The SUNLU FilaDryer S2 is the dryer to start with if you mostly print PLA and PETG from one spool at a time. It heats to 70 °C, shows chamber humidity on its display, and draws 48 W at most. Step up to the SUNLU S4 or Creality SpacePi X4 for four spools, the SUNLU E2 for nylon and PC, the Polymaker PolyDryer if sealed storage matters as much as drying, or the Bambu Lab AMS 2 Pro if you own a Bambu printer and want drying built into the AMS.
Every figure below comes from the maker’s own product page, spec table or manual, checked October 5, 2026. Drying performance depends on room temperature, spool size and how wet the filament is, and no dryer here was tested for this site.
If your priority is keeping each spool in its own removable sealed container, our Polymaker PolyDryer review explains the dock-and-box packages and the difference between storage capacity and simultaneous drying.
Quick picks
| Dryer | Best for | Max temperature (maker) | Capacity or spool limit (maker) |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUNLU FilaDryer S2 | Everyday PLA and PETG | 70 °C | Spool count not stated; 265 × 274 × 118 mm body |
| SUNLU FilaDryer S4 | Four spools at one temperature | 70 °C | Four 1 kg spools |
| Creality SpacePi X4 | Two materials at once | 85 °C (45–85 °C range) | 4 spools; each up to 200 mm across, 150 mm wide |
| SUNLU FilaDryer E2 | Nylon, PC and annealing | 110 °C | One 2 kg spool or two 1 kg spools |
| Polymaker PolyDryer | Drying plus sealed storage | 68–73 °C at the highest setting | One spool up to 205 mm across, 78 mm wide |
| Bambu Lab AMS 2 Pro (Amazon search) | Bambu Lab printers | 65 °C | Spools 197–202 mm across, 50–68 mm wide |
1. SUNLU FilaDryer S2: best everyday dryer
The SUNLU FilaDryer S2 is the simplest pick here. SUNLU lists a 70 °C maximum, heating plates above and below the spool with a bottom fan, and a 4.6-inch display that shows temperature, time, humidity, filament type and a countdown. SUNLU says 70 °C suits specialty filaments such as PA and PC as well as everyday materials.
It is also the lowest-power unit in this list: SUNLU gives a 48 W maximum working power, a 1,109 g net weight and a 265 × 274 × 118 mm body. SUNLU’s product page doesn’t state how many spools it takes, so check your spool against the body size if you use wide or 2 kg reels.
Choose it if you dry one spool of PLA or PETG before a job. Skip it if you regularly need several spools dry at the same time.
2. SUNLU FilaDryer S4: best for four spools
The SUNLU FilaDryer S4 holds four 1 kg spools in a 450 × 210 × 211 mm chamber. SUNLU lists a 350 W PTC heater, a 70 °C maximum, and side and bottom fans that keep chamber temperature within ±3 °C. Its humidity control starts drying when humidity reaches a set point between 30% and 50% and stops at 25%.
SUNLU says it can feed up to four printers at once and takes 1.75, 2.85 and 3.0 mm filament. The body is 458 × 218 × 312 mm and weighs 4.8 kg, so measure your shelf first.
Choose it if you run a multicolor setup or several printers on the same material. Our SUNLU S4 vs Creality SpacePi X4 comparison covers the choice between the two four-spool dryers. Skip it if you need two different drying temperatures at once.
3. Creality SpacePi X4: best for mixed materials
The Creality SpacePi X4 splits its four-spool capacity into two chambers, each with its own 200 W PTC heater and temperature control. That lets you dry PLA at 50 °C in one side and nylon at 85 °C in the other. Creality lists a 45–85 °C range, 1 to 48 hour timers, 360 W rated power, and spools up to 200 mm in diameter and 150 mm wide, in 1.75 or 2.85 mm.
Creality also lists desiccant that regenerates during each drying cycle, dual dehumidifying fans, and a one-way valve to keep the chamber sealed afterward, so it doubles as dry storage. Creality notes that the two chambers can differ by 1 to 5 °C during heating at the same set point, and warns that high-temperature drying should account for the spool’s heat resistance.
Choose it if you print engineering filaments alongside PLA and PETG. Our Creality Space Pi review covers the single-spool model. Skip it if you only ever dry one material.
4. SUNLU FilaDryer E2: best for nylon, PC and annealing
The SUNLU FilaDryer E2 has the highest maximum here at 110 °C. SUNLU describes 70 °C heating for standard filaments and 90 °C for specialty filaments such as PA and PC. It also offers 80–90 °C annealing for 2 to 3 hours, to treat finished prints in functional filaments.
It takes one 2 kg spool or two 1 kg spools, in 1.75 or 2.85 mm. SUNLU says its PTC heater, fan, dual temperature protection switches and software control keep the exterior surface at 60 °C or below even during 110 °C operation. The body is 400 × 220 × 307 mm and weighs 7.6 kg.
Choose it if you print nylon, PC or other engineering filament, or want to anneal parts. Skip it if you print PLA and PETG only; the S2 does that job in a smaller box.
5. Polymaker PolyDryer: best for drying plus sealed storage
The Polymaker PolyDryer separates a heated Dry Dock from removable sealed boxes. You dry one spool, lift the box off, and set the next box on the dock. Polymaker sells extra boxes and an XL box for 3 kg spools; the standard box takes spools up to 205 mm in diameter and 78 mm wide.
Polymaker uses three power levels instead of a temperature setting. It says the highest level reaches 68–73 °C, with the exact figure varying around the spool. Its manual lists 6 hours for PLA, PETG, ABS and ASA, 12 hours for TPU and 18 hours for PA, by power level. The dock draws 68 W at most. Polymaker’s US store listed the dock-and-box kit as backordered on October 5, 2026, while the linked Amazon listing showed it in stock.
Choose it if you keep many single spools and want each one sealed after drying. Skip it if you need several spools heated at the same time.
6. Bambu Lab AMS 2 Pro: best for Bambu Lab printers
For Bambu Lab owners, the AMS 2 Pro (Amazon search; Bambu’s own Amazon listing showed no stock on October 5, 2026) handles multicolor feeding and drying in one unit. Bambu lists a 65 °C drying maximum, automatic venting during drying, spools that rotate for even drying, RFID-matched drying settings for Bambu filament, and sealed storage. The higher temperature is only reached when the room is above 25 °C.
There are three limits to know. First, Bambu says the AMS 2 Pro can’t fully dry ABS, ASA, PET, PA, PC and several other materials, and recommends the 85 °C AMS HT (Amazon search) for those. Second, it only dries while connected to a printer by its 6-pin cable. Third, on A1, P1 and X1 printers each AMS 2 Pro needs its own Switching Adapter to dry, while H2, P2S and X2D printers can power one unit. It accepts spools 197–202 mm in diameter and 50–68 mm wide.
Choose it if you own a Bambu printer and want drying and color changes in one box. Our AMS 2 Pro review goes deeper, and Bambu Lab P2S vs P1S explains the power difference between those printers. Skip it if you want a dryer that works on its own or with non-Bambu printers.
How to choose a filament dryer
Match the temperature to your hottest filament. Creality’s starting points are 50 °C for PLA, 60 °C for PETG and TPU, and 80–85 °C for ABS, PET, PC, ASA, PA and PAHT, and it says to follow the filament maker’s recommendation first. eSUN’s PETG, for example, lists 60 °C drying for more than 8 hours. A 65–70 °C dryer covers PLA, PETG and TPU; nylon and PC call for more headroom or longer cycles.
Decide how many spools need to be dry at once. One spool before each job: the S2 or PolyDryer. Four colors for a multicolor printer: the S4, SpacePi X4 or an AMS 2 Pro. Two materials at different temperatures: only the SpacePi X4 heats two chambers independently.
Check spool fit before you buy. Limits vary: 197–202 mm diameter and 50–68 mm width in the AMS 2 Pro, 205 mm by 78 mm in the PolyDryer box, and 200 mm by 150 mm per spool in the SpacePi X4. Cardboard or oversized spools outside those ranges may not fit.
Plan whether you’ll print from the dryer. The S4 can feed up to four printers and the SpacePi X4 feeds through a 4 mm PTFE tube. Creality recommends drying fully before printing. The AMS 2 Pro feeds the printer directly, and some Bambu printers support drying while printing.
Count the power draw. Maximum or rated figures range from 48 W (S2) and 68 W (PolyDryer) to 300 W (S4), 325 W (E2) and 360 W (SpacePi X4). A four-spool dryer and a printer on the same circuit add up.
Moisture inside a spool and storage humidity are different problems. Our filament dryer vs dry box guide explains when a sealed box is enough. For a single dryer, our reviews of the SUNLU , eSUN , Comgrow and SOVOL dryers go deeper on each unit, and our best PETG filament picks list each brand’s drying settings.
Who should skip a dryer
Skip a dryer if your filament stays sealed until use, you finish spools quickly, and your prints show no moisture symptoms. Skip a standalone dryer if you already own a Bambu AMS 2 Pro or AMS HT and print only the materials it supports. In both cases a sealed box with desiccant may be all you need.
FAQ
Do Bambu Lab printers need a Bambu Lab dryer?
No. Any standalone dryer can dry filament for a Bambu printer. Bambu’s AMS 2 Pro and AMS HT dry filament inside the AMS, but Bambu says they cannot dry without a 6-pin connection to the printer, and on A1, P1 and X1 printers each AMS 2 Pro needs its own Switching Adapter to dry.
What drying temperature does each filament need?
Follow the filament maker’s label. As a starting point, Creality’s SpacePi X4 page suggests 50 °C for PLA, 60 °C for PETG and TPU, and 80 to 85 °C for ABS, PET, PC, ASA, PA and PAHT.
Can a 70 °C dryer handle nylon?
Makers differ. SUNLU says the 70 °C S2 and S4 suit PA and PC, while Creality suggests 80 to 85 °C for PA and says its 85 °C maximum saves time on engineering filaments. If you print nylon often, a hotter dryer such as the SpacePi X4 or the SUNLU E2 leaves more margin.
Is a larger dryer always the safer buy?
No. Buy for the number of spools you need dry at the same time. A four-spool dryer adds footprint and power draw, and a single-box dryer is enough if you dry one spool before each job.
Sources
- SUNLU FilaDryer S2 product page: https://www.sunlu.com/products/filadryer-s2-filament-dryer
- SUNLU FilaDryer S4 product page: https://www.sunlu.com/products/filadryer-s4-filament-dryer
- SUNLU FilaDryer E2 product page: https://www.sunlu.com/products/filadryer-e2-filament-dryer
- Creality SpacePi X4 product page and parameters: https://www.creality.com/products/creality-spacepi-x4
- Polymaker PolyDryer product page and FAQ: https://shop.polymaker.com/products/filament-dryer
- Polymaker PolyDryer user manual: https://polymaker.com/wp-content/uploads/Polydryer_User-Manual-1117_20240820_compressed.pdf
- Bambu Lab AMS 2 Pro US store page and specs: https://us.store.bambulab.com/products/ams-2-pro
- Bambu Lab AMS HT US store page and specs: https://us.store.bambulab.com/products/ams-ht
See Also
If you want to pressure-test this shortlist, read Best Spring Steel Build Plates for 3D Printers: Fit, Coating, and Flex Tips, Best 3D Printer Filament for Mechanical Parts: Strength, Heat, and Wear, and Best Large 3D Printer Enclosures: Clearance, Venting, and Two Current Picks next.
For more context beyond the main ranking, Best Bambu Lab A1 Mini Accessories Buying Guide and Bambu Lab P1S vs X1 Carbon: Differences and Which to Buy add useful comparison detail.