Cathy MerrittRecently, I’ve gotten into Dungeons and Dragons, and I’m obsessed with making minis of my badass characters and my homebrew monsters (I have to see the dragon in all its glory!).
That’s why 3D printers are my best friends for now. They’ve been more than helpful in making my ideas a reality, and now my DND nights with friends have become much more fun and immersive.
You can book them for your hobbies (like me) or if you’re a creative who needs a prototype of a project! Here are your best options in the city.
How much does 3D printing cost in Toronto?
3D printing prices in Toronto are based per gram. If the printer is using PLA as the main material, the costs are somewhere between C$0.02 and C$0.10 per gram.
But if you choose the specialty or composite materials, you can expect the prices to be higher. In this scenario, you can see rates like C$0.30 per gram or even more.
How We Chose
3DPhacktory
Address: 101, 719 Bloor St W PMB 343
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Friday—10 am to 6 pm
Contact Number: +14164620994
What I like most about 3DPhacktory is the fact that it’s a full-service studio, which means that not only will they 3D print for you, but they can also design your project if you don’t have one yet.
Not only that, they also have an impressive array of services. They’ve printed props for set designs, architectural models, prototypes for inventors, and customized gifts. As such, it’s not a surprise that they’ve had big-name clients, like Disney and Energizer!
I also really like how fast they can get things done. From my experience, it only takes them a week to print and ship the minis I ordered, while for other clients, it’s only two days.
The customer service is fantastic as well. One client told me that 3DPhacktory was the only 3D printer that was willing to take on his project (an intricate piece for a cosplay outfit), and he was incredibly impressed with the result.
However, some clients have minor complaints regarding the communication. Sometimes, the shop is hard to get a hold of, even just to get a free quote.
The shop does try to reach out, though. One client told me he left a one-star review on Google, and someone from the shop reached out to him. He said the team was kind and polite despite the horrible review, and he appreciated that.
Customer Reviews
Great customer service
“Never 3d printed anything before but had an idea for a Christmas ornament of our 2 dogs as a birthday gift for my wife. I modelled the ornament then found 3D Phacktory online. I asked Andrew if he could print the ornament in 2 days as I left it pretty late. Within 30 minutes of reaching out, Andrew downloaded the model, checked it for issues, confirmed he could get it done and started the print. 2 days later my ornament arrived, supports already removed, in excellent print quality! Will definitely use them again. Great customer service!”
- Adam Eisfeld, Google Review
Fast and affordable
“I contacted several 3D Print shops in Toronto and 3DPhacktory was the only one who would try something this ambitious. I needed a very intricate cosplay for Fan Expo and they delivered. Fast and affordable, I got a ton of compliments and look forward to working with them again.”
- Michael Krukar, Google Review
3D Genie Inc.
Address: 1 Burnelm Dr, Main Floor, Etobicoke
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—8 am to 5 pm
- Saturday and Sunday—1 pm to 5 pm
Contact Number: +14374733551
Despite being an underrated spot, 3D Genie Inc. has attracted a pretty diverse clientele. From students who need sculptures for a school fair project to entrepreneurs selling all sorts of products, this shop has served practically every type of client.
The shop’s main strength is the customer service. When I reached out, the representative was so patient and understanding. At the time, I didn’t know much about 3D printing, so I asked so many questions, but he answered them all without fuss.
The turnaround time is also pretty fast, and the team will fix any mistakes. One client shared that his build was pretty complex, so it required a lot of troubleshooting, and the team didn’t mind all the back and forth.
I’ve heard that the prices here are pretty reasonable, too. If you want to confirm this yourself, you can contact them to get a free quote.
Unfortunately, this shop only accepts appointments, which means you can’t just walk in here. This can be annoying because sometimes, the shop can be so busy that you can’t book an appointment for several weeks.
Customer Reviews
Great service and quick turnaround
“Very quick turnaround. Great service and I received a high quality print to extend my coffee bean hopper on my espresso machine. I will definitely be coming back to Raj for anything else I may need in the future.”
- James Foster, Google Review
Excellent print quality at unbeatable prices
“I had a great experience with 3D Genie! I needed a custom flange printed for an AC duct, and Raj was incredibly helpful throughout the entire process. He even assisted with modifying the 3D model to fit my needs, checking in with me at every step for feedback. The print quality is excellent, and the price was unbeatable. Highly recommend 3D Genie for anyone looking for fast, affordable, and professional 3D printing services!”
- Austen Joe, Google Review
DigitMakers.ca
Address: 1111 Flint Rd, Unit 12, North York
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—10 am to 6 pm
- Saturday—10 am to 2 pm
Contact Number: +18886357113
I mostly know DigitMakers.ca as a shop selling 3D printers and filaments, but they also offer 3D printing and design services, which I was thrilled to learn about.
First, I’m impressed with how fast they give their quotes. You just upload your design files, and you’ll get an estimate in just a few minutes. If you’re satisfied with the number, you can proceed with the order, and after that, the only thing left to do is to wait.
What if you don’t have a design yet in mind? They have designers who can turn your concept into a real product. And they have worked with both business entities and simple hobbyists, so they’ve got range.
I also really like that they offer free shipping within Canada if your order totals or exceeds C$150. That said, keep in mind that this doesn’t apply to bulk or custom orders with discounted pricing.
Unfortunately, this shop doesn’t print all concepts. In particular, they will not entertain projects involving weapons or sexually explicit objects.
Customer Reviews
Fast shipping
“Ordered some 3D scanning spray online and got it shipped to me super fast. I decided to visit in person a couple days later and was really happy with the support and the variety of 3D filaments and services they offer. Looking forward to dealing with them in the future!”
- Haashim Rehan, Google Review
Best pricing for 3D filaments
“They have some of the best pricing for 3d printer filament and always ship fast. I’ve placed over 15 orders with more than 70 kg of filament ordered and with no problems at all. Their filament has some of the best accuracy and works great with the Mosaic Pallet. Overall, I would highly recommend DigitMakers for any 3d printing professionals or enthusiasts.”
- Michael DeGanis, Google Review
Custom Prototypes
Company Logo Here
Address: 214 Evans Ave., Etobicoke
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday—9 am to 5 pm
Contact Number: +14169550857
What I like most about Custom Prototypes is their range of services. In addition to custom 3D printing, they can also do 3D scanning and reverse engineering, CNC milling and turning, and even low-volume manufacturing (perfect for businesses!).
Additionally, they have a good variety of materials available. So, you can opt to integrate metal or SLS nylon into your project to make them sturdier. Also, if you want them vibrantly coloured, they can do that because they have colour polyjet.
Clients also commend the team at the shop. They love how mindful they are about the cost. To ensure that the clients won’t have to shoulder a higher fee, the team always provides a prototype model before completing the finer details.
While their prices are mostly affordable, some services, such as the DMLS metal printing, are definitely more expensive. If you’re not sure about the possible cost of your project, you can hit them up for a quote request.
Also, they work pretty fast. It usually takes a day or two to get your concept printed. But if you’re in a rush, you can have yours printed and made the same day by sending your file to the team and asking for “RUSH.”
Customer Reviews
High-quality 3D prints
“Custom Protoypes did a great job 3D printing my conceptual models for a final school project and they turned out better than I imagined. Their team was very helpful in making sure my prints were what I wanted and they had them printed very quickly. I recommend them for anyone who wants a high-quality 3D prints and great customer service. Thanks for the great addition to my project!”
- Steffi Baker, Google Review
Pleasure to work with
“Custom Prototypes did an incredible job on building a 3D-model of a bike rack, for our team’s engineering design project. It was a pleasure to interact with the company, and they completed the prototype in less than a week. On behalf of our team, thank you very much!”
- Shekhar Kumar, Google Review
Hot Pop Factory
Address: 213 Sterling Rd, Suite 101
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday—9 am to 5 pm
Contact Number: +14163066468
Hot Pop Factory is best known for its laser cutting and engraving, but it also has other services, including UV printing, product design, and—of course—3D printing.
This shop caters to all kinds of clientele in various industries, such as architecture, consumer products, automotive, and technology. This is a good sign because it means they can do almost anything—from production parts to appearance models.
I do like that they’re more than just a printing shop. If you want, you can still involve them throughout the design process. They will help you tackle any tough problems and even come up with unconventional solutions (e.g., changing the shape and the like).
The standard turnaround time is between three and five days, which is pretty decent, but if you’re in a rush, you can have yours made within 48 or 24 hours. If you live in downtown Toronto, they can even deliver your product on the same day!
The only downside to this shop is that its list of materials can be better. So far, they have ABS and PLA plastic, nylon, full-colour sandstone, and SLA, and I wish they had more options, like metal for better durability.
Customer Reviews
Smooth and easy pickup process
“Andre at Hot Pop Factory was AMAZING to work with! The turnaround time was so fast, and the team is so knowledgeable about their printing technologies. Andre printed some very complex organic models out of flexible resin for me, and was incredibly helpful in troubleshooting some issues we had. I was able to pickup the models on the same day that they were printed and that pickup process was smooth and easy. If I have to print anything else I will never go anywhere other than Hot Pop!”
- Catie B, Google Review
Reliable services
“Hot Pop has been my go-to 3D printing/rapid prototyping shop for years. For both personal and professional projects, they have always given reliable service and quality outputs. I regularly recommend them to family, friends, and colleagues!”
- Jared Foote, Google Review
