Best 3D Printer Filament Types Guide of 2019

Filaments are among the most important 3D printing materials as you cannot produce any object without this. A 3D filament or 3d printer ink may come in a plastic form or other materials. This page aims to help you understand this material and choose the best 3D printer filament in the market.

Are you looking for the best 3D filament? Wondering what’s the best material for your 3D project?

If you do, then you will find an answer here. A 3D printer plastic, also known as the filament, serves as the 3D printer ink.

3D printer filaments come in different types and your filament choice might depend on the object that you are trying to build.

If you want to learn the different types of 3D printer filaments on the market, their purposes and edges against each other you are on the right page! Read further to learn more about 3D filaments.

Check out below to find the best 3D printer filament for your 3D printer.

3D Printing Filament	Price Check	Special Properties	Usage	Printing Temperature	Bed Temperature	Bed Adhesion	Availability	Glow in the Dark
ABS		Making durable parts that need to withstand higher temperatures, Easy to print with, strong plastic,	Legos, instruments, sports equipment, Objects that might be dropped, knife handles, car phone mounts, phone cases, toys, wedding rings	210°C – 250°C	80°C-110°C	Kapton Tape / Hairspray	1.75mm/3mm	Yes
PLA		Odorless, Low-warp, Eco-Friendly, Less energy to process	Food containers, such as candy wrappers, and biodegradable medical implants, models, prototype parts	190°C - 230°C	60°C - 80°C	Blue painter's tape/ Hairspray	1.75mm/3mm	Yes
PVA		Non harmful, non-toxic, and environment friendly, Easily be dissolved in water under normal temperature, Easily stripping.	paper adhesive, thickener, packaging film, in feminine hygiene, adult incontinence products, in children’s play putty or slime, freshwater sports fishing,	180°C – 230°C	45°C	Blue Painters Tape	1.75mm/3mm	No
PET		FDA approved for food containers and tools used for food consumption, barely warps, no odors or fumes when printed	phone cases and mechanical parts that require flexibility and impact resistance, jewelry, props, and electronics	230°C-255 °C	55°C - 70°C	Blue Painters Tape	1.75mm/3mm	No
PETG		Extremely durable and prints without odor. Has superior impact resistance that is superior to PET. Low shrinkage, no warping and not brittle.	Protective components like phone cases and mechanical parts that require flexibility. Food containers like cups and plates.	220°C – 245°C	70°C - 75°C	Blue Painters Tape	1.75mm/3mm	No
PETT		Colorless, Water Clear, FDA approved, Recyclable, Strong and Flexible	Food containers like cups and utensils, Soda pop bottles,	210°C – 230°C	45°C	Blue Painters Tape	1.75mm/3mm	No
HIPS		Biodegradable, Great 3D Support material, low-cost,	costumes, models, miniature figurines, prototyping	220°C-230 °C	50°C-60°C	Kapton Tape/Hairspray	1.75mm/3mm	No
NYLON		strong, lightweight, durable, flexible, wear-resistant, 100% thermoplastic	machine parts, mechanical components, structural parts, gears and bearings, dynamic load, containers, tools, consumer products and toys.	210°C – 250°C	60°C - 80°C	PVA Based Glue	1.75mm/3mm	No
Wood		Versatility, Real wood scent, Durability, contain real wood fibers	wooden box, wooden figurine, tables, chairs, cups or the likes.	200°C - 260°C	90°C - 110°C.	Blue Painters Tape	1.75mm/3mm	No
Sandstone		No plastic feeling, Printed objects can be coloured and easely grinded, Stics well on print bed, No heated bed necessary, Near zero warp	Architecture models, landscapes,	165°C – 210°C	20°C - 55°C	Blue Painters Tape	1.75mm/3mm	No
Metal		highly durable, not soluble, little shrinkage during cooling	Jewelry, statues, home hardware and artifact replicas.	195-220 °C	50°C	Blue Painters Tape	1.75mm/3mm	No
Magnetic Iron		High Durability, Magnetic Look, Magnetic properties	Fridge magnets, sensors, actuators, magnetic stirrers, and educational, DIY projects.	185 °C	20°C - 55°C	Blue Painters Tape	1.75mm/3mm	No
Conductive PLA		Very low warping, Not Soluble, Print low-voltage electronic circuits,	low-voltage circuitry applications, touch sensor projects,	225°C-260 °C	90°C-110 °C	Kapton Tape/ Haispray	1.75mm/3mm	No
Carbon Fiber		Highly Durable, Soluble, Low Warpage, Good layer adhesion	Frames, supports, propellers, tools, mechanical parts, protective casings, shells, high durability applications	195°C-220 °C	50°C	Blue Painters Tape	1.75mm/3mm	No
Flexible (TPE/TPU)		Flexible 3D printing material, excellent abrasion resistance, smooth feeding properties, Durability	Toys, novelty items, wearable, phone cases, visual products.	210°C-225 °C	20°C - 55°C	Blue Painters Tape	1.75mm/3mm	No
Glow In The Dark		Minimal Warping, Glow in the Dark properties, durable, not soluble, low shrinkage during cooling	children’s toys, novelty items, wearables, phone cases, visual products.	185°C-205 °C	70°C	Blue Painters Tape	1.75mm/3mm	Yes
Amphora		High strength and very high toughness, FDA food contact compliance, Odor Neutral processing, Styrene free formulation	Desktop items, Mechanical Parts,	220°C – 250°C	60°C - 70°C	Blue Painters Tape	1.75mm/3mm	No

What is 3D Filament?

A 3D filament is a 3D printer plastic that is used to make three dimensional printing. In 3D printing, the most popular filaments are ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) and PLA (Polylactic Acid).

However, there are more filaments out there other than these two. Perhaps, you already read or hear some of them. Meanwhile, others might be new to you.

Check out the next sections to learn the different types of 3D printer filaments on the market.

Types of 3D Printing Filament

Here’s a list of the different types of 3D printing filament that you can choose from:

1. ABS

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene a.k.a. ABS filament was the most popular 3D printer filament. In fact, it is used in a wide variety of applications because a good quality ABS is tough and imparct-resistant.

This 3D printer plastic is strong and slightly flexible, which makes it a good material for 3D printing. In addition, ABS filaments can be easily extruded, which makes it very easy to operate.

You can buy 3.0mm and 1.75mm abs filament on the market. You can also purchase it in 2 lbs, 5 lbs and 10 lbs spools.

Print Temperature Range: 210°C – 250°C

MatterHackers Pro Series ABS filament is among the high quality brands you can find on the market. It’s quite pricey but there are several variants of good quality ABS filament on the market, check it out here.

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2. PLA

Polylactic acid or PLA filament is another popular 3D printing material that is often compared against ABS. PLA is biodegradable thermoplastic that is derived from renewable resources like cornstarch, sugar cane, tapioca roots and potato starch.

This 3D printing filament is more environment friendly compared to other plastic materials. Due to this and its low-toxicity features, more and more prefer PLA over ABS and it is now the most popular 3D printing filament in the 3D printing community.

Unlike ABS, PLA filament doesn’t produce toxic stink during printing, so it is safer to use within the homes and classrooms. Due to its safe and non-toxic nature, PLA is the best 3D printer filament for kids who love 3D printing.

Moreover, the plastic doesn’t contract when cooling down, so there is no need for a heated bed for your 3D printer.

You can buy pla filament 1.75mm and 3mm on the market. You can also find soft and rough pla filaments depending on what you need for your project.

MatterHackers’ PRO series filament is one of the best 3D printer PLA filaments on the market. The 3D printing materials from this brand is intended for professional use and in producing high-quality 3D printed parts. A PRO series PLA filament has a tolerance of 0.5mmm and is available in 1.75mm PLA filament and 3mm PLA filament. MatterHackers also offer PRO Series tough PLA.

Print Temperature Range: 180°C – 230°C

If you want to get a PLA 3D printing filament for your next project, you can purchase it below.

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Want to know the difference between PLA vs ABS?

3. PVA

Polylvinyl Alcohol better known as PVA filament is another great 3D filament. PVA is a special plastic that is water soluble. This type of filament is based on polyvinyl alcohol, so it has pretty good properties like being non-toxic and biodegradable.

PVA is easy to print and they make a good support during a printing process for those models with overhangs that is impossible to print without a support.

Print Temperature Range: 180°C – 230°C

If you are looking for a pro series premium PVA filament, Wanhao offers one. Here’s another good quality PVA 3D printer filament:

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4. PET

PolyEthylene Terephthalate or PET is another popular 3D filament from plastic bottles. This is a stable and harmless plastic. It does not produce any funky odors and is totally recyclable.

PET filament in its original state is colorless and crystal clear. However, when exposed to heat or cold the material changes its transparency.

When you allow this to cool down slowly after printing, it will have cyrstalline structure. PET has different versions, including PETG.

This modification is a clear thermoplastic with a possibility to thermoform and mold the item after being printed. You can also polish this with flame.

Print Temperature Range: 220°C – 250°C

If you want to get a PET 3D printer filament, you can purchase it here.

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5. PETG

PETG filament is a variation of the highly popular PET filament with the addition of “glycol-modified,” thus the name PETG. This is a really tough material that is extremely durable and prints without odor.

PETG filament offers durability and impact-resistance that is superior to PET as the latter tends to become hazy and brittle when overheated. The addition of glycol removes these limitations giving PETG filament the following properties: low shrinkage, no warping, and strong but not brittle.

Print Temperature Range: 220°C – 245°C

Pro Series PETG filament is available in the market. There are also brands that are as good but cheaper like the one below.

Check Price at Amazon

6. PETT

PolyEthylene coTrimethylene Terephthalate (PETT) marketed as T-Glase filament is another popular 3D printer filament. This material is colorless and water clear.

It does not degrade to a color in multiple layers of applied thickness. This type of 3D printing filament is not biodegradable, but it is recyclable.

Print Temperature Range: 210°C – 230°C

You can purchase your PETT filament here.

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7. HIPS

High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) material is biodegradable and has a bright white color. It has no adverse effects when it comes in close contact with humans or pets.

HIPS is very similar to ABS, only that it uses Limonene as a solvent. HIPS filament, just like PVA filament, is also a great 3D support material. In fact, HIPS would make a great support material when you print ABS with dual extrusion printer.

Print Temperature Range: 210°C – 250°C

If you need HIPS 3D printer filament, check it out here.

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8. Nylon

Polyamide better known as Nylon filament is a popular synthetic polymer that is also used in many industrial applications. This 3D printer filament is a cost-effective plastic. It is strong, lightweight, flexible and wear-resistant.

Nylon is the best 3D printer filament for mechanical and functional parts due to its strength and high melting temperature. Among the best nylon filament in the market is MatterHackers PRO Series Nylon which offers strength and durability that is top of the line.

Print Temperature Range: 210°C – 250°C

Another weak spot about Nylon is its sensitivity to moisture. It can absorb moisture easily. In fact, it can absorb over 10% of its weight in just 24 hours, which is quite bad. So, you have to be very discreet when storing this. You must keep it dry for good prints by storing it in a sealed container with moisture remover or silica gel packets. Another issue with Nylon is adhesion.

If you need a Nylon 3D printer filament, worry no more because you can purchase it here.

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9. Wood

If you are tired of producing plastics and want to see something new in your next 3D printing project, you can unleash your creativity with wood-like outputs by using FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) filament also known as Wood Filament.

Wood Filament contains a mixture of recycling wood with binding polymer. Thus, helping you produce a 3D object that looks and smells like wood.

Due to its wooden nature, it’s difficult to tell that the object is 3D printed, so if you want to achieve that wooden appearance, this is the best 3D printer filament to use. Using Wood filament is similar to using a thermoplastic filament like ABS and PLA.

However, with this material, you get this unrepeatable wooden-like appearance. When using this 3D printer filament, the temperature should be between175C and 250C.

Print Temperature Range: 195°C – 220°C

If you still wish to use a wood filament for your next 3D printing project, you can get it here.

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10. Sandstone

Sandstone 3D printer filament is another great material that will give you a unique output. This material combines fine chalk powder with PLA to provide you the color and texture similar to a stone.

With Sandstone 3D printer filament, you can produce different surface characteristics either smooth or rough by changing the extrusion temperature while 3D printing.

Print Temperature Range: 165°C – 210°C

 

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11. Metal

Another interesting 3D printer filament that you should try is Metal PLA. This material is a category of PLA combined with actual metallic powder. By using a metal filament you will produce 3D printed materials that look and feel like there were made of bronze, brass or copper.

Print Temperature Range: 195°C – 220°C

If you want a Metal filament for your next 3D printing, you can try ColorFabb bronzeFill metal filament or MatterHackers metallic bronze PRO series if you need this material. Here’s another good quality metal filament that we highly recommend.

Check Price at Amazon

12. Magnetic Iron

Magnetic flament are made by infusing finely ground iron powder to a base material. Other base materials can be theoretically used, this uses PLA, that’s why it’s also called Magnetic PLA.

Magnetic Iron PLA is another great 3D printer filament that you will surely enjoy. This will be helpful if you want to 3D print magnet-like objects. This filament is just like magnets, it strongly attracts to magnets like neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) or samarium cobalt (SmCo) magnets. It has iron contents and is packed in a vacuum-sealed bag with a desiccant pack.

Print Temperature Range: 195°C – 220°C

If you need a magnetic filament, you can get it here.

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13. Conductive PLA

Conductive PLA 3D printer filament opens up new opportunities for your next 3D printing project. This material includes a conductive carbon particulate to allow you to 3D print low-voltage electronic circuits for simple items like LEDs and sensors.

You can couple this 3D printer filament with a standard PLA filament on a dual-extrusion machine to fabricate a basic circuit board straight from the print bed.

Print Temperature Range: 215°C – 230°C

If you need a Conductive PLA 3D filament printer, you can check it here.

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14. Carbon Fiber 3D Printer Filament

Carbon Fiber PLA contains small chopped carbon fiber strands. It offers impressive rigidity, structure, and layer adhesion. Processing this filament is comparable to a standard PLA.

However, it has stiffer PLA with better dimensional stability for warp-free printing, excellent layer adhesion, and easy support removal.

Print Temperature Range: 195°C – 220°C

If you need a Carbon Fiber PLA filament, get one here.

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15. Flexible Filament (TPE/TPU)

Every type of 3D printer filament has its own strengths and when it comes to flexibility, nothing would beat a Flexible Filament. There are different types of flexible filaments such as follows:

TPE filament. This 3D printer filament is made of thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) that make it super stretchable, that’s why it’s called TPE filament.

The TPE filament has high elastic characteristics that it feels like rubber. It bounces back and forth into shape. This material is good for FDM printers and can be used for ABS and PLA filaments. In addition, it can withstand tough environments that ABS and PLA can’t.

TPU filament. This is made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), a class of polyurethane plastics having many important properties such as elasticity, transparency and resistance to grease, oil and abrasion. TPU filament is a flexible filament due to its extremely flexile nature.

A TPU filament is made up of thermoplastic elastomers. However, it’s better to separate them from acids, solvents and fuels which can affect its properties.

Print Temperature Range: 225°C – 235°C

If you are looking for a good quality flexible filament, you can try MatterHackers PRO Series Flex. They offer PRO Series flex TPE and PRO Series TPU filament but if you want a quality printing material that isn’t that expensive try out this one.

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16. Glow In The Dark

As the name suggests, this 3D printer filament glows in the dark. It is designed to glow brightly for an extended amount of time. However, you need to charge the object or exposed it to a light source to allow it to emit light.

The glow in the dark filament is a good choice for projects with a Halloween theme. Since this is a type of PLA and PLA is biodegradable and environmentally friendly, this is safe for everyone, including children.

Print Temperature Range: 215°C

If you want to use a glow in the dark PLA 3D printer filament for your next project, you can purchase it here.

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17. Amphora 3D Printer Filament

This material is a fancy 3D printer filament developed by the Eastman Chemical Company. It is an entirely new polymer than is specially designed for 3D printing unlike other categories of thermoplastic that are just repurposed for 3D printing.

Although the difference is minimal it is important. This material will help you produce glossy, opaque, and bright object.

Print Temperature Range: 220°C – 250°C

If you need Amphora, you can get it here:

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How To Choose The Right 3D Printer Filament

With all the different types of 3D printer filament on the market, choosing the best one will surely be challenging. So, check out tips below to determine the best material for your next project especially if you need to buy 3d printer plastic.

What are you building – If you want to build a glow in the dark object, you can go for glow in the dark PLA 3D printer filament. If you want to produce wooden decors or objects, then get a Wood PLA filament. If you want sandstone, metallic or magnetic object, get the appropriate filament for each project.

In cases, where you can’t choose between ABS and PLA, then you should examine your priority. Do you want a safer product or a cheaper material?

Which do you prefer, the strength and flexibility of ABS or the wide range of colors, translucencies and glossy feel of PLA? Decide for yourself.

Diameter – 3D printer filament comes with different diameters. There are 3mm and 1.75mm.

Between the two, 1.75mm is better. It is more common in the market and rotates out of the inventory faster, so you can expect to get a new material when you buy it.

It also offers better extruding, retraction and flow of plastic. Regardless of the size you choose, the diameter should be consistent and round throughout.

Moisture is another common issue concerning 3D printer filament. This problem is due to poor packaging or due to long exposure outside of the packaging.

Plastic absorbs moisture from the atmosphere relative to the humidity and duration of exposure. You will notice this in the filament when it splatters and splits at the hot-end due to the speedy process of turning water into tiny expanding pockets of steam.

Impurities – This is a major issue when selecting a 3D printer filament. Chemical impurities will turn your 3D printing experience into a nightmare.

It leads to poor melted plastic viscocity with debris plugging up the extruder nozzle. This will cost you money and time.

In addition, you have to clean the extruder. There is a direct correlation between a cheap filament and plugged nozzles.

I understand that when it comes to the 3D printer plastic cost, we have the tendency to buy the cheaper one. But, save yourself from troubles and headaches by investing in a well-rated and decently priced filament.

Conclusion

Filaments or 3D printer inks are available in different types and wide range of colors. Although it is also referred as 3d printer plastic, there are metal, nylon, sandstone, magnet, carbon fiber and even glow in the dark 3D printing materials that you can use for your next project.

However, you should consider what type of object you are printing. In addition, when you buy 3D printer plastic, you should consider the 3d printer plastic cost (the cheapest can clog the nozzles) and the quality.

If you wish to learn more about 3D printing, 3D printers or 3D pens, you can check our homepage.