Looking for a compact pen plotter that fits on a tiny desk, stays quiet in a shared apartment, and still delivers professional‑grade results? The Bambu Lab A1 Mini is the answer.
Best Pen Plotter for Small Spaces: Why the Bambu Lab A1 Mini is Perfect for Apartments and Compact Workspaces
Why the A1 Mini is the Best Choice for Small Spaces
The A1 Mini’s footprint—only 347 × 315 × 365 mm—makes it the smallest Bambu Lab printer on the market. Weighing around 6 kg, it can be lifted onto a shelf, cart, or bedside table without a team of movers. Its 180 × 180 mm is ideal for greeting cards, stickers, and small art prints, while the enclosed design of larger Bambu models is unnecessary for a dedicated plotter station, keeping the visual clutter to a minimum.
Beyond size, the A1 Mini is surprisingly quiet. Compared with the P1S or X1C, the motor and fan noise stays below 45 dB during a slow plot, meaning you can run it overnight in a dorm without waking roommates. No extra enclosure is required, so you avoid the boxy aesthetic that larger printers bring to a living room desk.
Key Specs at a Glance
Footprint: 347 × 315 × 365 mm
Weight: ~6 kg
Bed size: 180 × 180 mm
Noise level: ~45 dB (slow plot)
Price (printer only): $199 + $29.90 for the 3DPlotter conversion kit
Space‑Saving Setup Ideas
Living in a studio, dorm, or tiny apartment doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice creativity. Below are four proven configurations that let you keep the A1 Mini close at hand while preserving valuable floor space.
Option 1: Dedicated Small Desk Setup
Pair the A1 Mini with an IKEA LACK side table (55 × 55 cm, €9.99). The printer sits on the tabletop, and you can stash filament, pens, and paper in the drawer underneath. Total occupied area is roughly 0.30 m².
Option 2: Shelf / Rolling Cart
The IKEA RÅSKOG cart (35 × 45 cm, €34.99) offers three tiers for supplies. Place the A1 Mini on the top shelf, roll the cart into a closet when you’re not plotting, and move it to the kitchen for a quick label‑making session.
Option 3: Closet / Cabinet Conversion
Install a sturdy shelf inside a wardrobe or linen closet. The A1 Mini fits comfortably, and you can close the doors to hide it when guests arrive. Remember to add a small vent or leave the door ajar for heat dissipation.
Option 4: Dual‑Purpose Desk
Use a printer riser or stand (40 × 40 cm, $20‑$40) to elevate the A1 Mini above your laptop. Slide the keyboard underneath when you’re not plotting, and keep your workspace tidy. This setup works great for remote workers who need both a computer and a plotter at the same time.
What You Can Create on a 180×180 mm Bed
The A1 Mini’s bed may be modest, but it’s more than capable of handling a wide range of creative projects. Below is a quick reference table.
Project Type | Fits on A1 Mini? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Greeting cards (A6) | ✅ Yes | 105 × 148 mm – perfect for custom invites |
Postcards (A5) | ✅ Yes | 148 × 210 mm – add bleed for edge‑to‑edge colour |
Small art prints | ✅ Yes | Up to 7" × 7" (≈180 mm) |
Bookmarks | ✅ Yes | Multiple per sheet, great for batch printing |
Stickers | ✅ Yes | Sheet of 2‑cm squares works flawlessly |
A4 paper | ❌ No | Requires larger printer |
Posters | ❌ No | Use a larger Bambu model for big formats |
Living with a Printer in a Small Apartment
Keeping a printer in a tiny living space can feel invasive, but with a few habits you’ll never notice it’s there except when it’s creating beautiful art.
Noise Management
Run the A1 Mini during daytime or early evening when you’re not sleeping.
Paper & Pen Organization
Store paper flat under the printer or in a nearby drawer. A small pen organizer box (≈10 cm × 10 cm) fits on the side of the cart and keeps 12‑inch pens tidy.
Ventilation
Even though the A1 Mini runs cooler than larger Bambu models, give it a few centimeters of clearance on all sides.
Dual‑Purpose Benefits: 3D Printing + Pen Plotting
The A1 Mini isn’t a single‑purpose gadget—it’s a hybrid. With the 3DPlotter conversion kit (just €29.90), you instantly gain pen plotting capabilities while retaining full 3D printing functionality. This means you can prototype a custom phone case, then switch to plotting a matching label without buying a second machine.
Compared with dedicated plotters like the AxiDraw (<$475), the A1 Mini + conversion kit costs under $250 and delivers a 180 × 180 mm printable area versus the AxiDraw’s 300 × 218 mm flat‑bed. The trade off is size, but for apartment dwellers the compact footprint wins.
Budget Setup for Small Spaces
Here’s a cost‑effective list that stays under $300 total (printer + accessories):
Bambu Lab A1 Mini – $199
3DPlotter conversion kit – €29.90 (≈$33)
IKEA LACK side table – €9.99 (≈$11)
Total: ≈ $230. This setup gives you a professional‑grade plotter, 3D printer, and a tidy workspace without breaking the bank.
FAQ
Is the A1 Mini loud enough to disturb roommates or neighbors?
No. In slow plot mode it stays around 45 dB, comparable to a quiet refrigerator. Most users report it’s barely audible in a typical apartment.
Can I store the printer when not in use?
Absolutely. Because it weighs only 6 kg, you can slide it into a closet or under a bed. Keep the pen holder and SD card removed to avoid dust buildup.
What’s the minimum desk size I need?
A surface of at least 40 × 40 cm provides enough room for the printer, a small roll of paper, and a pen holder. The IKEA LACK (55 × 55 cm) is a popular choice.
Is 180 × 180 mm enough for useful projects?
For greeting cards, stickers, small art prints, and custom labels, it’s perfect. If you need A4‑size prints, a larger Bambu model would be required.
Can I use the A1 Mini on a bookshelf?
Yes, as long as the shelf can support 6 kg and you leave a few centimeters of clearance for airflow. Adding a small fan or a vented back panel improves cooling.
Conclusion & Call to Action
If you live in a compact apartment, a dorm, or a home office with limited desk space, the Bambu Lab A1 Mini is the most versatile, quiet, and affordable pen plotter on the market. Pair it with the 3DPlotter conversion kit, choose a space‑saving furniture solution, and you’ll have a dual‑purpose studio that fits on a tiny desk without sacrificing quality.
Ready to start plotting? Visit the Bambu Lab A1 Mini Pen Plotter Setup Guide and order your conversion kit today.
About the Author
Triantafyllos Rose Samaras
Founder
Triantafyllos Rose Samaras is the founder and CEO of Reaudit, Leadflow.tech, 3dplotter.xyz, Race In Form, Samaras Foods and My Greek Cousin, the pioneering AI Search Visibility Platform that helps businesses understand and optimize how they appear across AI search engines. Founder of 3DPlotter and a maker at heart. Rose combines a background in the food industry and in software engineering with a passion for creative technology, turning Bambu Lab 3D printers into precision pen plotters. When not building features for 3DPlotter, like the 50+ Hershey font library, image tracing engine, and multi-element G-code pipeline, Rose is experimenting with generative art, testing new pens, and pushing the limits of what desktop fabrication machines can create.