Some of the time, nozzle clogging happens when the 3D printer produces an insufficient amount of temperature. This results in the material adhering inside the nozzle. This doesn’t just involve the need for some adjustments or tweaks but a proper cleaning regimen, as well. The answer? The right printer nozzle cleaning kit.

A quality printer nozzle cleaning kit will help you meet the critical need of your extruder nozzle to be maintained at a healthy state. Keep in mind that maintaining your 3D printer regularly will not only help you create perfect 3D prints, but will also help you prolong the life of your unit. 

The following are some of the best 3D printer nozzle cleaning kits from the market's top brands. To ensure you make the best choice possible from these five magnificent options, we compiled a list of their key features with the aid of 3D printer enthusiasts and professionals.

Look for the kit that will give you all the tools and materials you need to execute your nozzle cleanup in the best possible way. Once you've made your pick, don't forget to click on the buttons below to access Amazon's best prices for them!

Best 3D Printer Nozzle Cleaning Kits Comparison & Rating

3D Printer Nozzle Cleaning Kits

Features

3D Printer Nozzle Cleaning Tool Kit - 0.4mm 0.35mm Needles Tweezers Filament Clog Cleaner Accessories Part Drill Bits 27pcs Mika3D
  • great for E3D, MK8, MK10, and several others
  • two types of specific tweezers
  • 12 pieces of 0.4 mm stainless steel needles, 12 pieces of 0.35 mm copper needles, 2 pieces of different accurate tweezers, 1 piece plastic bottle
Leinuosen 21 Pieces 3D Printer Nozzle and Cleaning Kit, 10 Pack 0.4 mm MK8 Nozzles, 10 Pack 0.4 mm Needles and 1 Pack Tweezers Tool kit, Stainless Steel Nozzle Cleaning Tool Kit
  • great for Makerbot Creality CR-10, MK8 Makerbot Reprap Prusa I3 3D printers
  • curved precision tweezers
  • 10 pieces of flexible stainless steel needles
  • 10 pieces of 0.35 mm and 0.4 mm cleaning needles
  • deburring tool and two replacement bits
  • 9-inch pallet knife
3D Printer Nozzle Cleaning Kit - 0.4mm Needles and Tweezers Toolkit - Stainless Steel Nozzle Cleaning Tool Kit - Alternative for 0.4mm Drill Bits for 3D Printer - Set of 11
  • suitable for delicate nozzle maintenance
  • non-magnetic curved precision tweezers
  • non-magnetic curved precision tweezers
Kamo 5PCS 0.4mm Drill Bits for 3D MakerBot Printer Nozzle Cleaning Kit
  • 5-piece 0.4 mm drill bits
  •  high-quality stainless steel
  • compatible with the majority of 3D printer extruder nozzles that have a 0.4 mm diameter

1. Mika3D 27-Piece 3D Printer Nozzle Cleaning Tool Kit

3D Printer Nozzle Cleaning Tool Kit - 0.4mm 0.35mm Needles Tweezers Filament Clog Cleaner Accessories Part Drill Bits 27pcs Mika3D
Specifications:
98% Overall

Brand

Mika3D

Weight (Set)

2.2 ounces

Material

Stainless Steel

Package Dimensions

5.51 x 1.18 x 1.18 inches

98%
quality
98%
durability
97%
features & tools
97%
ease of use
Pros:
  • Boasts a 3D printer nozzle cleaning drill bit set with a total of 27 pieces of tools (12 pieces of 0.4 mm stainless steel needles, 12 pieces of 0.35 mm copper needles, 2 pieces of different accurate tweezers, 1 piece plastic bottle) that are excellent for cleaning 3d printer filament/nozzle clogs.
  • Has flexible and unbreakable needles which can be easily twisted.
  • Perfectly cleans 3D printer nozzles as well as other small parts such as the throat and feeder gear.
  • Includes two types of specific tweezers, one for nozzle maintenance and the other for cleaning up extruder hot-ends and excess support material for PLA/ABS filament.
  • Suitable and compatible with the majority of 3D printer extruder nozzles, including E3D, MK8, MK10, and several others.
Cons:
  • Although the needles are excellent for cleaning the tip, they should be followed by a rod to force out any residual filament within the print head.
  • Pay attention when manipulating the tweezers as they are extremely sharp.
Final Take:

The Mika3D Printer Nozzle Cleaning Tool Kit is a good option for 3D printer nozzle cleaning and maintenance. These tiny tools work great in removing a stubborn clog that developed over time. The tweezers alone are well worth the price and the needles are likewise good for the challenging clogs. Similarly, the kit is excellent for determining if a printing problem is caused by a clog or by anything else in the process, including an extruder problem or bad filament. The price was reasonable for the kit because it provides all you need and is an excellent investment intended for your 3D printer.

2. Leinuosen 21-Piece 3D Printer Nozzle and Cleaning Kit

Leinuosen 21 Pieces 3D Printer Nozzle and Cleaning Kit, 10 Pack 0.4 mm MK8 Nozzles, 10 Pack 0.4 mm Needles and 1 Pack Tweezers Tool kit, Stainless Steel Nozzle Cleaning Tool Kit
Specifications:
97% Overall

Brand

Leinuosen

Weight (Set)

1.41 ounces

Material

Stainless Steel, Brass

Package Dimensions

5.91 x 1.18 x 0.39 inches

96%
quality
96%
durability
97%
features & tools
98%
ease of use
Pros:
  • Offers 10 pieces of flexible stainless steel needles with a diameter of 0.4 mm, ideal for subtle maintenance of nozzles and tough areas such as feed gears.
  • Comes with 10 pieces of 0.4 mm MK8 nozzles crafted with high-quality brass that are solid, long-lasting and supports a 1.75 mm input diameter, a 0.4 mm output diameter, and a hexagonal diameter of 6 mm 3D printer nozzles.
  • Provides 1 tweezers tool for maintaining nozzles and removing unnecessary support material.
  • Has curved precision tweezers that are anti-static and non-magnetic.
  • Suitable for all of the different models of Makerbot Creality CR-10, MK8 Makerbot Reprap Prusa I3 3D printers.
Cons:
  • The tweezers can bend quickly without proper care.
Final Take:

Leinuosen 21 Pieces 3D Printer Nozzle and Cleaning Kit is an excellent value for money because the kit comes with 10 pieces printer nozzles as well as 10 pieces of 0.4 mm nozzle cleaning needles bundled in one package. The kit comes with a good set of probes, nozzles, and tweezers which can be used with 3D printers and is extremely useful in removing clogs and cleaning the nozzles. The cleaners work well and clean the nozzle as well as extruder much more thoroughly and quickly. This package is everything you need if you're looking for a handy 3D print kit maintenance for the cheapest price yet with decent quality.

3. Glarks 24-Piece 3D Printer Nozzle Cleaning Tool Kit

Specifications:
96% Overall

Brand

Glarks

Weight (Set)

13.05 ounces

Material

Metal, Plastic

Package Dimensions

11.1 x 7.28 x 1.77 inches

94%
quality
94%
durability
98%
features & tools
96%
ease of use
Pros:
  • Comes with 10 pieces of 0.35 mm and 0.4 mm cleaning needles that are contained in a rounded container.
  • The stainless steel cleaning needles are easy to twist and flexible, making them suitable for cleaning 3D Printer nozzles, resolving filament clogs, and easily removing excess filament.
  • Includes a deburring tool and two replacement bits constructed from quality coated aluminum alloy (handle) and high-speed steel (blades) that are excellent for slicing circular holes, wide holes, sharp lines, and angled edges.
  • The 9-inch palette knife for 3D print removal provides a robust wooden handle for superior control and a thin blade of high precision in stainless steel for simple and fast removal of prints from the printed bed.
  • Provides a wire cutter that is useful for filament cutting and a filing tool that is used to handle the rough 3D printing edges.
  • Includes tweezers with a bent tip that are ideal for removing oozing filament from the extruder nozzle before printing begins.
Cons:
  • The quality of some tools isn't very impressive but they still do great in their functions.
Final Take:

The Glarks 24 Pieces 3D Printer Nozzle Cleaning Tool Kit does not only offer tools for nozzle cleaning alone but provides everything you need for the maintenance of your 3D printer. It includes a deburring tool for cutting the edge of a 3D printer and cleaning needles for cleaning 3D printer nozzles, including fixing filament clog issues. It also comes with a wire cutter intended for cutting filament and some other lightweight material used throughout the printing. It also contains tweezers for extracting oozing filament from the extruder nozzle until it begins printing, a filing tool for smoothing out rough edges on 3D prints by rubbing the tool over rough pieces of material, and a scraper for removing models from 3D printers. This package is like a one-stop shop for everything you need.

4. REPTOR 11-Piece 3D Printer Nozzle Cleaning Kit

3D Printer Nozzle Cleaning Kit - 0.4mm Needles and Tweezers Toolkit - Stainless Steel Nozzle Cleaning Tool Kit - Alternative for 0.4mm Drill Bits for 3D Printer - Set of 11
Specifications:
94% Overall

Brand

REPTOR

Weight (Set)

1.2 ounces

Material

Stainless Steel

Package Dimensions

5.51 x 0.98 x 0.98 inches

96%
quality
94%
durability
92%
features & tools
92%
ease of use
Pros:
  • Comes with high-quality tweezers and 10 flexible stainless steel needles with diameter support of 0.40 mm.
  • Provides anti-static, non-magnetic curved precision tweezers for nozzle cleaning and excess material.
  • Boasts a long-lasting kit with 11 tools that can be used for a variety of tasks, including extracting excess plastic or clear jams with high precision.
  • Suitable for delicate nozzle maintenance including difficult to access places such as feed gears.
  • The container is handy, discreet, and stylish, along with all the products enclosed in a neat plastic tube with a screw lid to hold them securely together.
Cons:
  • While this item is fascinating, it does not suit the XYZ axes of the Da Vinci Mini 3D Printer.
Final Take:

The needles in the REPTOR 3D Printer Nozzle Cleaning Kit are 76mm long, or 3 inches, that are flexible enough to angle into a clog from the lower end or long enough for the upper end. The needless tends to be a little more durable and long-lasting than other nozzle cleaning tools. It has perfect textured handles that are easy to grip and are very useful for removing blockages in the hot end. Furthermore, the tweezers are sharp, so it's an advantage that they arrived with a tip protector for safety precautionary measures. This toolkit is all you need for your 3D printer that is ready for any nozzle hassle.

5. Kamo 5-Piece Drill Bits 3D Printer Nozzle Cleaning Kit

Kamo 5PCS 0.4mm Drill Bits for 3D MakerBot Printer Nozzle Cleaning Kit
Specifications:
94% Overall

Brand

Kamo

Weight (Set)

0.63 ounces

Material

Stainless Steel

Package Dimensions

4.5 x 3 x 0.1 inches

95%
quality
93%
durability
92%
features & tools
94%
ease of use
Pros:
  • Boasts of 5-piece 0.4 mm drill bits designed that are excellent for cleaning 3D printer nozzles.
  • Handles offer great and solid control and grip.
  • Made from high-quality stainless steel that offers 16 mm drill bit length.
  • Offers a long shank that is 20 mm and is compatible with the majority of 3D printer extruder nozzles that have a 0.4 mm diameter.
Cons:
  • Delicate and can be easily bent when inappropriately used.
Final Take:

The Kamo 5 Pieces Drill Bits 3D Printer Nozzle Cleaning Kit is a fantastic tool designed to help you deal with your nozzle clogs in your 3D printer. Clogged nozzles occur weekly, but this mini drill bit works well enough by drilling it through the base of the nozzle when it becomes hot. You can easily remove the PLA or other filaments jammed within by simply using your hand as well as a gentle twist. It is a great product for potential troubleshooting at a price and also saves time over long cleaning processes. For the record, if you have a 3D printer that you use regularly, maintaining it with these Kamo drill bits is necessary, however, take into consideration that they are tiny, thin, and easily bendable.

Best 3D Printer Nozzle Cleaning Kits - Buyer's Guide

Value

Most brands have some kind of unique value that sets them apart from other products. Along with the brands, some like Leinuosen offer high-quality products at an affordable price, while others like REPTOR, offer more costly but well worth of investment. Keep in mind that the quality of the equipment is often more important than the price.

Material compatibility

Owing to its high thermal conductivity as well as tight fabrication tolerances, all nozzles are built from some sort of metal. As a result, there are various cleaning nozzle tools that are being used in the cleaning process of 3D printer nozzles. Remember that each has its own set of characteristics that affect the nozzle cleaning process in various ways so you must choose cleaning tools that are compatible with the kind of nozzle your printer has.

bore diameter

The internal bore diameter is the ultimate and the most important nozzle characteristic to consider. The diameters of nozzles usually vary from 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm. Make sure that the tools in your cleaning kit are compatible with the diameter size of your nozzle.

quality

You may not get what you pay for with 3D printer nozzle cleaning kits, sometimes even less and sometimes even more. To put it in perspective, the quality and durability of 3D printer nozzle cleaning kits can indicate how well and far they will serve you.

Best 3D Printer Nozzle Cleaning Kits - FAQs

How can you say if the nozzle on a 3D printer is clogged?

When the material has completely heated, manually push it off the nozzle. By then, the material should emerge gradually from the nozzle, if it doesn't happen, the nozzle is probably clogged.

How long will a 3D printer nozzle be used until it needs to be cleaned?

It falls on the filament you use and how often you use your 3D printer. The brass nozzles used to last just a few months but you should assume a shorter life if you print products with carbon fibers.

How often should the 3D printer nozzle be cleaned?

It varies depending on how frequently you print or what kind of filament you used. Filament that is of poor quality or that has been burned will clog pores in your nozzle more often, hence it is recommended to clean it out between 200 to 400 hours of printing.

Why is cleaning the nozzle in your 3D printer important?

Most 3D printer problems were caused by clog nozzles so it's important to keep the nozzle in good working condition to ensure the quality of 3D prints.

Author

Santi Bongco is an editor at SolidSmack which is the leading site for 3D CAD, robots, cool product designs, and other technologies. For the past seven years, he taught robotics and developed innovative 3D printer ideas with his students. He also helped in developing some innovative digital ideas and products for various digital marketing businesses and big companies in Asia. Now, aside from exploring buffet restos in California, he enjoys leading groups of our in-house experts in trying some of your favorite products and electronic brands to write insightful reviews for you. PS: He loves reviewing appliances and taking them home to personally ‘try’ them.