design that is almost clog-proof, has market-leading durability. But we appreciated the one-year warranty as it gave us a sense of protection from defects.

Unfortunately, there is no OLED display and we needed to use a screwdriver to use the temperature control. You’ll be using a stepless speed slider to regulate the flow of filament.

Easily one of the top 3D pens, this is a more complicated and precise 3D pen that would suit children who are 13 and older. The use of 1.75mm filament opens up options for using Third-Party filament providers who offer mixed color packs to really get creative with. We recommend using a fan to dry your designs faster and build on your creations.

The kit we received came with a pen and some ABS plastic filament which helped get us familiar with using a 3D pen. Practice makes perfect, so stock up on a few extra rolls of filament as well.

SCRIB3D P1 3D Printing Pen Review

• Wired connection
• 75mm filament
• Includes three rolls of PLA filament
• Compatible with PLA and ABS filament

The SCRIB3D P1 is a 3D pen with an OLED display for added control. This is an affordable 3D pen that will enable you to control both the temperature and speed at which the filament is fed.

It features large and chunky buttons that were comfortable and allowed us to make easy adjustments while working on our designs. The nozzle offered easy maintenance since it was removable.

Unfortunately, it is made of metal and gets very hot, so this pen can cause burns if not handled cautiously. Although it is rated for ages 9+, we feel this is a 3D pen for 10-year-olds and above because of the risk of burns.

The pen uses 1.75mm PLA filament but is compatible with ABS plastic filament as well. Just be sure to use the correct temperature for each since they have different melting points.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t feature an internal battery and thus needed to be plugged in with the included adapter to be used. We would have preferred if it came with a micro USB cable for easier portability.

This is an easy pen for beginners to use but it will take practice to get the technique right. It was surprisingly light, even for a 3D pen, and is very friendly on the pockets as well. This is probably the most budget-friendly pen that is packed full of features for hours of exploring creative freedom.

MYNT3D Professional Printing 3D Pen Review

• Wired connection
• 75mm filament
• Includes three rolls of ABS filament
• ABS and PLA compatible

If you have slightly older kids that want to take their 3D pen creations to the next level, then the MYNT3D Professional Printing pen is the pen to have. We had precise control over the stylus thanks to an OLED display that featured readouts and control over temperature. The temperature is adjustable in one-degree increments. This allows for the maximum fine-tuning ability and to get the perfect consistency of filament flow.

This temperature control is important as different temperatures have a variety of effects on the filament. There’s also a speed control that allowed us to regulate how fast the filament flowed while designing.

We were pleasantly shocked to find that this 3D pen works with almost any filament on the market, as long as it is 1.75mm in diameter. We went a little crazy and decided to play around with some wood and bronze-infused filament, and it worked. As long as it is within the required diameter and melts between 284-446 degrees Fahrenheit (140-230 degrees Celsius), it will work in this pen.

This slim 3D pen needs to be connected to a power source for it to function. The design does also include a modular nozzle, which we can always replace in case of any damage. This little kit does come with three colors of ABS plastic filament, but this is also one of the more costly 3D pens we tested.

MYNT3D Basic 3D Pen Review

• Wired connection
• 75mm filament
• Includes three rolls of ABS filament
• ABS and PLA compatible

If you are after a super basic pen for your kids to make some 3D art with, the MYNT3D Basic 3D pen is a solid option. This is a no-frills pen that may not have a ton of advanced features but still helped us make some incredible creations. The speed control features slow, medium, and fast speeds to help create intricate designs or fill up space.

You can use ABS and PLA plastic filaments with this pen, as long as they are 1.75mm in diameter — the most common filament type. The nozzle is sealed and features an overbuilt gearbox to ensure that it almost never gets clogged or interrupts your creation.

The one thing that disappointed us with this 3D pen is that it didn’t arrive with the AC adapter that’s needed for the USB cable to power it.

This is a pen that will keep your child entertained for hours, as long as you have enough filament. For any beginners, this is the best 3D kids pen to start doodling with. Because this is a more basic design, patience is needed to let the filament dry a little before starting to build up.

Remember that this is not a rechargeable pen and so you will need to keep it plugged in. Don’t be like us and lose the cable, it was surprisingly difficult to replace. This small kit does come with three rolls of ABS plastic filament to get you started and fine-tune your technique, but grabbing some extra filament is always a good idea.

3Doodler 3D Pen Review

• Wired connection
• 3mm Filament
• Includes three packs of 15 different color filaments
• PLA, ABS, and Flexy filament compatible

From the creators of the first 3D printer comes a 3D doodle pen designed to be enjoyed by all levels of experience in creating. This pen features dual-drive technology that improves the power and durability of the stylus. This adds up to an amazing doodling experience.

This 3Doodler Create 3D pen box set is easily one of the most beginner-friendly kits that we’ve come across. It arrived with 50 plastic strands in a selection of multiple colors and materials, a power adapter, a quick start guide for beginners, as well as three other tools we could use. If that’s not enough for you, jump on the 3Doodler app to get some ideas and stencils to create cool 3 Doodler creations.

While some pens require you to draw on a flat surface and then connect your pieces together to create a 3D design, the 3Doodler lets us draw ‘in the air’ and create stunning 3D models easily. This stylus needs to be plugged in to be used and is unfortunately only compatible with 3Doodler’s own 3mm PLA, ABS, and Flexy plastic filament. However, this filament is non-toxic, making it perfectly safe for children.

As one of the best 3D pens for kids, the kit comes with everything you need to get started and the technology to keep you going for years to come. This is the first and only pen that allows you to truly draw in 3D with almost instant-drying filament. You can also draw up into the air and make shapes without a drawing surface.

SCRIB3D Advanced 3D Printing pen With Display Review

• Wired connection
• 3mm filament
• Comes with three rolls of filament
• PLA, ABS, and Flexy filament compatible

While one of the more expensive 3D pens for kids, the SCRIB3D Advanced 3D pen is also one of the best stylus pens available. The soft-touch surface makes it comfy to use, and features an ergonomic design that makes for one of the most comfortable pens.

It has an LCD display that allowed us to monitor heat and adjust it if needed. There are a host of built-in safety features as well that help to provide a seamless experience. There is even a one-year guarantee on the pen which gave us some extra confidence.

Unfortunately, it does need to be plugged in to work and this limited our flexibility and workspace.

This kit came with three rolls of PLA filament in three different colors, a power adapter, and a free stencil guide. The stylus itself has adjustable temperature and filament feed speeds to get the maximum out of your designs. The nozzle is ceramic and is designed to be removable, and we had no clogging issues thanks to its anti-clogging features.

Although this is one of the more high-end 3D pens for kids, it still comes at a reasonable price. This is a quality pen that will give slightly older kids hours of focused entertainment and younger kids a chance at advancing their skills rapidly.

3D Pen Ink / Filament Accessories

The ink used in 3D pens is called a filament. As mentioned above, you get many different types of filament. The most common are ABS and PLA.

ABS is a more toxic filament and has fumes that are not good for young kids or people with breathing problems. PLA is a non-toxic, environmentally-friendly filament with no toxic fumes or harsh odors.

The other filament used in 3D pens is PCL. This filament is for low-temperature pens, it does not need an extremely hot temperature to melt. Below you’ll find some of the best options when looking to buy refills of filament and some 3D pen accessories.

3D Pen/ 3D Printer PLA Filament

This pack consists of 24 colored filaments, each 3 meters long. There are 15 unique, bright colors and 6 transparent colors. These filaments are the usual 1.75mm and worked in most 3D pens.

Dikale 3D Pen/3D Printer PLA Filament

The Dikale 3D PLA filament is best suited for the MYNT3D range, as well as the SCRIB3D range of 3D Pens. This pack includes 16 colors of 2 meters each. You also get a bonus eBook with stencil designs to help with your 3D pen drawings.

3D Artist Supply 3D pen ABS Plastic Filament Refills

12 different colors of 20ft filament strands, including a bonus glow-in-the-dark filament that the kids will love. This 3D pen supply pack is affordable and great for variety when drawing.

MYNT3D 3D  Pen Mat

This design pad from MYNT3D has three different drawing surfaces to unleash anything that your imagination can come up with. Its construction allowed us to make hundreds of designs with no odd gaps that could result in overlapping shapes.

The custom material ensures a solid adhesion of the filament while designing and constructing but is also flexible enough to remove any artwork with ease.

3DMate Starter Transparent 3D Printing Pen Mat

For an alternative mat, we recommend this transparent silicone mat. Its transparency is perfect for beginners and younger kids as they can easily trace 2D drawings to make 3D creations. We didn’t worry about it getting melted as it is heat resistant up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Another impressive thing was that both ABS and PLA filaments worked well.

YEETIN 3D Pen Filament PLA Refills

This product is a 320 feet, 20-color pack that allowed us to expand on the original colors received with any 3D pen. Its 1.75mm PLA filament works best with high-temperature 3D pens.

3D Printing Pen Buyer’s Guide

Before investing in a 3D drawing pen, there are some aspects to take into consideration to ensure the pen you are buying will fit your needs and budget. There are many different pens out there, so choosing the right one can be a bit tricky.

Control

Control is one of the most important aspects when it comes to using a 3D pen. Control refers to more factors than just how easy the pen is to hold or use. Adjustable speed and flow as well as adjustable temperature regulation gives you added control that can take your art to the next level.

Design

The design and ergonomic grip of the pen are also important. Especially if you are buying one of these for a child, you will need to ensure that it isn’t too big for them to hold and control effectively.

Some of these pens are rechargeable and don’t need to stay plugged in while being used, others are charged via USB or plug point. Portable 3D pens are perfect for people with a limited workspace or kids that would like to bring their pen when traveling.

Filament

There are four different filaments to choose from when it comes to 3D pens. Standard, flexible, composite, and specialty. If you are proficient with a 3D pen already, then you will know which filament to choose. If not, the easiest rule of thumb is that if the filament is easy to replace, it is the easiest to use.

There is also a difference between ABS filament and PLA filament. PLA filament is a favorite for most, especially when being used by kids. The PLA is mostly non-toxic and doesn’t have a strong odor, while the ASB is more toxic and the odor can be a bit much for younger users.

Since the heated plastic can get used up rather quickly, we suggest buying many plastic refills for these 3D pens for kids.

Cool Ink vs 3D Plastic Pen

There isn’t a huge difference between cool ink and regular 3D pens. Cool ink pens have the advantage of not having any warm or hot parts. This makes cool ink styluses safer and more suitable for inexperienced 3D pen users, as well as children.

How Does a 3D Printing Pen Work?

3D pens allow you to create 3D versions of your designs and artwork. The 3D pen is like a smaller version of a 3D printer. The pens have the ability to bring any design to life, on a smaller scale than a printer.

These pens utilize plastic ‘ink’ filaments. These filaments are fed into the machine, and then a heating element melts them, turning the plastic into liquid, which then allows you to draw and create 3D pieces of art on almost any surface.

The technology of 3D pens is close to the technology used in hot glue guns, with the exception of the material used within the machine.

How to Use a 3D Pen

The majority of kids’ 3D pens will come with a user manual. This is one manual you’ll want to read. Unlike most, it contains valuable and interesting information. You can also watch some 3D pen reviews online for in-hand demonstrations.

The most important thing to remember is to take care of your pen. When you are finished using it, the filament needs to be cleaned out and the pen should be stored away correctly. Leaving filament in the pen usually leads to broken or damaged pens.

Aside from the care instructions found in the user manual, you’ll find using your 3D pen quite easy. It is just like using a normal pen, but only with some 3D elements and a bit more of a learning curve. Depending on whether you have a plug-in, battery-operated pen, or one that uses a micro USB charger, you will need to make sure it’s plugged in/charged to use it.

Then select your filament and feed it into the 3D pen. Once the filament is fed into the machine, wait for it to warm up and you will be ready to create.

Best 3D Pen for Children Final Thoughts

Getting the best 3D pen offers the opportunity to create a wide range of magical items. And with an incredible variety of pens vying to be the best 3D pen for kids, beginners and experienced users won’t struggle with finding one.

3D pens allow to you create everything from simple, small designs to larger, more intricate ones. Some pens will come with stencils, or a book of designs to help you discover just what the pen can do for you.

If your 3-D pen doesn’t come with any helpful material, you can always search the internet, and you will find ideas aplenty. YouTube, Pinterest, and even the pen supplier’s own website should have more than enough inspiration to put your pen to its full potential.

If you’re wondering what to do with your child’s 3D pen creations, there are many options. Gifts for teachers and neighbors can easily be made with a 3D pen printer. Keyrings, dolls furniture, figurines, and even cars. The only limit is your child’s (or your own) skills and imagination.

For some more creative outlets, your child can use an Android tablet for drawing as a means of creating virtual art.

Written by Matthew

Matt is about 80% nerd, 10% writer, 10% animal lover. His love for PC’s started at the tender age of 4 and his love for animation and motion graphics fairly soon after. You can normally find him behind a computer screen or playing with his dog Rusty.

• View all posts by Matthew →
• Blog
• Twitter

As an Amazon Associate we earn commission from qualifying purchases. This helps us keep our dream alive to be able to write content on subjects we love and create opportunities to connect people through our social media platforms, helping them to network and build professional relationships. Thank you for your support!

Matthew

Website | + posts

Matt is about 80% nerd, 10% writer, 10% animal lover. His love for PC’s started at the tender age of 4 and his love for animation and motion graphics fairly soon after. You can normally find him behind a computer screen or playing with his dog Rusty.

• Best Procreate Pencil Brushes: Ultimate List for Creatives
• Best Comic Inking Brushes Procreate: Top Tools for Artists
• Best Procreate Sketch Brushes: Ultimate List for Designers & Artists
• Best Procreate Brush Pack Bundles: Create Your Digital Toolkit