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3D Printing Material Guide

Which filament or resin to use, the settings to start with, and the strengths and limits of each material.

Quick picksComparePLAPETGTPUABSASANylonPCCF blendsResinStorage

Pick a material by what you need

Start here if you already know what the part has to do.

First print or general usePLA
Strong functional partsPETG
Parts that bend or absorb impactTPU
Outdoor and sunlightASA
Heat near engines or electronicsABS or PC
Gears and moving partsNylon
Stiff and lightweightCarbon fiber blends
Fine detail and miniaturesResin

Materials compared

A side by side view of how the common FDM filaments perform.

MaterialEase of printingStrengthHeat resistanceFlexibilityOutdoor use
PLA●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
PETG●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
TPU●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
ABS●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
ASA●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
Nylon●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
PC●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
CF blends●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●

Ratings compare materials with each other, on a scale of 1 to 5. Exact properties vary by brand.

Filament guide

Temperatures are typical starting points. Always check the range printed on your spool, then fine tune with a temperature tower.

PLA

Beginner

The default filament for most people. It prints easily at low temperatures, barely warps and comes in more colors and finishes than any other material.

Nozzle190 to 220 °C
Bed50 to 60 °C (or unheated)
EnclosureNo
Dry before useRarely

Strengths

  • Very easy to print
  • Low warping and little odor
  • Huge range of colors, silk and matte finishes
  • Inexpensive

Watch out for

  • Softens around 55 to 60 °C, so it deforms in a hot car
  • Brittle compared with PETG
  • Poor for outdoor use over time

Best for

  • Prototypes and models
  • Decor, toys and cosplay props
  • Indoor parts with low stress

PETG

Beginner

A tougher, more heat resistant step up from PLA that is still easy to print. A great choice for functional parts.

Nozzle230 to 250 °C
Bed70 to 85 °C
EnclosureNo
Dry before useRecommended

Strengths

  • Strong and slightly flexible, so it resists cracking
  • Handles heat better than PLA
  • Good chemical and moisture resistance

Watch out for

  • Strings more than PLA
  • Sticks very strongly to smooth PEI, so use glue stick or a textured plate
  • Absorbs moisture

Best for

  • Brackets, mounts and enclosures
  • Containers and planters
  • Mechanical and outdoor parts

TPU

Intermediate

A flexible, rubber like filament. Shore hardness (such as 95A) tells you how soft it is: lower numbers are softer.

Nozzle210 to 230 °C
Bed30 to 60 °C
EnclosureNo
Dry before useYes

Strengths

  • Flexible and very hard to break
  • Excellent impact and abrasion resistance
  • Grips surfaces well

Watch out for

  • Must be printed slowly
  • Works best with a direct drive extruder
  • Strings easily and absorbs moisture

Best for

  • Phone cases and bumpers
  • Gaskets, seals and feet
  • Grips, straps and dampers

ABS

Intermediate

A classic engineering plastic with good heat and impact resistance. It needs an enclosure to print reliably.

Nozzle230 to 260 °C
Bed95 to 110 °C
EnclosureYes
Dry before useSometimes

Strengths

  • Withstands around 100 °C
  • Tough and durable
  • Can be smoothed with acetone vapor

Watch out for

  • Warps and cracks without an enclosure
  • Releases fumes, so ventilate well
  • Yellows and weakens in sunlight

Best for

  • Car interior parts
  • Housings for electronics
  • Heat exposed parts

ASA

Intermediate

Similar to ABS but built to survive sunlight and weather, making it the go to material for outdoor parts.

Nozzle240 to 260 °C
Bed90 to 110 °C
EnclosureYes
Dry before useSometimes

Strengths

  • Excellent UV and weather resistance
  • Good heat resistance
  • Holds color outdoors

Watch out for

  • Needs an enclosure
  • Releases fumes during printing
  • Costs more than ABS

Best for

  • Outdoor fixtures and mounts
  • Car exterior trim
  • Garden and signage parts

Nylon

Advanced

One of the toughest filaments, with excellent wear resistance and some flexibility. It demands dry filament and high temperatures.

Nozzle240 to 270 °C
Bed70 to 90 °C
EnclosureRecommended
Dry before useAlways

Strengths

  • Very tough and fatigue resistant
  • Low friction and good wear resistance
  • Handles impacts well

Watch out for

  • Absorbs moisture very quickly
  • Hard to stick to the bed
  • Warps on large parts

Best for

  • Gears and bushings
  • Hinges and clips
  • Tool parts under repeated stress

Polycarbonate (PC)

Advanced

A very strong, heat resistant plastic for demanding engineering parts. It needs a hot nozzle, hot bed and an enclosure.

Nozzle260 to 300 °C
Bed100 to 120 °C
EnclosureYes
Dry before useAlways

Strengths

  • Excellent strength and toughness
  • Withstands well over 100 °C
  • Can be printed semi transparent

Watch out for

  • Warps heavily
  • Many printers cannot reach the needed temperatures
  • Absorbs moisture

Best for

  • High temperature parts
  • Structural brackets
  • Protective covers

Carbon fiber blends

Intermediate

PLA, PETG, nylon or other base plastics filled with short carbon fibers. They are stiffer and have a matte finish, but they wear out brass nozzles.

NozzleDepends on base plastic
BedDepends on base plastic
EnclosureDepends on base
Dry before useYes

Strengths

  • Much stiffer and lighter
  • Better dimensional stability
  • Attractive matte surface

Watch out for

  • Requires a hardened steel nozzle
  • More brittle than the base plastic
  • More expensive

Best for

  • Drone frames and RC parts
  • Stiff brackets and jigs
  • Camera and tool mounts

Resin types

Resin printers use liquid photopolymer instead of filament. These are the main families.

Standard resin

Low cost and very detailed, but brittle. Ideal for display models and miniatures.

ABS like and tough resin

Less brittle and more impact resistant. Good for functional parts and snap fits.

Water washable resin

Cleans with water instead of alcohol. Convenient, but the wash water still contains uncured resin and must be cured before disposal.

Flexible and specialty resin

Includes flexible, high temperature, castable and dental resins for specific jobs.

Safety: uncured resin irritates skin and eyes. Always wear nitrile gloves and eye protection, print in a ventilated area, and fully cure prints and waste before disposal.

Storing filament and resin

  • Store spools in airtight bags or boxes with silica gel desiccant.
  • Dry PETG, TPU, nylon and PC before printing for the best results.
  • Popping sounds, bubbles or extra stringing usually mean wet filament.
  • Keep resin bottles closed, away from sunlight and at room temperature.
  • Shake or stir resin well before each print.
  • Label opened spools with the material and the date you opened them.

Work out how much a material costs per print with our 3D printing calculators, or fix a print problem in the Troubleshooting Guide.