Easy
Everyday
PLA
The most popular general-purpose filament. PLA is easy to print, has a clean finish and is ideal for models, decorations, signs, toys and display pieces.
Best for: Everyday prints, gifts, models and decorative work.
FILAMENT MATERIALS GUIDE
Find the right filament.
Every filament behaves a little differently. Some are easy to print and perfect for gifts and models, while others are designed for heat, strength, flexibility or outdoor use. Here’s a simple guide to the most common and specialty 3D printing materials.
Easy materialsGood choices for everyday prints, gifts, models and general use.
Engineering materialsBuilt for stronger functional parts, heat resistance and demanding jobs.
Specialty materialsDecorative, flexible, support or filled filaments for specific effects and applications.
Easy
Everyday
PLA+
A modified PLA designed to offer a little more strength and toughness while keeping the easy printing behaviour that makes PLA so popular.
Best for: Stronger everyday parts, toys, brackets and useful household prints.
Easy
Everyday / Specialty
Matte PLA
PLA with a soft, non-shiny surface. It hides layer lines well and gives models, signs and decorative pieces a more premium-looking finish.
Best for: Display pieces, home décor, signs and presentation models.
Easy
Specialty
Silk PLA
A glossy PLA that reflects light and creates a shiny, almost metallic appearance. Excellent for prints where looks are more important than maximum strength.
Best for: Dragons, ornaments, gifts, trophies and decorative prints.
Easy–Medium
Everyday / Engineering
PETG
A tough, versatile material with better impact and temperature resistance than standard PLA. It is also more suitable for damp environments.
Best for: Functional parts, containers, brackets and tougher everyday prints.
Medium
Specialty
TPU
A flexible, rubber-like material that can bend and stretch. Different TPU grades vary in softness, with lower Shore ratings generally being more flexible.
Best for: Phone cases, grips, bumpers, flexible hinges and protective parts.
Advanced
Specialty
TPE
A family of very flexible thermoplastic elastomers. It can be softer and more elastic than TPU, but usually requires slower, more careful printing.
Best for: Very soft flexible parts, seals, grips and cushioning.
Advanced
Engineering
ABS
A strong engineering plastic with good impact and heat resistance. It generally benefits from an enclosed printer because it can shrink and warp as it cools.
Best for: Functional components, enclosures, automotive-style parts and prototypes.
Advanced
Engineering
ASA
Similar to ABS but with much better UV and weather resistance. ASA is one of the better choices for parts that will spend time outdoors.
Best for: Outdoor signs, brackets, garden parts and weather-exposed components.
Advanced
Engineering
Nylon / PA
A very tough material with excellent wear resistance and some natural flexibility. Nylon absorbs moisture easily, so keeping it dry is particularly important.
Best for: Gears, hinges, mechanical components and high-wear parts.
Advanced
Engineering
Polycarbonate / PC
A high-strength, high-temperature material used where toughness matters. It normally needs higher print temperatures and controlled printing conditions.
Best for: Strong functional parts, fixtures and demanding engineering applications.
Advanced
Engineering
Polypropylene / PP
A lightweight plastic with good chemical resistance and excellent fatigue resistance. It is especially useful for parts that need repeated bending.
Best for: Living hinges, lightweight parts, containers and chemically resistant components.
Medium
Support / Engineering
HIPS
High Impact Polystyrene can be used as a normal lightweight material or as a support material for ABS. Certain solvents can dissolve HIPS supports.
Best for: Support structures, prototypes and lightweight functional prints.
Advanced
Support
PVA
A water-soluble support filament used with compatible dual-material prints. After printing, the PVA support can be dissolved away in water.
Best for: Complex support structures and detailed dual-extrusion models.
Medium
Specialty
Wood-Filled
Usually a PLA base mixed with fine wood fibres. It creates a natural timber-like texture and can often be sanded or finished after printing.
Best for: Décor, signs, props, ornaments and wood-effect models.
Advanced
Engineering / Specialty
Carbon Fibre Filled
Short carbon fibres are blended into materials such as PLA, PETG, Nylon or PC to increase stiffness and create a distinctive matte technical finish.
Best for: Rigid functional parts, jigs, fixtures and engineering-style components.
Advanced
Engineering / Specialty
Glass Fibre Filled
Glass fibres are added to a base plastic to improve stiffness and dimensional stability. Like carbon-filled filaments, it can be abrasive on standard nozzles.
Best for: Strong functional parts, fixtures and reinforced components.
Medium
Specialty
Metal-Filled
A plastic base blended with metal powder such as bronze, copper or steel. These filaments add weight and can create a convincing metallic appearance.
Best for: Props, statues, display pieces and decorative metal-look prints.
Medium
Specialty
Glow-in-the-Dark
A filament containing glow pigments that charge under light and glow afterward. It is commonly PLA-based and is great for fun or low-light decorative prints.
Best for: Signs, toys, decorations, stars and novelty prints.
Varies
Everyday / Specialty
Recycled Filament
Made partly or fully from recycled plastic. Properties depend on the base material, but it can be a good option when reducing material waste is a priority.
Best for: General printing where recycled material is preferred.
Good to know: Exact strength, flexibility, temperature resistance and printing requirements vary between brands and specific filament formulas. Filled filaments such as carbon fibre, glass fibre, glow and some metal blends can also be abrasive and may require a hardened nozzle.
Not sure which material suits your project?
Tell us what you want to make, where it will be used and what the part needs to handle. We can help recommend a suitable material, or you can browse the filament currently available in our shop.