While being a significant contributor to global carbon emissions, the current construction industry (CI) undergoes an increased pressure for adopting sustainable practices to face the rising demand in new structures. Traditional methods often struggle to balance efficiency, resource optimization and environmental impact, which as a result, has pushed the industry towards exploring innovative approaches. A potential solution to that could be the implementation of 3D printing (3DP) technology, which promises to minimize material waste, cut carbon emissions, and create more complex and efficient designs. However, the scalability of this technology faces obstacles like inconsistent processes, high energy use, and lack of standardized practices, which, if overcome, can significantly improve the perception of this technology as a real solution to the current needs. Solving these challenges through smarter workflows and standardized methods could revolutionize how large-scale construction projects are designed and built. This revision article investigates the current state of the art of 3DP processes through scalability and efficiency, considering scientific articles, conference and review papers, and book chapters. The article further discusses the challenges and opportunities for the adoption of this technology for large scale projects and prospective research developments on the topic. The study reveals significant challenges for achieving standardization in 3DP for mass production in the industry. It also offers insights for professionals, researchers and companies on optimizing the workflow, considering off-site manufacture and transportation, with a goal of enhancing the efficiency of the 3DP process. The revision article’s overview of the current development and trends in the topic highlights the capacity of additive manufacturing to overcome ongoing challenges and meet the market demand and the future of the technology for large scale applications.