CNET staff -- not advertisers, partners or business interests -- determine how we review products and services. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.
There are plenty of great reasons to pick up a 3D printer, but it's important to find a filament that works for you. Choosing the wrong filament will lead to clogs, a stringy printing process and ultimately having to start all over again. Filament is the material used for FDM 3D printing, and there's certainly no shortage of options. Choosing the right one means thinking about things like heat and chemical resistance if you want to be sure of achieving good print quality. So, which should you choose? CNET's experts have done the research so you can ensure you're using the best filament for the job.
What is the best 3D printing filament?
Almost everyone who uses a 3D printer uses PLA for most of their prints. You might use other materials for certain things, but day-to-day printing is likely done with PLA. The best PLA for most use cases is Build Series PLA from MatterHackers. I've used over 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of it by now, and it's still my favorite. It sands very well and prints easily on just about any FDM printer.
I've put together this primer on different types of filament, including the best PLA filament, as well as choices of the best filaments from my favorite brands. This will be updated regularly and has some great choices to help you start. I use around 8 kilograms (17.5 pounds) of filament each week -- and have for the last four years -- so I know I'm offering you the best options around.
James Bricknell/CNET
It's important to choose both the right type of material and the right brand of that type, be it PLA, ABS or something more exotic. Here are the best of each of the five main filament types.
Read more: Best 3D Printers
PLA is the easiest material to use to make awesome things. James Bricknell/CNET
Polylactic acid, or PLA
... continue reading