Black Friday 3D printer sales: how to shop them without getting caught
Brand sales have already started. Here is how to tell a real printer or filament deal from a fake one, and what to check before you buy from an overseas store.
Black Friday 3D printer sales have started early this year. If you have been thinking about buying a home printer (or filament for Christmas gifts), here is what is on and how to avoid paying for a discount that is not real.
What is on right now
According to the sales tracker Makers101 (last updated 27 October 2026), several brands have already opened their sales:
- Bambu Lab: went live on 27 October and runs to 1 December, with extra flash rounds listed for 3, 10 and 17 November (US Eastern time).
- Prusa: running from 22 October to 30 November, with gift bundles and discounted Prusament filament. The tracker says there are no printer price cuts this year.
- Anycubic: its US store went live on 26 October and runs to 29 November.
- Creality, Elegoo and Snapmaker: no 2026 dates announced at the time of the check. Last year Creality's main sale started on 10 November.
Most of this reporting covers the US stores. Prices in it are in US dollars, so they will not match what you pay in Australia. We could not find confirmed Australian dollar pricing for this year's sales, so check each brand's Australian store or an Australian retailer for the real figure.
Filament is the safest buy
Makers101 calls filament the safest Black Friday purchase, because it works with any printer you own. Prusa's sale includes discounted Prusament, and the tracker notes that Bambu stacked filament discounts last year, though that is not confirmed for 2026.
If you are printing Christmas gifts, stocking up on a few common colours now makes sense. Our guide to starting gifts in November covers what to print and when.
How to spot a fake discount
The same tracker has a handy checklist. It applies just as well to Australian shops:
- Ignore the crossed-out price. Compare the sale price with what the item cost in last year's sales instead.
- Be wary of badge-only sales. If a price has barely changed for weeks, a bright "sale" sticker does not make it a deal.
- Compare the final total. Include shipping, tax and what is actually in the bundle.
- Check more than one store. The official store and a retailer can differ, and either can be cheaper.
- Read the price guarantee. Bambu's 30-day price protection, for example, does not cover flash-sale drops.
- Consider last year's model. It often drops in price and still performs well.
Do not rush on day one
Opening-day prices are not always the lowest. The tracker notes that last year's deepest Bambu prices may have landed in mid-November. Some printers also sold for less during Prime Day in June than in last year's brand sales. If you are not in a hurry, set a target price and wait for it.
A word of caution about the sources
Sales-tracking sites often earn affiliate commissions, and the discount figures many of them quote come from the brands themselves. Treat target prices as one person's benchmark, not a promise. Verify everything at checkout.
For Australian buyers
Before you click buy, think about these extras:
- Whether the store ships to Australia and what delivery costs
- Whether GST is included in the price shown
- How warranty and returns work if something arrives faulty
A cheap US price can shrink fast once these are added.
Not sure you need a printer at all?
If you only need one or two parts (a replacement knob, a cosplay prop, a gift), buying a printer may cost more than it saves. Gyroid can print a part for you, and you do not need to own a printer or learn any software. Have a look at our guide to what 3D printing really costs in Australia to compare.