🏆 Quick Answer
Best Overall Resin: Elegoo Standard Resin V3 — Excellent detail, low odor, fast curing, and the most affordable quality resin at $20-25 per liter. For miniatures and high detail, Siraya Tech Fast delivers the sharpest features with a smooth matte finish.
Resin 3D printing (SLA/MSLA/DLP) produces stunning detail and smooth surfaces that FDM printers can't match. But the resin you choose matters enormously — different formulations excel at different things, from ultra-fine miniatures to tough engineering prototypes to flexible gaskets.
We've tested dozens of resins across popular printers like the Elegoo Mars and Saturn series, Anycubic Photon, and Phrozen Sonic to bring you the best picks for every use case in 2025.
| Product | Type | Wavelength | Cure Time/Layer | Price Range | Rating | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elegoo Standard Resin V3 | Standard | 405nm | 2-3s | $20-25/L | ⭐ 4.7/5 | Check Price |
| Siraya Tech Fast | Standard | 405nm | 1.5-3s | $35-42/L | ⭐ 4.8/5 | Check Price |
| Anycubic Standard Resin+ | Standard | 405nm | 2-3s | $22-28/L | ⭐ 4.6/5 | Check Price |
| Siraya Tech Tenacious | Flexible | 405nm | 3-6s | $50-60/L | ⭐ 4.7/5 | Check Price |
| Phrozen Aqua-Gray 8K | High Detail | 405nm | 2-3s | $40-50/L | ⭐ 4.8/5 | Check Price |
| Siraya Tech Blu | Tough/Engineering | 405nm | 3-5s | $45-55/L | ⭐ 4.6/5 | Check Price |
1. Elegoo Standard Resin V3 — Best Overall Value
Elegoo's Standard Resin V3 is the workhorse of the resin printing world. At $20-25 per liter, it's the most affordable quality resin available, and the V3 formula delivers meaningful improvements over its predecessors — lower odor, faster cure times, and better dimensional accuracy.
The resin produces sharp details with a slightly glossy finish when cured. Layer lines are minimal at standard 50-micron layer heights, and the print quality is comparable to resins costing twice as much. Cure times are fast at 2-3 seconds per layer on most mono-screen printers, keeping total print times reasonable.
Elegoo has improved the odor significantly with the V3 formula — it's still noticeable (all resins are), but manageable with basic ventilation. The resin is available in a wide range of colors including transparent options. Compatibility is excellent across all 405nm LCD/MSLA printers.
Post-processing follows the standard workflow: wash in IPA or water-washable alternative (Elegoo also makes a water-washable version), then UV cure for 3-5 minutes. The cured parts are moderately brittle — fine for display models and prototypes, but not ideal for functional parts that need to flex or absorb impact.
✅ Pros
- Best price-to-quality ratio available
- Low odor compared to previous versions
- Fast cure times (2-3s/layer)
- Wide color selection including clear
- Works with all 405nm printers
- Consistent batch quality
❌ Cons
- Cured parts are somewhat brittle
- Glossy finish may need matte spray for painting
- Not water-washable (separate SKU for that)
Best for: General-purpose resin printing — prototypes, display models, artistic pieces. The default choice for anyone who doesn't have a specific specialty need.
2. Siraya Tech Fast — Best for Miniatures and Fine Detail
Siraya Tech Fast is the gold standard for tabletop miniatures and high-detail prints. The proprietary formula delivers the sharpest feature resolution of any standard resin we've tested, with a natural matte finish that's perfect for priming and painting.
The "Fast" name refers to its cure speed — 1.5-3 seconds per layer, which is among the quickest available. This translates to shorter overall print times without sacrificing detail. At 25-micron layers, this resin resolves facial features on 28mm miniatures that other resins blur into obscurity.
The matte finish is the real selling point for the miniatures community. Where glossy resins require a matte primer coat before painting, Siraya Tech Fast prints are ready for paint with minimal prep. The surface has a slight tooth that holds primer and paint beautifully.
At $35-42 per liter, it's pricier than Elegoo Standard, but miniature painters will immediately notice the difference in detail and paintability. The resin is moderately tough when cured — less brittle than standard resins but still not suitable for high-stress functional parts.
✅ Pros
- Exceptional fine detail resolution
- Natural matte finish — ideal for painting
- Fast cure times (1.5-3s/layer)
- Lower shrinkage than many competitors
- Good toughness for a standard resin
❌ Cons
- More expensive than budget resins
- Limited color options
- Requires IPA wash — no water-washable version
Best for: Tabletop miniatures, D&D/Warhammer figures, jewelry masters, and any application where fine detail and paintability matter most.
3. Anycubic Standard Resin+ — Best Budget Runner-Up
Anycubic's Standard Resin+ is the closest competitor to Elegoo's V3, offering similar performance at a comparable price. The "+" formula adds improved toughness over their original standard resin, making printed parts more resistant to chipping and cracking.
At $22-28 per liter, it's slightly more expensive than Elegoo but the improved toughness justifies the premium for many users. Cure times are comparable at 2-3 seconds per layer, and detail quality is excellent — though not quite at the level of Siraya Tech Fast for ultra-fine features.
The resin has a mild odor and works reliably across all 405nm printers. Anycubic provides optimized profiles for their Photon series, but community-shared settings work well for other printer brands. The color selection is solid with standard, transparent, and skin-tone options.
✅ Pros
- Improved toughness over standard formulas
- Competitive pricing
- Good detail quality
- Optimized profiles for Photon printers
- Mild odor
❌ Cons
- Slightly pricier than Elegoo Standard
- Detail not as fine as Siraya Tech Fast
- Fewer color options than Elegoo
Best for: Anycubic Photon owners who want a reliable, slightly tougher alternative to the cheapest standard resins.
4. Siraya Tech Tenacious — Best Flexible/Impact-Resistant Resin
Standard resins are brittle — drop a cured print on a hard floor and it'll shatter. Siraya Tech Tenacious solves this problem with a flexible, impact-resistant formula that bends rather than breaks. It's designed both as a standalone flexible resin and as a mixing additive to toughen standard resins.
Used at 100%, Tenacious produces rubber-like parts with significant flex. Mixed at 20-30% with a standard resin like Siraya Tech Fast, it dramatically improves impact resistance while maintaining good detail. This mixing approach is extremely popular in the miniatures community for thin, delicate parts like swords, antennae, and small appendages that would otherwise snap.
The trade-off is longer cure times (3-6 seconds per layer at 100%) and a tackier surface finish. Detail resolution is lower than standard resins when used at full concentration, so mixing is the preferred approach for most applications. At $50-60 per liter, it's expensive, but a single bottle lasts a long time when used as a 20-30% additive.
✅ Pros
- Dramatically improves impact resistance
- Excellent as a mixing additive (20-30%)
- Prevents snapping on thin, delicate parts
- Flexible when used at 100%
- Long-lasting when used as an additive
❌ Cons
- Expensive per liter
- Lower detail at 100% concentration
- Longer cure times
- Tacky surface finish
Best for: Mixing with standard resins to prevent breakage on delicate parts, or standalone for flexible functional parts like gaskets, grips, and phone cases.
5. Phrozen Aqua-Gray 8K — Best for Ultra-High Detail
Phrozen's Aqua-Gray 8K was specifically formulated for 8K-resolution printers, but it delivers exceptional detail on any MSLA printer. The ultra-low viscosity allows the resin to flow quickly during layer changes, capturing the finest features your printer can resolve.
The "Aqua" name indicates this is a water-washable formula — clean up with warm water instead of IPA. This is a significant convenience and safety improvement, especially for users without dedicated ventilation. Post-wash, the prints cure to a beautiful matte gray finish that's ideal for prototyping and painting.
Detail quality is on par with Siraya Tech Fast, with the added advantage of water washability. The gray color is specifically chosen for visibility — it's easier to spot fine details and surface issues on gray models than on transparent or dark-colored ones.
At $40-50 per liter, it's a premium resin, but the combination of ultra-fine detail, water washability, and excellent surface finish makes it a favorite among professionals and serious hobbyists.
✅ Pros
- Outstanding detail resolution
- Water-washable — no IPA needed
- Beautiful matte gray finish
- Low viscosity for fast layer changes
- Ideal for prototyping visibility
❌ Cons
- Premium pricing
- Only available in gray
- Water-washable resins can be slightly weaker
- Requires thorough drying before UV curing
Best for: Professional prototyping, dental models, jewelry masters, and anyone who wants top-tier detail with the convenience of water washability.
6. Siraya Tech Blu — Best Engineering/Tough Resin
When you need resin prints that are genuinely functional — think brackets, clips, tool holders, and mechanical parts — Siraya Tech Blu is the go-to choice. It's a tough resin that offers dramatically higher impact strength and flexural modulus than standard resins.
Blu prints are hard to break. Where standard resin parts shatter on impact, Blu parts dent or deform — a critical difference for functional applications. The mechanical properties approach those of injection-molded ABS, making it one of the most engineering-capable resins available for consumer MSLA printers.
The trade-off is everything else: cure times are longer (3-5 seconds per layer), detail resolution is slightly softer than standard resins, and the price is significantly higher at $45-55 per liter. The resin is also more sensitive to temperature — below 25°C, print reliability drops. A heated resin vat or warm room is recommended.
✅ Pros
- Excellent impact resistance and toughness
- Mechanical properties approaching ABS
- Suitable for functional/engineering parts
- High flexural strength
- Good temperature resistance when post-cured
❌ Cons
- More expensive than standard resins
- Longer cure times
- Temperature-sensitive — needs warm environment
- Slightly softer detail than standard resins
Best for: Functional mechanical parts, tooling, brackets, clips, and any application where part strength and toughness are more important than ultra-fine detail.
Buying Guide: How to Choose 3D Printing Resin
Standard vs. Specialty Resins
Standard resins are cheapest and best for display models and prototypes. Tough/engineering resins handle mechanical stress. Flexible resins bend without breaking. Water-washable resins simplify cleanup. Start with standard resin and branch into specialty formulas as your needs evolve.
Wavelength Compatibility
Almost all consumer MSLA printers use 405nm UV LEDs. Make sure your resin is rated for 405nm. Older SLA printers (like the Formlabs Form 1) use 355nm lasers and require different resins — these are rare in the hobbyist market.
Cure Time
Faster cure times mean shorter prints. Standard resins typically cure at 2-3 seconds per 50-micron layer on modern mono-screen printers. Specialty resins like tough and flexible formulas may need 4-6 seconds. Check your slicer's exposure settings and adjust based on the resin manufacturer's recommendations.
Viscosity
Lower viscosity resins flow more easily during the peel-and-retract cycle between layers, enabling faster print speeds and better detail in recessed features. High-viscosity resins may need slower lift speeds and longer rest times. In cold environments, viscosity increases — keeping your resin at 25-30°C helps significantly.
Post-Processing Requirements
IPA-washable resins require isopropyl alcohol (90%+) for cleaning. Water-washable resins simplify this step but need thorough drying before UV curing (retained water causes surface defects). Consider your workspace — if you don't have good ventilation for IPA, water-washable resins are worth the premium.
Safety
All uncured resins are toxic and can cause skin sensitization with repeated exposure. Always wear nitrile gloves when handling liquid resin, use safety glasses, and work in a ventilated area. Fully cured resin is generally considered safe to handle, but keep it away from food contact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Resin printing is safe at home with proper precautions. Always wear nitrile gloves when handling uncured resin, work in a ventilated space (open window or fume extractor), and wear safety glasses during pouring and cleanup. Avoid skin contact — repeated exposure can cause sensitization (allergic reactions). Keep resin away from pets and children. Many makers operate resin printers in garages or well-ventilated rooms without issues.
Never pour liquid resin or resin-contaminated IPA down the drain. Cure the waste first: leave used IPA in a clear container in sunlight until the dissolved resin solidifies, then filter and reuse the IPA or dispose of the cured solids as regular waste. Small amounts of cured resin are generally safe for household trash. For large quantities, check your local hazardous waste disposal guidelines.
SLA uses a laser to trace each layer point by point. DLP uses a digital projector to flash entire layers at once. MSLA (masked stereolithography) uses an LCD screen to mask UV LED light, curing entire layers simultaneously. Most affordable consumer printers are MSLA. All three technologies use the same 405nm resins, so your resin choice isn't affected by the technology type.
Yes, mixing resins is common and effective. The most popular mix is adding 20-30% Siraya Tech Tenacious to a standard resin for improved toughness. When mixing, ensure both resins use the same wavelength (405nm) and stir thoroughly. Adjust cure times — they'll typically fall between the two resins' individual settings. Start with small test prints to dial in exposure.
A 1-liter bottle of resin prints a surprising number of parts because resin prints are typically hollow. For miniatures, a liter can produce 50-100+ figures depending on size and hollowing. For larger solid prints, expect 10-20 parts per liter. Unopened resin has a shelf life of 1-2 years. Once opened, use within 6-12 months and keep it sealed and away from UV light when not in use.
If you're deciding between resin and filament printing, check out our Best Budget 3D Printers Under $300 guide for FDM options. For filament recommendations, see our Best PLA Filaments for Beginners or Best PETG Filaments for Strength and Durability guides. And to keep your materials fresh, don't miss our Best Filament Dryers and Storage Solutions review.