New to 3D printing? Start here. We'll tell you exactly what to buy, why, and how to grow from there — without wasting money on the wrong materials.
Buy PLA. Specifically: eSUN PLA+ or Bambu Lab PLA.
Every 3D printing beginner asks "should I start with PLA or PETG?" The answer is always PLA. It's the easiest, cheapest, and most forgiving filament available. Learn PLA first — everything else will make more sense after.
Low print temp
200-215°C — no hot-end upgrades needed on any modern printer
Minimal warping
PLA barely warps. No enclosure needed, even on large prints.
No toxic fumes
PLA smells slightly sweet when printing. Good ventilation is fine — no respirator needed.
Cheapest common filament
$18-25/kg. Learning costs money (failed prints) — start cheap.
Every slicer is tuned for PLA
Default profiles in Cura, PrusaSlicer, and Bambu Studio are PLA. Zero setup.
Fast print speed
On modern printers with Input Shaper, PLA prints at 100-200mm/s cleanly.
PETG: More stringing, trickier bed adhesion (sticks too hard or not enough). Fine once you know your printer — confusing when you don't.
ABS: Warps heavily without an enclosure, toxic fumes (styrene), needs 110°C bed. Experienced only.
TPU: Requires direct drive extruder. Slow print speed. No beginner-friendly default profiles. Fun once you're comfortable, not for day 1.
Nylon: Must be dried before printing. Absorbs moisture rapidly. Enclosure recommended. Print failure rate is high even for experienced users.
Pre-calibrated profiles in Bambu Studio (and works great on any printer). ±0.02mm tolerance. Virtually never clogs. If you have a Bambu printer, start here — zero setup.
✅ Good for
• Easiest first print experience
• Perfect for Bambu ecosysten
• Huge color range
• Very consistent quality
⚠️ Less so
• Slightly pricier than budget options
• Available mainly online
The budget classic. PLA+ is slightly stronger and more heat-resistant than standard PLA, at the same price. Prints like regular PLA — easy, forgiving, very consistent for the price.
✅ Good for
• Great value
• Stronger than standard PLA
• Widely available (Amazon)
• Reliable batch-to-batch
⚠️ Less so
• ±0.05mm tolerance (wider than premium)
• Matte finish not as nice as Polymaker
Beautiful matte finish that hides layer lines — makes beginner prints look great without post-processing. Cardboard spool is eco-friendly. Prints easily and reliably.
✅ Good for
• Matte finish hides layer lines
• Eco-friendly packaging
• Good consistency
• Wide color palette
⚠️ Less so
• Slightly more expensive than eSUN
• Some colors harder to find
A community staple for years. Amazon Prime-eligible, consistent quality, prints reliably on every printer tested. A safe bet if you're not sure what to try first.
✅ Good for
• Amazon Prime available
• Battle-tested reliability
• Good for all printers
• Fair price
⚠️ Less so
• Less color variety than newer brands
• Quality has been somewhat inconsistent recently
| Setting | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nozzle Temperature | 200–215°C | Start at 210°C, adjust ±5°C based on results |
| Bed Temperature | 55–60°C | 60°C for glass, 55°C for PEI magnetic flex plate |
| Print Speed | 50–60 mm/s | Safe starting speed for any printer. Increase once stable. |
| Layer Height | 0.2 mm | Standard — good balance of speed and quality |
| Infill | 15–20% | Fine for most objects. Increase to 40%+ for functional parts. |
| Cooling Fan | 100% | PLA needs full cooling after first 2 layers |
| Retraction | 5–6mm (Bowden) 1–2mm (Direct Drive) | Prevents stringing between moves |
| Supports | As needed | Enable for overhangs >45°. Touching buildplate only to start. |
PLA (standard)
Learn bed leveling, first layer calibration, and basic print settings. Print simple objects: calibration cubes, organizational prints, hooks.
PLA+
Same settings as PLA with slightly higher temp (+5°C). Learn supports, bridging, overhang angles. Start printing useful objects.
PETG
Step up to functional parts. Tune retraction, learn bed adhesion tricks. Print brackets, clips, mechanical parts.
ASA or TPU
ASA for outdoor parts. TPU for flexible prints (needs direct drive). Learn material-specific quirks.
Nylon, ABS, CF
Engineering materials for specific needs. Enclosure recommended. Dry filament before every print.