What is the Creality Ender 3's build volume?
220 × 220 × 250 mm (about 8.7 × 8.7 × 9.8 inches). The Ender 3 Pro, V2 and V3 SE use the same 220 × 220 × 250 mm volume, as do the Creality K1 and K1C. The Ender 3 S1 is taller, at 220 × 220 × 270 mm.
Printer guides › Creality Ender 3
How to print models bigger than the Creality Ender 3
The Creality Ender 3 has a build volume of 220 × 220 × 250 mm. There are millions of them in workshops, and 220 mm runs out quickly on props, cosplay and household parts.
To print something larger, split the STL into pieces that fit and join them after printing. PrintSlice does the splitting in your browser: with default settings each piece is at most 208 × 208 × 238 mm, and you can add pin, key or dovetail connectors on the cut faces so the pieces line up and snap together.
Open PrintSlice with a 220 × 220 × 250 bed
Free to split and preview, and your first model is free to download. The bed size is filled in for you.
Creality Ender 3 at a glance
Build volume220×220×250mm
Largest piece208×208×238mm
Example2pieces
Example: A 450 mm tall floor vase (180 × 180 × 450 mm) doesn't fit the Ender 3. PrintSlice splits it 1 × 1 × 2 into 2 pieces of about 180 × 180 × 225 mm, each of which fits the bed.
The Ender 3 Pro, V2 and V3 SE use the same 220 × 220 × 250 mm volume, as do the Creality K1 and K1C. The Ender 3 S1 is taller, at 220 × 220 × 270 mm.
How to split a model for the Ender 3
- Open PrintSlice with the Ender 3 bed size and drop in your STL file, or try the sample model.
- Press Split into bed-sized pieces. PrintSlice works out the smallest grid of equal pieces that fits, cutting along all three axes if it needs to.
- Open a piece's preview and click a cut face to add a key, pin or dovetail connector. Then download the pieces and slice them in Cura as normal.
Tips for splitting on the Ender 3
Enter the bed you really have
Ender 3s that have had upgrades (a different hotend, a probe or bed clips) often lose a few millimetres of reachable area. Measure what your printer can actually reach and enter that instead of 220.
Level before a multi-piece job
Connectors fit best when every piece comes out the right size. A squashed first layer (elephant's foot) can make sockets tight, so re-level the bed, or set a small negative Initial Layer Horizontal Expansion in Cura.
Ender 3 S1? Enter 270 for height
The S1 is 20 mm taller than the other Ender 3 models, which can save a horizontal cut on tall models.
Same bed on the K1 and K1C
Creality's K1 and K1C also print 220 × 220 × 250 mm, so the same bed size works. The K1C guide has tips for those printers.
Questions
What's the largest single piece PrintSlice makes for the Ender 3?
With default settings, 208 × 208 × 238 mm. PrintSlice keeps 5.6 mm clear on every side: a 2 mm safety margin you can change, plus 3.6 mm so connector tabs still fit on the bed.
Can't I just split the model in Cura?
Cura's cut tool is fine for one or two cuts you place by hand. PrintSlice is quicker when a model needs several: it works out every cut from your bed size, splits along all three axes in one go, and adds key, pin or dovetail connectors on the seams.
Will the printed pieces fit back together?
Yes. Each tab and socket pair is made from the same shape with a small built-in clearance (0.2 mm by default, adjustable per connector), so the pieces push together without sanding. You can choose a rectangular key, a round pin or a dovetail, which resists being pulled apart.
Is my model uploaded anywhere?
No. The splitting, connectors and 3D preview all run in your browser, so your STL file never leaves your computer.
Does PrintSlice cost anything?
Splitting and previewing is free, with no account needed, and your first model is free to download with a free account. To download more models, start a 7-day free trial (a card is needed, but you aren't charged until the 7 days are up and you can cancel before then). After that it's £3.99 a month.
Which Ender 3 models have a 220 × 220 × 250 mm bed?
The original Ender 3, Ender 3 Pro, Ender 3 V2 and Ender 3 V3 SE. The Ender 3 S1 is 220 × 220 × 270 mm.