Types of 3D Printer Filament: PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU and More

The main types of 3D printer filament are PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU and nylon, plus filled blends such as carbon fiber, wood and silk PLA. PLA suits beginners, PETG adds toughness, ABS and ASA add heat resistance, TPU bends and nylon is tough but fussy. Settings below come from Prusa and Bambu Lab.

What are the main types of 3D printer filament?

Six plastics cover most home printing, and each trades ease of printing against toughness, heat resistance or flexibility. The table summarizes how the makers describe them; every row links to a page with more detail further down.

Which type of filament should a beginner start with?

PLA. Bambu Lab's beginner guide calls it the best choice when you are just starting out, with relatively predictable results, and says other materials are not recommended until you are confident with it. Prusa lists easy printing, good detail and low warping among its pros. Its main weakness is heat: Prusa says PLA softens and deforms above about 60 °C and is not suited to technical or outdoor use.

See how to 3D print for a first print, PLA print temperature for settings, and PLA Plus vs PLA if you are weighing a modified blend.

PLA and silk PLA: the default for models

Standard PLA suits concept models, prototypes, detailed figures and low-wear toys, according to Prusa. Silk PLA is the same family tuned for looks: Polymaker describes its Panchroma Silk as a PLA with a high gloss effect for display models, props and decorative prints, designed for aesthetics and not meant for high-load or mechanical parts. Our silk PLA explainer compares it with standard PLA.

PETG: the tougher all-rounder

PETG is the usual step up from PLA when a part must survive handling, moisture or moderate heat. Prusa lists it as tough and durable, with good layer adhesion and low warping, and says parts suit interior use and most exterior use below 80 °C. The price is a harder time with stringing, bridges and overhangs, and Prusa warns against printing it on a smooth PEI sheet because it can stick too strongly.

Read what PETG is for properties, PETG vs PLA for the head-to-head, PETG print temperature for settings and how to stop PETG stringing if strands appear.

Should you print ABS or ASA?

Only if you need more heat resistance than PETG gives and you have an enclosed printer. Prusa says ABS requires an enclosure, warps significantly and releases potentially dangerous styrene fumes, so it should be printed in a well-ventilated room. ASA behaves similarly but adds high UV resistance, which is why Prusa recommends it for outdoor and technical parts, and lists a temperature resistance of up to 93 °C. Bambu Lab's compatibility table groups ABS, ASA, PC and nylon as materials that need an enclosed printer.

The detail pages are ABS print settings, ASA vs ABS and ABS vs PETG. If ABS parts crack between layers, see how to fix ABS cracking, and if you are deciding on a printer, read enclosed vs open-frame 3D printers.

TPU: for parts that have to bend

TPU is a flexible filament, a type of thermoplastic elastomer, and it has to be printed slowly. Prusa says TPU is usually around 60A to 90A in hardness and that the softer it is, the harder it is to print. It suggests a typical speed of about 20 mm/s with a maximum of 30 to 40 mm/s, and recommends flexible printing mainly for experienced users. It suits stamps, tires, shoe soles, belts and washers. See what is TPU.

Nylon: tough but fussy

Nylon (polyamide) is the material to reach for when a part needs strong mechanical and temperature resistance, such as gears. Prusa recommends it for experienced users: it warps, and it is highly hygroscopic, with poorly stored spools able to absorb water up to 10% of the filament's weight. Our nylon filament guide covers the printer requirements.

What are filled and specialty filaments?

Filled filaments are a base plastic such as PLA, PETG or nylon mixed with fibers or powders, and they change both the finish and what your nozzle must survive. Three kinds are common:

• Carbon and glass fiber. Prusa says the fibers improve dimensional stability and reduce warping but make the filament more brittle, with worse layer adhesion and a higher clogging risk. They are highly abrasive, so a hardened steel nozzle is required. Bambu Lab's first choice for these materials is a 0.6 mm hardened steel nozzle and it says not to use a 0.2 mm nozzle. See what is PETG-CF and hotends and nozzle materials.
• Wood and metal fill. Mostly decorative. Prusa says wood-filled and other large-particle composites need a nozzle of at least 0.6 mm with a 0.2 mm layer height to avoid clogs, and metal-filled types are highly abrasive. See what is wood filament.
• Silk and other effect PLA. Covered above under silk PLA.

Does each type of filament need a different printer?

Partly: enclosure, nozzle and temperature limits decide what your machine can run. Bambu Lab says PLA, PETG and TPU are not prone to warping and run on open-frame or enclosed printers, although it recommends an enclosure for PETG to keep low ambient temperatures from reducing interlayer strength. ABS, ASA, PC and nylon need higher bed and chamber temperatures, so it recommends an enclosed printer for them.

The two makers' ranges differ because their products and printers differ, so the label on your own spool wins. For nozzle diameters and what they change, see 3D printer nozzle sizes, and for the surface PETG and ABS stick to, see 3D printer build plates.

How should you store and dry each type of filament?

Most filaments absorb water from the air, and the sensitive ones need the most care. Prusa says PLA changes little with humidity while polyamide is significantly affected, and it calls polyamide, polypropylene, PVA and BVOH highly hygroscopic. TPU also needs drying more often than PLA. Keep spools in a sealed box with desiccant and dry them to the maker's temperature when they string or print roughly.

The detail is in how to store filament, how to dry filament, how to choose a filament dryer and does filament expire.

How do you choose between filament types?

Pick the easiest material that does the job, because every step down the table adds printing difficulty. Work down this list:

1. Start with PLA for models, prototypes and anything that stays cool, indoors and unstressed.
2. Choose PETG if the part will be knocked about, get wet or sit somewhere warm, below about 80 °C.
3. Choose ASA or ABS only if you have an enclosed printer and need more heat resistance, with ASA the pick for sunlight.
4. Choose TPU when the part must flex, and slow the print down.
5. Choose nylon or a fiber-filled blend for engineering parts, and plan for dry storage, an enclosure and a hardened steel nozzle.

For cost per spool see how much 3D printer filament costs and cheap vs premium filament. Check the diameter your printer takes in 1.75 mm vs 2.85 mm filament, and if you own a Bambu Lab printer read the Bambu Lab filament guide. To estimate how long a spool lasts, see how long a spool of filament lasts.