Your build files are ready, your build plate is clean and, after researching and deal hunting, you’ve taken the plunge with the best 3D printer around. But all of that careful preparation can come to cloggy, stringy, flailing halt if you choose the wrong filament for the job.
Filament is the material we use for FDM 3D printing, and it’s easy enough to find. But there are different filament types, and while they can all print the same project files, minor differences can lead to major quality changes in the finished creation. Certain filaments also need certain precautions or printer requirements. You’ll want to ensure you’re using the best filament for the job.
What is the best 3D printing filament?
Almost everyone who uses a 3D printer uses PLA for most of their prints. You might use other materials for certain things, but day-to-day printing is likely done with PLA. The best PLA for most use cases is Build Series PLA from MatterHackers. I’ve used over 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of it by now, and it’s still my favorite. It sands very well and prints easily on just about any FDM printer.
I’ve put together this primer on different types of filament, including the best PLA filament, as well as choices of the best filaments from my favorite brands. This will be updated regularly and has some great choices to help you start. I use around 8 kilograms (17.5 pounds) of filament each week — and have for the last four years — so I know I’m offering you the best options around.
It’s important to choose both the right type of material and the right brand of that type, be it PLA, ABS or something more exotic. Here are the best of each of the five main filament types.
Read more: Best 3D Printers
PLA is the easiest material to use to make awesome things.
Polylactic Acid (PLA)
Polylactic acid, or PLA, is the most common 3D printing filament, and it’s the easiest to use. Unlike most plastics, it’s made from corn starches so it’s nontoxic and, in theory, compostable, though it takes an industrial composter to do it. PLA uses a fairly low heat — between 190 and 215 degrees Celsius (374 and 419 degrees Fahrenheit) — to melt the plastic for extrusion, so it is the safest of the filaments. Almost every FDM 3D printer in the world can print PLA.
PLA pros
- No awful smell
- Easy to use for a beginner
- Almost universally available
- Nontoxic
- Usable on any FDM printer
- Cheap
PLA cons
- Can require a lot of sanding
- May warp in the sun or high-temp environments
- Can be brittle
Build PLA from MatterHackers is great for projects that require finishing (sanding, painting and so on). I have about 12 rolls of it in my workshop and use it for large projects, including my Mandalorian armor or cosplay swords. The dimensional accuracy — how consistent the diameter is along the length of the roll — is good, though nothing mind-blowing. It’s well within the sweet zone.
Post-processing is where Build Series PLA shines. It is simple to sand and holds paint well, as long as you use a good primer and filler first. Like all PLA, it holds together well using superglue and even takes putty and Bondo without complaint.
