Which filament should I choose? A beginner's guide

Short answer

New to this? Buy a spool of PLA in a colour you like and start there. It is the only material that almost always just works, and it is also the cheapest.

The best filament for beginners: the short answer

PLA is the best filament for beginners. It is cheap, has minimal smell and is forgiving to print: it hardly warps, sticks easily to the bed and works on practically any 3D printer with standard settings. Start with PLA, learn the basics, and move on to other materials when you want specific properties. You will find all the colours among our PLA filament.

Rule of thumb: New to this? Buy a spool of PLA in a colour you like and start there. It is the only material that almost always just works, and it is also the cheapest.

Why PLA is the best place to start

PLA (polylactic acid) is made from renewable raw materials and has properties that make it ideal for newcomers. It shrinks little, which means minimal warping, and it prints at a relatively low temperature without needing an enclosed printer. So you do not need advanced equipment to succeed.

Forgiving. Low warping and good adhesion even with standard settings.

Cheap. The lowest price per kilo, so it does not matter if your first prints fail.

Minimal smell. Pleasant to print at home.

Wide range of colours. Fun to get started with, and fine detail on models.

Recommended beginner settings

Starting values for PLA according to our data sheets. Most printers handle PLA straight away, so this is mostly a reference to start from.

Nozzle temperature 190–220 °C — start around 205 °C

Bed temperature 40–65 °C — 60 °C gives good adhesion

Print speed 40–90 mm/s — lower the speed for finer surfaces

First layer Slow — the most important thing for a successful print

Common beginner mistakes

If you want a more detailed walkthrough, read our practical guide How to print PLA.

Nozzle too far from the bed First layer does not stick → level the bed, lower the nozzle, a little glue stick

Temperature too high Stringing and strands → lower the temperature in steps of 5 °C

Speed too high Rough, ugly surfaces → lower speed and layer height

Damp filament Poorer surface and weak parts → store dry with desiccant

When should you move on from PLA?

→ Stay with PLA

For figurines, models, prototypes, decoration and everything you print for fun. PLA goes a long way and is the most enjoyable to start with.

→ Try the next material

When the part has to withstand moisture, heat or impacts. PETG is a natural step two for functional parts, and it handles more than PLA without being much harder.

Frequently asked questions about filament for beginners

Which filament is easiest to print?

PLA, by a wide margin. It warps minimally, sticks easily and prints at a low temperature without an enclosure, which makes it the most forgiving material for beginners.

Do I need an expensive printer to start?

No. PLA works on practically any ordinary FDM printer with standard settings. You need neither an enclosed printer nor special equipment to get started.

What temperature should a beginner use?

For PLA: around 205 °C on the nozzle and 60 °C on the bed according to our data sheets. Take it slowly with the first layer, it is the single most important thing for a successful print.

What should I try after PLA?

PETG is the most common next step. It withstands moisture, chemicals and impacts better than PLA and is still relatively easy to print. Do read PLA vs PETG for a comparison.

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Which filament should I choose? A guide for beginners