Capturing the physical world and turning it into a digital model is no longer the exclusive domain of major corporations. Whether you’re a hobbyist looking to create custom 3D prints, a professional in engineering or design needing precise measurements, or an artist preserving your work, a 3D scanner is an incredibly powerful tool. The market is now filled with options that balance high precision with user-friendly operation, making this technology more accessible than ever.
From handheld devices that can scan a person’s face to desktop units that capture the finest details of a small component, the right scanner depends entirely on your intended use and required accuracy. This roundup covers the best 3D scanners available, breaking down their key features and strengths to help you find the perfect match for your projects, whether you’re working on a car engine or a miniature figurine.
The Best 3D Scanners for Every Project
- Creality CR-Ferret SE 3D Scanner for 3D Printing
- Revopoint POP3 Plus 3D Scanner for 3D Printing
- Revopoint MIRACO Plus 3D Scanner for 3D Printing
- Creality 3D Scanner Raptor Pro for Automotive
- Creality 3D Scanner CR-Scan Ferret Pro
- 3DMakerpro 3D Scanner for 3D Printing, Moose
- Revopoint POP3 Plus 3D Scanner, Advanced
- Matter and Form Three 3D Scanner
- Revopoint MINI 2 3D Scanner for 3D Printing
- EinScan SE 3D Scanner
Creality CR-Ferret SE 3D Scanner for 3D Printing
An excellent entry point into 3D scanning, the Creality CR-Ferret SE is a desktop scanner designed for reliability and ease of use. It boasts a 0.1mm precision and a 30FPS scanning speed, allowing for the efficient capture of full-color models. Its anti-shake technology is a significant benefit for newcomers, helping to ensure a successful scan even with minor hand movements.
This scanner is particularly adept at handling a variety of surfaces, including body, hair, black metal, and non-reflective objects, which are often challenging for other devices. For hobbyists focused on 3D printing who need a straightforward and upgraded desktop solution, the CR-Ferret SE offers a compelling balance of performance and user-friendliness.
Revopoint POP3 Plus 3D Scanner for 3D Printing
The Revopoint POP3 Plus is a versatile handheld scanner that brings refined precision to a wider audience. With an accuracy of 0.04mm and a new optical zoom function, it captures 30% more point cloud detail, making it ideal for creating highly detailed 3D models of medium-sized objects. Its high-speed scanning of up to 18 fps, stabilized by a 9-axis IMU, improves work efficiency by preventing faulty frames from shaking.
Beyond technical specs, the POP3 Plus excels at creating lifelike, full-color scans using an HD RGB camera and a Flash LED lighting system. It uses Class 1 infrared light, making it safe for scanning body parts like faces. Its broad compatibility with Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS adds to its flexibility for users on different platforms.
Revopoint MIRACO Plus 3D Scanner for 3D Printing
For professionals and serious enthusiasts who need top-tier accuracy, the Revopoint MIRACO Plus is a powerful all-in-one solution. Its standout feature is integrated photogrammetric metrology, which enables the high-resolution capture of small details on very large objects with a remarkable length accuracy. This is supported by a kit including carbon fiber scale bars and coded targets for complex measurements.
The scanner’s quad depth camera system allows it to flexibly handle everything from tiny screws in Near mode to large machinery in Far mode. With a single-point cloud accuracy of 0.04mm and the ability to reach up to 0.02mm precision with photogrammetry, coupled with a 48MP RGB camera for exceptional color capture, the MIRACO Plus is built for demanding applications across various industries.
Creality 3D Scanner Raptor Pro for Automotive
Engineered for precision and scale, the Creality Raptor Pro is a metrology-grade scanner built for challenging projects in automotive and engineering. Its unique configuration of 22 cross blue laser lines and 7 parallel lines allows it to efficiently capture data from small, intricate components all the way up to the expansive curves of a car body. The thin 0.1mm laser lines contribute to its impressive 0.02mm accuracy.
Speed is a key advantage of the Raptor Pro, with a blue laser line mode that captures data at up to 60 frames per second. This significantly reduces scanning times for large objects. The built-in anti-shaking design and fast backtracking technology ensure stable, high-quality data acquisition even when the scanner is used in handheld mode around large, complex objects.
Creality 3D Scanner CR-Scan Ferret Pro
The CR-Scan Ferret Pro emphasizes user-friendly operation and advanced connectivity without sacrificing performance. It leverages WiFi6 technology to provide a smooth and efficient wireless scanning experience, freeing you from cables during operation. This, combined with its compatibility with iOS devices, makes it a highly accessible and convenient tool for a wide range of users.
This scanner delivers high-precision scanning with 24-bit full-color capability, ensuring your digital models are both accurate and vibrant. An innovative anti-shake feature is particularly useful, as it helps guarantee successful scans even if your hands are less than perfectly steady, making it a reliable choice for extended scanning sessions.
3DMakerpro 3D Scanner Moose
The 3DMakerpro Moose scanner stands out with its marker-free technology, which simplifies the scanning process by eliminating the need to apply tracking dots to your object. This not only saves a significant amount of time but also preserves the surface of the object being scanned. Its Blue Light technology enables a high level of accuracy, achieving 0.03mm for models that closely match reality.
Intelligent features enhance the Moose’s usability. Its AI Visual Tracking technology can automatically identify vulnerabilities in the scanned model and perform fully automated repairs. This smart functionality helps users achieve complete and watertight models ready for 3D printing or further digital work with minimal manual cleanup.
Revopoint POP3 Plus 3D Scanner, Advanced
This Advanced version of the POP3 Plus builds upon the already impressive standard model, offering the same core benefits with potentially included accessories or software for an enhanced workflow. It maintains the refined precision of 0.04mm, aided by a new calibration board and an optical zoom function that captures 30% more point cloud detail for superior model fidelity.
Users can expect the same high-speed, stable scanning at up to 18 fps, with a 9-axis IMU to counteract shaking. The ability to create full-color, lifelike 3D models of objects and body parts using safe Class 1 infrared light makes this a versatile tool for both creative and technical applications across multiple operating systems.
Matter and Form Three 3D Scanner
The Matter and Form Three scanner is designed for a clean and efficient workflow, notably because it requires no tracking dots. This feature-based alignment saves time and reduces material waste, allowing for fast and precise scans without the hassle of applying stickers. Its dual 13MP autofocusing cameras ensure razor-sharp detail is captured whether you’re scanning a small piece of jewelry or a large car engine part.
With a high-precision accuracy of 0.033mm, this scanner delivers metrological-grade results that are essential for professional applications in engineering, manufacturing, and art. Its true-life color capture and broad compatibility with every computer and operating system make it a flexible and powerful tool for a wide spectrum of users who require reliable, high-detail scans.
Revopoint MINI 2 3D Scanner for 3D Printing
Specializing in small objects, the Revopoint MINI 2 leverages industrial-grade blue light technology to achieve exceptional precision. It can reach a single-frame precision of up to 0.02mm, making it perfect for capturing the intricate details of jewelry, miniatures, and mechanical components. The blue light’s narrower wavelength effectively filters out ambient light interference for higher-quality 3D models.
Despite its compact size, the MINI 2 doesn’t compromise on speed, offering fast capture speeds of up to 16 fps. It’s important to note that for optimal results, especially with challenging materials and colors, the use of a scanning spray is recommended. This scanner is a specialist tool that brings industrial-level detail capture to a desktop form factor.
EinScan SE 3D Scanner
A well-regarded name in the 3D scanning industry, the EinScan SE series is known for its reliability and professional-grade results. These scanners are designed to handle a variety of applications, from product design to digital archiving. They typically offer a strong balance of speed, accuracy, and ease of use, making them a popular choice in both educational and professional environments.
The specific features of the EinScan SE models can vary, but they often include multiple scanning modes, such as rapid auto-scan for texture and geometry and a fixed scan mode for high-resolution detail. For those seeking a trusted brand with a proven track record for producing consistent and high-quality 3D data, the EinScan SE represents a solid investment.
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best 3D Scanner
As someone who has used a fair share of 3D scanners, I can tell you that picking the right one isn’t about finding the “best” one overall, but the best one for you. The market has exploded with options, from affordable phone apps to high-end professional systems. Your first step is to be honest about your primary use case. Are you a hobbyist looking to scan small figurines for 3D printing? Or are you a professional needing to reverse-engineer a machine part with sub-millimeter accuracy? The answer to this question will dictate your entire path.
Next, you need to understand the two main scanning technologies. Structured Light scanners project a pattern of light onto an object and use cameras to see how the pattern deforms. These are fantastic for capturing fine details on smaller to medium-sized objects and are common among hobbyist and prosumer models. Laser scanners use a laser line or dot to measure the distance to points on an object’s surface. They often work better for scanning larger objects or in environments with challenging lighting, but can sometimes struggle with shiny or dark surfaces without preparation.
Resolution and accuracy are the specs everyone looks at first, but they are not the same thing. Resolution is the distance between measured points—think of it as the dot density of your point cloud. A high resolution can capture fine textures. Accuracy is how close those measured points are to the object’s true geometric position. For 3D printing a custom gear, you need high accuracy. For creating a digital archive of a statue, high resolution might be more important. Don’t get sucked in by a single big number; understand what it represents.
Finally, consider the practical workflow. How much post-processing are you willing to do? Scanners create raw “point clouds” that need to be converted into a watertight mesh, often requiring dedicated software. Some systems offer very automated, all-in-one software, while others give you powerful but complex tools that have a steep learning curve. Also, think about the object size. A scanner perfect for a coin will be useless for scanning a room. Check the scanner’s field of view and whether it can handle the scale of projects you have in mind. By focusing on your needs, the technology, the real-world specs, and your tolerance for software work, you can confidently narrow down the list of the 10 best 3D scanners for hobbyists and pros to find your perfect match.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest 3D scanner for a complete beginner to use?
For absolute beginners, I’d recommend looking at apps that use your smartphone’s hardware, like Polycam or KIRI Engine. They use photogrammetry (taking many photos from different angles) to create a 3D model. The process is very intuitive and requires no extra hardware besides your phone. If you want a dedicated device, the Revopoint POP series or the EinScan H series are great entry-level structured light scanners. They strike a good balance between user-friendly software and reliable results without a massive price tag.
Can I 3D scan a person?
Yes, you can, but it comes with challenges. Scanning a person requires a scanner that can capture data very quickly because people naturally move, even slightly. This is why many full-body scanners use multiple sensors or a turntable to speed up the process. For a hobbyist, using a smartphone photogrammetry app is a surprisingly effective way to start. Have the person stand very still while you circle them, taking dozens of overlapping pictures. For a more professional result, a fast handheld scanner like an Artec Eva is the industry standard for live subject scanning.
How do I handle scanning shiny or black objects?
Shiny, reflective, or perfectly black objects are the classic enemies of 3D scanners. The light from the scanner bounces off or gets absorbed, making it impossible for the sensors to get a good reading. The simple solution is to prepare the surface. I always keep a can of developer spray or removable matte white spray powder on hand. A light dusting creates a temporary, scannable surface that can be easily washed off afterwards. It’s a cheap and effective trick that saves a lot of frustration.
What kind of computer do I need for 3D scanning?
You will need a fairly powerful computer. The processing and alignment of scan data are very demanding tasks. I recommend a computer with a strong multi-core processor (CPU), a lot of RAM (16GB is a good starting point, but 32GB is better for complex scans), and a dedicated graphics card (GPU). The software relies heavily on all these components. Before buying a scanner, always check the manufacturer’s minimum and recommended system requirements to ensure your PC is up to the task.
What file format do 3D scanners output?
Most 3D scanning software will output common polygon mesh formats like STL, OBJ, or PLY. The STL file is the universal standard for 3D printing. The OBJ format can also store color and texture information, which is important if you’ve used a color scanner. The PLY format is also common and can hold color and other data. You can almost always convert between these formats within your scanning software or a free program like Meshmixer or Blender, giving you the flexibility needed for your specific project, whether you’re evaluating one of the 10 best 3D scanners for hobbyists and pros or just using a basic app.