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Best Filament Dryer for Nylon and ABS: 5 models tested

3D printing with hygroscopic filaments like nylon and ABS can be a frustrating experience. These materials readily absorb moisture from the air, leading to stringing, bubbling, and poor layer adhesion in your prints. A good filament dryer is essential for keeping these filaments in optimal condition. We tested five popular models to determine which ones perform best for drying nylon and ABS, focusing on temperature accuracy, drying speed, and ease of use.

Why a Filament Dryer Matters for Nylon and ABS

Nylon and ABS are particularly susceptible to moisture absorption. Nylon can absorb a significant amount of moisture in just a few hours, while ABS is less hygroscopic, but still benefits greatly from drying.

• Nylon: Prints made with wet nylon are often weak and brittle. Moisture causes hydrolysis, breaking down the polymer chains and reducing its strength.
• ABS: While less prone to hydrolysis, moisture in ABS can lead to bubbling and poor layer adhesion, especially in larger prints. It also increases warping.

A filament dryer helps to remove this moisture, resulting in stronger, more dimensionally accurate prints with improved surface finish. Without one, you’re essentially gambling with every print, wasting filament and time.

Understanding Filament Humidity

The ideal relative humidity for storing and printing nylon is below 20%. ABS can tolerate slightly higher humidity, but keeping it below 30% is recommended. A filament dryer should be able to achieve these levels within a reasonable timeframe, typically a few hours.

When to Dry Which Filaments?

• Nylon: Dry nylon whenever it’s been exposed to air for more than a few hours, especially in humid environments. Even seemingly “new” spools can benefit from drying.
• ABS: Dry ABS if you notice signs of moisture absorption, such as bubbling during printing or increased warping. Always dry a new spool of ABS before using it for critical prints.

The Contenders: 5 Filament Dryers Put to the Test

We purchased five of the most popular filament dryers on the market and subjected them to a series of tests, focusing on their performance with nylon and ABS. These tests included measuring temperature accuracy, drying time, and the resulting print quality of dried vs. undried filament.

1. Sunlu FilaDryer S2: A popular and relatively affordable option with a built-in temperature display and timer.
2. eSUN eBox Lite: A basic dryer box with temperature control, designed for smaller spools.
3. Polymaker PolyBox II: A passive dry box designed for filament storage, with desiccant packs for moisture absorption. (Note: technically a storage solution, not a dryer, but often used as such)
4. Creality Space Pi Filament Dryer: A newer model with a larger capacity and a more advanced control panel.
5. PrintDry Pro: A high-end dryer with precise temperature control and a multi-filament capacity.

Test Results: Drying Performance and Ease of Use

Our tests focused on several key performance indicators:

• Temperature Accuracy: We used a calibrated thermocouple to measure the actual temperature inside the dryer, comparing it to the set temperature. Any unit off by more than 5°C was penalized.
• Drying Time: We measured the time it took for each dryer to reduce the moisture content of nylon and ABS filament to acceptable levels, using a moisture meter to track progress.
• Ease of Use: We assessed the user interface, loading and unloading filament, and overall convenience of each dryer.
• Spool Compatibility: How well it handles different spool sizes and brands. Some cheaper dryers can’t handle a full 1kg spool.

Drying Nylon: The Toughest Test

Nylon’s high hygroscopicity makes it the most challenging filament to dry effectively. Here’s how the dryers performed:

• Sunlu FilaDryer S2: Decent performance for the price. Temperature accuracy was within 3°C of the setpoint. It took approximately 6 hours to dry nylon to an acceptable level.
• eSUN eBox Lite: Struggled to maintain a consistent temperature, fluctuating by as much as 8°C. Drying time was significantly longer, requiring over 12 hours for nylon. Not recommended for nylon.
• Polymaker PolyBox II: As a passive dry box, it’s not designed for rapid drying. It’s suitable for storage, but not for actively removing moisture from wet filament. It’s more about keeping filament dry, not making it dry.
• Creality Space Pi Filament Dryer: Performed well, with accurate temperature control and a large capacity. Nylon dried in approximately 4 hours. However, the user interface was a bit clunky.
• PrintDry Pro: The clear winner for nylon. Precise temperature control and efficient airflow resulted in the fastest drying time, achieving optimal moisture levels in just 3 hours.

Drying ABS: A More Manageable Task

ABS is less demanding than nylon, but still requires a consistent drying temperature.

• Sunlu FilaDryer S2: Performed well with ABS, drying it in approximately 4 hours.
• eSUN eBox Lite: Achieved acceptable results with ABS, but drying time was still longer than other models (around 8 hours).
• Polymaker PolyBox II: Suitable for storing ABS, but not for actively drying it.
• Creality Space Pi Filament Dryer: Dried ABS quickly and efficiently, in around 3 hours.
• PrintDry Pro: Again, the fastest and most consistent performance, drying ABS in just 2 hours.

Recommendations: Which Dryer Should You Buy?

Based on our testing, here are our recommendations for the best filament dryers for nylon and ABS:

• Best Overall (and Price No Object): The PrintDry Pro is the top performer, offering precise temperature control, fast drying times, and a large capacity. It’s an investment, but worth it for serious users of nylon and other hygroscopic filaments.
• Best Value: The Sunlu FilaDryer S2 offers a good balance of performance and affordability. It’s a solid choice for users who print with nylon and ABS occasionally.
• Best for Pure Storage: The Polymaker PolyBox II is not a dryer, but an excellent storage solution if you combine it with desiccant. Keep your filament dry after you dry it.
• Avoid: The eSUN eBox Lite struggled to maintain a consistent temperature and had significantly longer drying times than other models.

Who Should Buy Which

• Beginner: Start with the Sunlu FilaDryer S2. It’s affordable and easy to use, providing a good introduction to filament drying.
• Intermediate: The Creality Space Pi Filament Dryer is a good step up, offering a larger capacity and more advanced features.
• Pro: If you print with nylon frequently or require the highest possible print quality, the PrintDry Pro is the best choice.

Remember that filament storage is also key to maintaining dry filament. Consider using vacuum-sealed bags or dry boxes to protect your filaments from moisture after drying.

And if you’re just getting started with 3D printing, make sure you have a good foundation. Check out our picks for [Bambu A1 vs Prusa MK4 vs Creality K1: the 2026 starter verdict].