3D Printer Filament Comparison Guide

PLA (polylactic acid) is the go-to material for desktop 3D printing. Made from renewable, plant-based resources, it prints at low temperatures with almost no warping or odor, so it works on nearly every FFF printer, with or without an enclosure. Choose everyday MH Build Series PLA, premium PRO Series PLA, Bambu Lab PLA, or eSUN PLA+. If you run a fast printer, MH Build Series PLA-HS is formulated for high-speed printing (learn more in High Speed PLA: Mastering the Art of Fast Printing). PLA is available in 1.75mm and 2.85mm in a huge range of colors and finishes.

PLA Properties:

• Stiff and easy to print, but brittle, and it softens at around 55–60 °C.
• Best for prototypes, models, figurines, cosmetic prints, and low-stress parts.
• The best first material for beginners thanks to minimal warping and forgiving settings.

PETG combines much of the easy printing of PLA with the toughness, chemical resistance, and heat resistance needed for functional parts. It warps very little, produces little odor, and is known for excellent layer adhesion, a glossy finish, and clarity in translucent colors. Shop MH Build Series PETG, PRO Series PETG, Bambu Lab PETG, and more in 1.75mm and 2.85mm. Comparing materials? Read ABS vs. PETG, and for see-through parts check out How to 3D Print Clear Filament for Better Transparency.

PETG Properties:

• Durable, slightly flexible, and impact resistant, with a glossy finish.
• Best for mechanical parts, snap-fit enclosures, brackets, and containers.
• Sticks very well to textured PEI; use Nano Polymer or glue stick as a release layer so it doesn’t bond too strongly.

ASA was developed as a weather-resistant alternative to ABS. It prints with similar settings but holds up far better outdoors, resisting UV yellowing, moisture, and heat; where white ABS turns pale yellow in the sun, ASA stays bright much longer. Shop PRO Series ASA, MH Build Series ASA, Bambu Lab ASA, and more. See how the two compare in Understanding the Distinctive Properties of ABS and ASA, or read The Best 3D Printing Filament for Outdoor Use.

ASA Properties:

• UV, weather, and temperature resistant, with ABS-like strength.
• Best for outdoor clips, mounts, planters, fixtures, and automotive exterior parts.
• Like ABS, print in an enclosure to prevent warping.

MatterHackers PRO Series PLA is our premium, made-in-the-USA PLA. It is produced to a precise ±0.02mm diameter and ovality tolerance for consistent extrusion and clean, accurate parts, whether you are printing prototypes, presentation models, or production runs. Spools range from 1kg up to 10lb, and it is available in 1.75mm and 2.85mm. See what goes into every spool in The Science of MatterHackers PRO Series 3D Printer Filament.

PRO Series PLA Properties:

• Rich, consistent colors with a smooth surface finish.
• Best for prototypes, display models, and print farms that need spool-to-spool consistency.
• Prints like standard PLA, with low shrinkage and minimal warping.

MatterHackers PRO Series PETG is formulated to enhance PETG’s natural strengths, including durability, heat and chemical resistance, and ease of printing, with minimal shrinkage for accurate, impact-resistant parts. It is produced to a precise ±0.02mm tolerance in solid, translucent, and marble colors, available in 1.75mm and 2.85mm, including 10lb spools for production work.

PRO Series PETG Properties:

• Durable, slightly flexible, and impact resistant, with a glossy finish.
• Best for mechanical parts, snap-fit enclosures, and production runs.
• Sticks very well to textured PEI; use Nano Polymer or glue stick as a release layer so it doesn’t bond too strongly.

MatterHackers PRO Series Ryno is a professional-grade copolyester for strong, functional prototypes. It is formulated for superior bridging plus temperature and chemical resistance, producing clean, durable, complex prints for industrial models, tooling, and end-use parts, and it is easy enough for everyday projects too. Ryno is produced to a precise ±0.02mm tolerance in 1.75mm and 2.85mm, including high-capacity spools.

PRO Series Ryno Properties:

• Durable and slightly flexible, with excellent chemical and heat resistance.
• Best for strong, functional mechanical parts, tooling, and outdoor projects.
• Sticks very well to textured PEI; use Nano Polymer or glue stick as a release layer so it doesn’t bond too strongly.

MatterHackers PRO Series Nylon is a great solution for parts that need strength and durability. It is characteristically flexible yet exceptionally tough, making it perfect for impact-resistant parts that need to absorb shock, and engineers choose it for its mechanical stability, low coefficient of friction, and natural chemical resistance. It is produced to a precise ±0.02mm tolerance in a variety of colors, available in 1.75mm and 2.85mm. For printing tips, see How To Succeed When 3D Printing With Nylon.

PRO Series Nylon Properties:

• Strong yet flexible, making it tough to break and shatter resistant.
• Best for living hinges, impact-absorbing parts, and functional prototypes.
• Must be dried before printing for full strength and a glossy finish.

TPU is the most popular flexible filament: rubbery, elastic, and highly resistant to abrasion, oil, and grease. Most TPU filament is around 95A Shore hardness, flexible enough for bumpers and phone cases yet firm enough to print reliably on most direct-drive printers, while softer grades like NinjaTek NinjaFlex (85A) stretch even further. Shop PRO Series TPU, MH Build Series TPU, NinjaTek, Bambu Lab TPU, and more. Printing on a Bambu Lab? Read How to Print TPU and Flexible Filament on Your Bambu Lab 3D Printer.

TPU Properties:

• Creates rubbery, elastic, and impact-resistant parts.
• Best for bumpers, gaskets, grips, wheels, phone cases, and wearables.
• Print slowly and keep it dry; the less infill you use, the more flexible the part.

MatterHackers PRO Series Flex is a tough, flexible TPE with high elasticity. It retains its structure well, making it a great solution for parts that need abrasion resistance, shock absorption, and pliability. With 600% elongation, a 98A Shore hardness, and chemical resistance, PRO Series Flex suits prototypes, end-use products, and custom parts. It is produced to a precise ±0.02mm tolerance in 1.75mm and 2.85mm. For printing tips, see How to Succeed when 3D Printing with TPU and Flexible Filament.

PRO Series Flex Properties:

• Creates rubbery, elastic, and impact-resistant parts.
• Best for stoppers, belts, caps, phone cases, and bumpers.
• Firmer than most flexibles, so it is easier to print than softer TPEs.

Carbon fiber reinforced PLA adds chopped carbon fiber to PLA for noticeably higher stiffness, better dimensional stability, and a matte finish, while keeping PLA’s easy printing and low warp. It is ideal for parts that should not flex, like frames, drone and RC parts, brackets, and tools. Shop Protopasta Carbon Fiber PLA and HTPLA-CF and MH Build Series PLA-CF. Carbon fiber is abrasive, so install a hardened steel nozzle before printing.

Carbon Fiber PLA Properties:

• Stiffer and more dimensionally stable than standard PLA, with a matte finish.
• Best for drone frames, RC parts, brackets, jigs, and fixtures.
• Requires a hardened nozzle, 0.4mm or larger.

Wood-like filaments give prints the warm look of wood while printing as easily as PLA. Bambu Lab Wood PLA blends natural wood powder into PLA for a matte, wood-grain texture and a subtle wood scent, in tones like black walnut, white oak, and classic birch. For the wood-tone color without the fill, MH Build Series Matte PLA in Wood Brown prints exactly like standard matte PLA. With wood-filled grades, avoid excessive temperatures that can scorch the filament and darken the print, don’t let filament sit in a hot nozzle after printing, and use a hardened or stainless steel nozzle (0.4mm or larger) to help prevent clogs.

Wood-Like Properties:

• Wood-tone looks with the easy printability of PLA.
• Best for sculptures, décor, figurines, and props.
• Can be sanded and painted; wood-filled grades can also be stained.

Protopasta Magnetic Iron PLA blends iron powder into PLA, so magnets stick to finished prints (the filament itself isn’t a magnet). Print about 10–20 °C cooler than standard PLA. For a worn, rusty look, scuff the print with a wire brush, spray it with vinegar and let it dry three or four times, then mist it with a mix of 16 oz hydrogen peroxide, 2 oz vinegar, and 1 tablespoon of salt, repeating as desired. The iron powder is abrasive, so use a hardened steel nozzle. Available in 1.75mm and 2.85mm; see also How To: Post Process Metal Filled Filaments.

Magnetic Iron PLA Properties:

• Prints like PLA but slower, producing hard, heavy parts.
• Best for cosmetic prints, busts, props, and aged-metal finishes.
• Tumble, polish, or wet sand for a smooth metallic surface.

NylonG follows in the footsteps of NylonX but uses chopped glass fiber instead of carbon, so it is available in a range of colors instead of only black. The glass fibers make parts stiffer and less prone to warping than standard nylon, with excellent impact resistance, and the matte finish looks production-ready with no post-processing. NylonG is available in 1.75mm and 2.85mm, in 0.5kg and 3kg spools.

NylonG Properties:

• Strong like glass fiber and durable like nylon.
• Best for strong functional parts that face sudden impacts.
• Requires a hardened nozzle; dry before printing.

Polycarbonate is one of the strongest and most impact-resistant materials you can print on a desktop machine. It offers excellent heat resistance (Bambu Lab PC has a heat deflection temperature of 117 °C) and natural toughness that lets it bend before it breaks. PC needs an all-metal hotend, a heated bed around 100 °C, and an enclosure to prevent warping, and it should be dried before printing. Shop Bambu Lab PC and PC FR (flame retardant), 3DXTech ezPC, Polymaker PolyMax PC, and glass-filled Ultrafuse PC GF30.

Polycarbonate Properties:

• Extremely tough, impact resistant, and heat resistant.
• Best for functional parts, enclosures, drone and RC parts, and light covers.
• Requires an all-metal hotend and an enclosure.

ESD-safe filaments contain a static-dissipative additive that prevents charge buildup, protecting sensitive electronics during assembly, handling, and storage. PRO Series ESD-Safe filament comes in PLA, PETG, and ABS; the PLA version has a surface resistance of 10⁷–10⁹ ohms and prints on nearly any desktop printer. The additive is non-abrasive, so standard brass nozzles work. You’ll also find 3DXTech 3DXSTAT and Polymaker ESD materials in our ESD-safe collection.

ESD-Safe Properties:

• Static-dissipative parts that protect sensitive electronics.
• Best for electronics enclosures, jigs, fixtures, and PCB trays.
• Print settings follow the base material (PLA, PETG, or ABS).

Lightweight PLA uses an active foaming agent that expands as it prints, so the hotter and slower you print, the more it foams and the lighter the part. Low-density prints can even float on water, which makes it ideal for RC airplanes, drones, cosplay, and large props. Shop MH Build Series Lightweight PLA, Bambu Lab PLA Aero, ColorFabb LW-PLA, and more in our lightweight filament collection.

Lightweight PLA Properties:

• Low-density parts that are much lighter than standard PLA.
• Best for RC aircraft, drones, cosplay, and large props.
• Tune temperature, speed, and flow to control how much it foams.

Polypropylene is a lightweight, semi-crystalline plastic with excellent chemical and fatigue resistance. It is the material behind living hinges, storage containers, and many household items, and it bends where PLA would snap. PP is notoriously hard to stick to most build surfaces, so use a dedicated adhesive like Magigoo PP or PPGF. Shop SmartMaterials SmartFil PP and Forward AM Ultrafuse PP GF30, a glass-filled grade with a 127 °C heat deflection temperature that needs a 0.6mm or larger nozzle.

Polypropylene Properties:

• Flexible, fatigue resistant, and chemically inert.
• Best for living hinges, containers, lab equipment, and chemical-resistant parts.
• Warps easily, so use a dedicated PP adhesive and a heated bed.

PVA is a water-soluble support material. On a dual-extrusion or multi-material printer it supports overhangs and internal cavities, then dissolves away in water to leave a clean part. It pairs best with PLA thanks to similar print temperatures. PVA absorbs moisture very quickly, so keep it sealed and dry until you print. Shop MH Build Series PVA, PRO Series PVA, Bambu Lab PVA, and UltiMaker PVA in 1.75mm and 2.85mm.

PVA Properties:

• A stiff, water-soluble 3D printing support material.
• Best for internal supports and highly detailed models with many overhangs.
• The best support material for PLA because of similar printing temperatures.

Produce functional parts with the most complex geometries using MatterHackers PRO Series PVA Water-Soluble Support Material. It is engineered for strong bed adhesion and hassle-free cleanup: leave parts in a container of tap water overnight and come back to zero traces of support in the morning. Compatible with PLA, Tough PLA, and nylon, it lets you add complexity to your favorite standard materials. For a side-by-side look at your options, see Choosing the Right 3D Printing Support Material.

PRO Series PVA Properties:

• A stiff, water-soluble 3D printing support material.
• Best for internal supports and highly detailed models with many overhangs.
• The best support material for PLA because of similar printing temperatures.