A complete guide to material selection for both beginners and professionals
The large selection of materials often confuses new owners of a 3D printer. Names like PLA, PETG, ABS, and TPU cover polymers with vastly different properties, and the wrong choice often leads to wasted 3D print time, useless items, or damage to your machine. Filament starts as small plastic pellets, which the manufacturer melts together with dyes and extrudes into strands on a spool. This guide helps you navigate the options so you make the right choice based on your project’s specific needs.
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How do you define the project’s primary requirements?
Before you buy the first roll, you should ask yourself three questions, which in the industry are often referred to as the triangle dilemma. You must clarify the requirements for strength, flexibility, and temperature. It is rarely possible to achieve all three properties in one material, as high strength often costs in usability, while high flexibility reduces structural stiffness.
Don’t forget your hardware either. The project may require a material that withstands high temperatures, but your 3D printer must be able to deliver the heat. Always check the specifications of your machine. You must investigate whether your hot end reaches the necessary degrees and if you have a closed chamber. Materials like ABS require stable surroundings so as not to warp, while PLA prints best with strong cooling and ventilation.
Which filament provides the greatest strength and durability?
When assessing strength, you must distinguish between whether the item must carry a heavy weight or whether it must withstand impacts and shocks.
- PLA: The choice for most, as it prints easily at temperatures around 190-220°C. It is excellent for decorative items and prototypes, but it is brittle. A figure in standard PLA often shatters if it hits the floor.
- PLA Plus (Tough PLA): Here, additives are included that make the material tough. It prints just as easily as the standard version but withstands physical stress better, making it suitable for functional parts like RC car bodies.
- PETG: Known from soda bottles, it offers a balance between easy PLA and demanding ABS. It is stronger than PLA and has a bit of flexibility, which prevents it from breaking under load. It works well for functional brackets at our facility.
- ABS: The classic you know from LEGO bricks. It is extremely impact-resistant but places great demands on your process. You need a heated build plate between 90°C and 110°C. For ultimate strength through materials like polycarbonate or nylon, professional equipment is required as these must be printed at very high temperatures.
When should you choose flexible filament?
If your project requires gaskets, vibration dampers, or phone covers, you should look towards TPU or TPE. These materials behave like rubber at room temperature. Flexibility is measured on the Shore scale:
- Shore 95A: Feels like the tread on a car tire. Most modern machines handle this without problems.
- Shore 85A or lower: Resembles a soft eraser. You should print slowly, preferably with a direct drive extruder.
Even harder materials like PETG have a certain flexibility, making them suitable for “living hinges” where the plastic must be able to bend back and forth without breaking.
How high temperatures must your 3D print be able to withstand?
Temperature requirements often exclude the most materials. You should always check the material’s HDT (Heat Deflection Temperature):
- PLA: Low melting point; becomes soft as early as 55-60°C. It will lose its shape in a hot car.
- PETG: Handles temperatures up to approx. 75-80°C and is generally weather-resistant.
- ASA: The right choice for outdoor use or hot environments. It withstands heat up to approx. 100°C. Unlike ABS, ASA is UV-resistant, meaning it retains its strength and color in sunlight.
What if the project requires a unique look?
Sometimes aesthetics weigh heavier than mechanics. We can divide aesthetic filaments into two categories:
- Standard Hardware: Includes Silk PLA (shiny surface) and Matte PLA.
- Abrasive Materials: These require a hardened steel nozzle, as standard brass will be destroyed. This includes Glow-in-the-dark, Wood-filament (with real wood fibers), Metal-fill, and Carbon Fiber
How to ensure a successful 3D print process
Even with the right material, things can go wrong if you don’t follow basic principles. First and foremost, you should avoid the cheapest filament. Cheap products often have varying diameters or low plastic quality, leading to nozzle clogging.
You must also handle the spool carefully. The end of the filament must always be either clipped to the side of the spool, in your hand, or inside your 3D printer. If you let go of the end, you risk creating knots that stop your next 3D print hours into the process.
Finally, keep the filament dry. Materials like TPU, PETG, and Nylon absorb moisture from the air. Damp filament results in poor strength and a surface with bubbles. Store your spools in a dry place and always remember to calibrate the flow in your slicer when you start using a new type of filament.
How high temperatures must your 3D print be able to withstand?
Temperature requirements often exclude the most materials. You should always check the material’s HDT (Heat Deflection Temperature), which indicates when the plastic becomes soft under load. PLA has a low melting point and becomes soft as early as 55-60°C. A PLA print will therefore lose its shape in a hot car during summer, and it is also not suitable for outdoor use as it degrades over time.
For outdoor use or hot environments, ASA is the right choice. ASA is related to ABS and withstands heat up to approx. 100°C. The major advantage of ASA is that it is UV-resistant. While ABS yellows and becomes brittle in sunlight, ASA retains its strength and color. PETG handles temperatures up to approx. 75-80°C and is generally weather-resistant, making it a fine choice for garden use or parts without extreme heat impact.
What if the project requires a unique look?
Sometimes aesthetics weigh heavier than mechanics. We can divide aesthetic filaments into two categories:
- Standard Hardware: Materials ready for use on any printer. This includes Silk PLA, which provides a shiny surface and hides layer lines, and Matte PLA for a modern look. You can also get color-changing filaments or strands with multiple colors that create effects depending on the viewing angle.
- Abrasive Materials: More demanding materials containing abrasive particles. A standard brass nozzle will be destroyed by these, so you should use a hardened steel nozzle. This applies to, for example, Glow-in-the-dark, Wood-filament (with real wood fibers), Metal-fill, and Carbon Fiber.
How to ensure a successful 3D print process
Even with the right material, things can go wrong if you don’t follow basic principles. First and foremost, you should avoid the cheapest filament. Cheap products often have varying diameters or low plastic quality, leading to nozzle clogging or ugly surfaces.
You must also handle the spool carefully. Filament tangles easily if you are not careful. The end of the filament must always be either clipped to the side of the spool, in your hand, or inside your 3D printer. If you let go of the end, you risk creating knots that stop your next 3D print hours into the process.
Finally, keep the filament dry. Materials like TPU, PETG, and Nylon absorb moisture from the air. Damp filament results in poor strength and a surface with bubbles. Store your spools in a dry place and always remember to calibrate the flow in your slicer when using a new type of filament.
Overview of Material Types
Compare the most common materials based on their properties and printer requirements below.
| Material | Strength (Impact) | Flexibility | Heat Resistance | Difficulty | Bed Temp | Note |
| PLA | Medium (brittle) | Low | Low (< 55°C) | Very Low | 0-60°C | Standard choice. Easiest. |
| PLA+ | High | Low | Low (< 60°C) | Low | 0-60°C | Like PLA, but doesn’t shatter. |
| PETG | High | Medium | Medium (< 75°C) | Low/Med | 70-90°C | Best functional all-rounder. |
| ABS | Very High | Medium | High (~ 100°C) | High | 90-110°C | Needs enclosure. Warps easily. |
| ASA | Very High | Medium | High (~ 100°C) | Med/High | 90-110°C | UV-resistant ABS. Perfect outdoors. |
| TPU (95A) | Very High | Very High | Low/Med | Medium | 40-60°C | Rubber-like. Needs slow print speed. |
| PC/Nylon | Extreme | Variable | Very High | Very High | > 100°C | Needs professional equipment. |
Which filament is the strongest for functional parts?
For standard 3D printers, PETG or PLA Plus is the best choice for high strength. They offer an excellent balance between durability and printability, whereas standard PLA is too brittle for parts exposed to impact. If you have professional equipment, Polycarbonate and Nylon are even stronger but are harder to print.
What is the difference between PLA and PETG filament?
PLA is easiest to print and has a great finish but doesn’t withstand heat or impact. PETG is more functional, withstands temperatures up to 75°C, and doesn’t break easily. Choose PLA for decoration and prototypes, and choose PETG for durable brackets and mechanical parts requiring a bit of flexibility.
Can I use PLA filament for outdoor 3D print?
No, PLA is not suitable for outdoor use as it is degraded by moisture and sunlight. It also becomes soft at temperatures around 55°C, which is critical during summer. For outdoor projects, you should choose ASA (UV-resistant) or PETG, which handles wind and weather significantly better.
Which filament is easiest for beginners to start with?
Standard PLA is undoubtedly the easiest material to start with. It requires no heated build plate, smells minimal, and hardly warps. This allows you to get to know your 3D printer without frustration before moving on to more demanding materials like PETG or TPU.
How do I print with flexible TPU filament?
You must print slowly and preferably use a printer with a direct drive extruder to control the soft strand. TPU is rubber-like and can be hard to manage in the machine. Start with a hardness of Shore 95A, which is easier to print than the very soft variants, and keep the filament completely dry.
Why should I use a hardened steel nozzle for some filaments?
Materials like carbon fiber, glow-in-the-dark, and wood contain hard particles that grind a brass nozzle apart internally. A hardened steel nozzle resists this wear effectively. If you use a standard nozzle for these abrasive materials, the quality of your 3D print will quickly deteriorate as the nozzle hole expands unpredictably.
From uncertainty to the perfect 3D print
Choosing filament is essentially a process of elimination. You should start by looking at your absolute requirements. If the item is to be used outdoors or in hot environments, PLA is excluded, and you should look toward ASA or PETG. If the item must be flexible, TPU is the only correct choice. If it must withstand impact without being flexible, the choice is often between PETG and PLA Plus. For purely decorative purposes, choose standard PLA for the easiest process and the best finish.
If you are unsure how different material choices affect the price of your project, you can use our price calculator at our facility. It quickly provides an overview of the economy for your next 3D print.
