Miniature printing demands extreme precision—razor-sharp edges, crisp lines, smooth surfaces, and flawless fine details. Since nearly 80% of that quality depends on the resin rather than the printer itself, choosing the right material is crucial. Fortunately, resin technology in 2025 has advanced dramatically, offering higher detail accuracy, reduced brittleness, faster curing times, improved color variety, lower odor, and significantly more durable prints.
This guide covers the best resins for D&D miniatures, Warhammer and tabletop figures, model kits, display-quality minis, and 28–32mm scale fantasy and sci-fi characters. Drawing on hands-on tests, community feedback, and up-to-date 2025 reviews from sources such as Age of Miniatures, Phrozen, and Reddit’s r/PrintedMinis, this list highlights the top-performing options. Additionally, all prices listed are based on a standard 1kg bottle to help you compare value more easily.
Why Resin Choice Matters for Miniatures
Miniatures are small, delicate, and feature wonderful details—meaning your resin must perform at a higher level than standard printing tasks. Important features include:
1. High Detail Accuracy
Miniatures often feature high levels of detail and typically include intricate, minimal information—such as facial expressions, armor textures, fabric folds, weapons, hair strands, and organic elements like scales or fur. Because of these complexities, they require a resin that can reproduce sharp edges and fine geometry without softening or blurring.
Furthermore, high-detail resins are formulated with tighter curing tolerances, ensuring every micro-feature appears crisp and precise. As a result, this level of accuracy becomes essential for tabletop miniatures, collectors’ figures, and display models, where visual clarity ultimately defines the overall quality.
A good miniature resin reproduces these without softening edges.
2. Smooth Surface Finish
A smooth surface finish is crucial for miniatures because it reduces visible layer lines, minimizes sanding work, and prevents uneven primer buildup. When a resin cures with a matte, clean texture, it allows paint to adhere naturally and enhances the character’s depth and realism.
High-end miniature resins are engineered to deliver consistent surface smoothness right out of the printer, making both painting and post-processing significantly easier. This results in cleaner highlights, better shading, and a professional final look.
3. Low Shrinkage
Because miniatures are small and often include long, thin parts, even slight resin shrinkage can distort critical components. Issues like weapon warping, misaligned joints, or bases that do not sit flat are commonly caused by shrinkage during curing. Modern miniature-specific resin formulas address this by maintaining stable dimensions throughout printing and curing. Low-shrinkage performance ensures that every part fits correctly, stands properly, and maintains its intended proportions.
4. Good Durability
Miniatures are frequently handled during gameplay, painting, transport, and display—meaning they must be strong enough to withstand regular use without snapping. Standard brittle resins often fail in areas like swords, limbs, or thin accessories.
A good miniature resin balances detail with durability, offering improved flexibility and impact resistance while maintaining sharp edges. This durability ensures that your finished characters, creatures, and scenery survive both the tabletop and long-term storage.
5. Clean Curing & Predictability
Clean, predictable curing is essential for maintaining the fine details that miniature printing demands. High-quality resins cure evenly, leaving no tacky surfaces, soft spots, or overcured brittle zones. This consistency helps avoid common issues such as lost detail, warped parts, or texture irregularities.
When the resin behaves predictably, it becomes easier to dial in exposure settings and achieve reliable results across multiple prints. Clean curing ensures every miniature comes out with sharp details intact and minimal post-processing headaches.
🥇 Best Overall Resin for Miniatures (2025)
Anycubic Craftsman Resin
⭐ Rating: 10/10
The Craftsman series remains the top choice for miniature artists because it captures details better than most consumer resins. Its matte finish makes edges appear sharper and more realistic. It also resists brittle failures better than typical standard resins.
Why It Wins
- Ultra-sharp detail reproduction
- Smooth matte surface ideal for painting
- Less brittle than standard resins
- Low odor and clean curing
- Excellent for 28–32mm scale minis
Best For
- D&D characters
- Sci-fi miniatures
- Fantasy models
- Armored figures
- High-detail display models
🥈 Best Budget Resin
Elegoo Standard Grey Resin
⭐ Rating: 9.5/10
Elegoo Standard Resin remains the best value option thanks to its reliability, affordability, and broad compatibility.
Why It Wins
- Excellent detail for the price
- Works on almost any resin printer
- Low failed print rate
- Perfect for beginners
🥉 Best Premium Resin
Siraya Tech Fast Grey
⭐ Rating: 9.5/10
Siraya Tech Fast Grey is a professional-grade resin known for its strength and precision.
Why It Wins
- Very durable
- High detail sharpness
- Fast curing means shorter print times
- Long-term stability (no yellowing or cracking)
Ideal for artists who want strong, long-lasting minis.
💎 Best High-Strength Resin for Weapons & Thin Parts
Siraya Tech Tenacious
⭐ Rating: 9/10
Tenacious is highly flexible—perfect for supporting fragile parts like:
- Swords
- Spears
- Bows
- Wings
- Thin limbs
- Joints
How to Use It
Mix 20–30% Tenacious with your main resin to create a strong hybrid formulation.
🎨 Best Resin for Painting Miniatures
Phrozen Aqua 4K Grey
⭐ Rating: 9.7/10
Phrozen’s Aqua 4K offers insane detail, clarity, and takes primer extremely well.
Why Painters Love It
- Crisp edges
- Great color absorption
- Ultra-smooth surfaces
- Perfect for display minis
This is often the go-to resin for professional miniature painters.
📊 Comparison Table — Best Resins for Miniatures (2025)
| Resin | Detail | Strength | Smell | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anycubic Craftsman | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Low | Medium | Best Overall |
| Elegoo Standard Grey | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | Medium | Low | Budget Printing |
| Siraya Tech Fast Grey | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Low | Medium | Durable Gaming Minis |
| Siraya Tech Tenacious | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Low | Medium | Weapons & Thin Parts |
| Phrozen Aqua 4K | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | Low | Medium | Painting & Display Models |
🎨 Best Resin Colors for Miniatures
1. Grey (Most Popular)
- Best for detail visibility
- Ideal for priming
2. Light Blue
- Shows shadows better
- Easy to photograph
3. Flesh Tones
- Great for organic minis
4. Matte Black
- Creates a dramatic look
- Perfect for display models
Choosing the right resin is one of the single most important decisions you’ll make when printing miniatures. In 2025, advanced resin formulas offer a broad spectrum of capabilities—whether you prioritize ultra-high detail, durability, low odor, or painter-friendly finishes.
- For all-around performance and razor-sharp edge detail, Anycubic Craftsman Resin remains the top pick.
- If you’re on a budget or just getting started, Elegoo Standard Grey gives you reliability and quality without breaking the bank.
- For models that need strength and long-term stability, Siraya Tech Fast Grey delivers.
- For fragile parts like swords, spears, and wings, mixing in Siraya Tech Tenacious offers much-needed flexibility.
- And for showcase-worthy miniatures ready for paint, Phrozen Aqua 4K Grey enables unmatched clarity.
As you explore your options, consider not just the resin’s technical specs but also what matters most in your workflow—painting, durability, scale, or detail. With the right resin, you’ll produce miniatures that are not only visually stunning but also tough and reliable.