The short answer: start with PLA. The longer answer is that there are a lot of PLA variants, and once you get past PLA there's a whole world of materials that each solve different problems. Here's what we stock, what we recommend, and when to use each one.
Quick Reference
| Filament | Nozzle Temp | Bed Temp | Enclosure | Difficulty | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLA | 190-220°C | 55-60°C | No | Beginner | Prototypes, decorative, learning |
| PLA+ | 200-230°C | 55-60°C | No | Beginner | Slightly stronger PLA prints |
| Silk PLA | 200-230°C | 55-60°C | No | Beginner | Display pieces, gifts |
| Matte PLA | 190-230°C | 55-60°C | No | Beginner | Clean finish, hides layer lines |
| PETG | 220-250°C | 70-80°C | No | Intermediate | Functional parts, some outdoor |
| TPU | 210-230°C | 40-60°C | No | Intermediate | Flexible parts, cases, gaskets |
| ABS | 220-260°C | 90-110°C | Yes | Advanced | Heat-resistant, strong parts |
| ASA | 230-260°C | 90-110°C | Yes | Advanced | Outdoor, UV-stable parts |
| Nylon | 240-270°C | 70-90°C | Yes | Advanced | High-strength, flexible parts |
| PC | 260-300°C | 100-120°C | Yes | Advanced | Maximum strength |
PLA and Its Variants
PLA (Polylactic Acid) is where everyone starts. It's plant-based, prints at low temperatures, doesn't need an enclosure, and is forgiving enough that your first print will probably work. (If not check out our troubleshooting guide!) We use PLA with our Bambu Lab A1 and Prusa MK3.5 daily.
But "PLA" isn't just one thing anymore. Here's what you'll find:
Standard PLA
The baseline. Prints at 190-220°C, bed at 55-60°C. Good for prototypes, decorative pieces, and learning. It's brittle compared to other materials, so it's not ideal for functional parts that take stress, but for most projects it's all you need.
PLA+
Slightly tougher than standard PLA with better layer adhesion and less brittleness. The "plus" varies by brand; some are noticeably stronger, others are mostly marketing. Sunlu and eSun both make solid PLA+ that we've had good results with.
Silk PLA
Has a shiny, metallic-looking finish straight off the printer. Looks great for display pieces and gifts. The trade-off is it's slightly weaker than standard PLA and can be harder to dial in. Prints a bit stringier too.
Matte PLA
The opposite of silk; hides layer lines and gives a smooth, understated finish. Good for pieces where you don't want that obvious 3D-printed look. Bambu Lab's matte PLA is one of the best we've used.
Wood / Stone / Metal Fill PLA
PLA blended with wood fibers, stone powder, or metal particles. The result looks and sometimes feels like the real material. Wood-fill PLA can even be sanded and stained. These are fun for decorative work but wear down brass nozzles faster, so use a hardened steel nozzle if you're printing a lot of it.
PETG
The step up from PLA for functional parts. Stronger, more heat-resistant (won't soften in a hot car like PLA will), and has some flex to it. It handles UV better than PLA too, so it works for parts that get some sun exposure. For anything living outside long-term, ASA is the better option since it's specifically UV-stabilized, but it requires a more advanced setup and filtration. Prints at 220-250°C, bed at 70-80°C.
PETG is food-safe in raw form, though the layer lines can trap bacteria. If you're printing cups or containers, consider food-safe coatings. Use a stainless steel nozzle for food-safe prints since brass has trace amounts of lead.
The downside: it strings more than PLA. Make sure your filament is dry and your retraction settings are dialed in. We covered stringing fixes in our troubleshooting post.
TPU (Flexible)
Flexible filament for phone cases, gaskets, bumpers, and anything that needs to bend. The softer the TPU (measured in Shore hardness), the harder it is to print. Start with 95A Shore, which is firm enough to feed through most extruders without issues.
Print slow. TPU doesn't like speed. Direct drive extruders (like the Bambu Lab A1) handle it much better than Bowden setups.
ABS and ASA
The old-school engineering plastics. Strong, heat-resistant, and UV-stable (ASA especially). If you're printing parts for outdoor use or anything that needs to handle heat, this is where you go.
The catch: both produce fumes you don't want to breathe. You need an enclosure and proper ventilation with a carbon or HEPA filter. They also warp aggressively without a heated chamber. Not beginner materials, but worth learning once you've got your basics down.
Specialty Filaments
These are more niche, but worth knowing about:
- Nylon (PA): Very strong and flexible. Absorbs moisture like crazy, so dry storage is essential. Hard to print without an enclosure.
- Polycarbonate (PC): One of the strongest printable plastics. Needs high temps (260-300°C) and an enclosure. Not for beginners.
- Carbon Fiber filled: PLA, PETG, or Nylon blended with chopped carbon fiber. Stiffer and lighter. Requires a hardened nozzle.
- HIPS: Dissolves in limonene, so it's used as a support material for ABS prints. Niche but useful for complex multi-material prints.
Brands We Recommend
We've run a lot of filament through our printers. Here's what we keep coming back to:
Bambu Lab: Their PLA and PETG are consistent. The RFID spools work with the A1's automatic material detection. Matte PLA especially is excellent. Pricier than budget brands but you waste less on failed prints.
Sunlu: Great value. Their PLA+ and PETG are reliable and affordable. Good starter brand if you're burning through filament while learning. Available on Amazon.
eSun: The PLA+ is one of the most popular filaments for a reason. Consistent quality, wide color range, reasonable price. Their PETG is solid too.
Hatchbox: Another reliable budget option. Been around forever in the 3D printing community. PLA and PETG are both dependable.
Polymaker: Higher-end with some unique options like PolyTerra (recycled PLA with a matte finish) and PolyLite. Good if you want consistent results and don't mind paying a bit more.
Overture: Budget-friendly with decent quality. Good for bulk orders when you need a lot of one color.
Buy one roll of a brand's PLA before committing to a bulk order. Every brand prints slightly differently, and what works great on one printer might need tweaking on another.
Where to Buy
- Amazon: Fastest shipping, biggest selection. Sunlu, eSun, Hatchbox, Overture, and Polymaker are all available. Watch for deals on multi-packs.
- Bambu Lab Store: Direct for Bambu Lab filaments. RFID spools only work with Bambu printers.
- MatterHackers: Good selection of specialty filaments and higher-end brands. Based in the US with solid customer service.
- Printed Solid: Smaller shop with curated selection. Good for finding quality filaments that aren't on Amazon.
- Micro Center: If you have one nearby, they stock filament in-store. Nice to see colors in person before buying.
What We Stock at Maker Pub
We keep PLA and PETG in a range of colors for use during open lab and classes. Members get filament included in their printing rate. If you need a specific material or color, let us know and we can order it in.
Check our 3D Printing Crash Course if you want to try different materials hands-on with staff support.