The Ultimate Guide to the Best PLA Filaments

As 3D printing continues to grow in popularity among many industries, including healthcare, aerospace, and automotive manufacturing, many individuals are taking advantage of the growing list of 3D printing materials aimed at the hobbyist market.

But if you are just getting into 3D printing, it can be overwhelming to figure out what 3d printer filament to use.

PLA filament is one of the most affordable, easy-to-use, and versatile printing materials you can buy. In this guide, we’ll briefly introduce PLA filaments and give you a great list of eleven of the best ones on the market today.

Let’s dive in!

What Are PLA Filaments?

PLA stands for Polylactic Acid. This 3D printer filament is one of the most popular materials for desktop 3D printing.

Many hobbyist printers default to PLA filament for their extrusion-based 3D printer thanks to the material being inexpensive and useful for many different applications.

You can also use PLA filament at relatively low temperatures and without a heated bed.

How Is PLA Filament Made?

PLA is a polyester-based material derived from a mixture of plant starches such as sugar cane, sugar beet pulp, corn, maize, and cassava.

Sugar is pulled from these sources, fermented, and turned into lactic acid. The lactic acid is then processed and turned into polylactic acid.

Because manufacturers use plant materials, PLA is renewable and biodegradable, which means it is environmentally friendly. In fact, PLA produces 68% less greenhouse gas and requires 65% less energy than conventional plastic.

As a bonus, since manufacturers create PLA using sugars, it gives off a sweet, pleasant scent during the printing process.

What 3D Printing Applications Are PLA Filaments Best For?

The versatility and cost of PLA filament make it an excellent material for first-time printers. However, it does have its drawbacks, such as not being as strong as other materials like ABS or PETG.

Because of its properties, PLA is a fantastic choice for dozens of 3D printing projects where the form is more important than function.

Here are some of the most common printing applications for PLA filament:

• Prototype printing
• Scaled models
• Pastry molds
• Storage containers
• Decorative sculptures

The Pros and Cons of PLA Filament

There are many advantages to using PLA filaments when 3D printing, as well as some disadvantages. Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of PLA filaments now.

What To Look For in a PLA Filament

When you are first getting started with 3D printing, it might seem as though most brands offer virtually identical PLA filaments that perhaps only vary in color and price.

However, there are actually many factors that separate the best PLA filaments from the bottom-of-the-barrel options. While a low-price PLA can be tempting, especially on a budget, you are much better off finding the highest-quality PLA filament you can afford.

Here are a few factors to consider as you begin researching the various PLA brands on the market.

PLA Filament Material Composition

3D printing filament composition is simply the list of ingredients that goes into making the PLA. Most 3D printing filaments are named for their most prominent single component, such as PLA being named for polylactic acid.

However, you will almost never find a “pure” single-ingredient PLA filament. Instead, manufacturers use additives and other components which they mix with the primary ingredient.

A long list of ingredients in a PLA filament might seem like a red flag that a brand is of low quality, and sometimes that is true, but the extra ingredients often play an important role.

Additives

PLA makers use additives for a variety of reasons. Some additives help dilute the primary material, reducing the cost of the finished product.

Some brands utilize additives to create PLA filaments that are composites with properties they can’t achieve with plastics alone. For instance, some brands use woods, carbon, iron, steel, and other additives to add unique visual or performance properties to PLA filament.

Other additives, such as plastic, can be used by manufacturers to increase the strength or adhesion quality of the PLA. Companies often designate these types of filaments as PLA+ or something similar.

If you are interested in what additives are in your favorite PLAs, many manufacturers provide safety data sheets (SDS) with a list of material components on their websites.

Compatibility

Perhaps the most critical aspect for successfully printing with PLA is choosing a top filament compatible with your 3D printer.

For PLA, the most important is the diameter of the filament. If your printer uses a 1.75mm diameter, then that is what you have to buy. If you want to print with another size, such as 2.85mm or 3.00mm, you will need to purchase the appropriate hardware to upgrade your system.

Also, be aware that spool sizes differ. If you buy a spool that doesn’t fit in your printer’s spool holder, you won’t be able to use it.

Tolerance

Width tolerance is a significant factor in the final quality of your printed items, and it can be a great specification to use to judge whether or not a brand is worth your time.

Many manufacturers provide this number, so you know what to expect. When you see a measurement such as ±0.03mm, that means the width of the filament varies by plus or minus 0.03mm in width for the entire spool.

Any filament of around ±0.05mm or less is a good choice that won’t cause too many issues. Wider tolerances mean the PLA filament is of low quality. These filaments often cause clogging, bad layer lines, and other inconsistencies.

Special Features

As mentioned in the Additives section, manufacturers often use unique ingredients to give PLA filaments different aesthetic or performance values. Some special PLAs that you can find on the market include extra-strength PLA, iridescent or shiny PLAs, glow-in-the-dark PLAs, PLAs for electrical conductivity, and tri-color and gradient PLAs.

Packaging

Because PLA is made from naturally derived ingredients and is biodegradable, it is crucial to vacuum seal it for storage and transportation. Without vacuum sealing, moisture can get into the filament, causing it to break down and grow brittle and weak.

Using this same logic, you should consider storing your PLA in an airtight container after you use it. A Ziploc bag, Tupperware, or similar container will keep your PLAs from drying out.

Price

The cost of 3D printer filament is always a factor for hobbyists. The best practice is to look for the most high-value option rather than finding the cheapest PLA filaments. When shopping for PLAs, start by comparing prices based on the thickness and spool sizes, then zero in on tolerances, material composition, and any special features you are concerned with. Many manufacturers also offer multi-packs which can cost more upfront but are ultimately less expensive than re-buying individual spools multiple times.

Customer Reviews

The 3D printing industry is relatively new, and the number of PLA manufacturers seems to grow daily. One of the most reliable ways to sort between brands is with customer reviews. Many brands have user reviews on their websites, and marketplaces such as Amazon offer a plethora of reviews that give you a comprehensive picture of the quality of each brand’s PLA filaments.

The Best PLA Filaments

Let’s take a look at eleven of the best PLA filament brands.

{{ item.name }}

Price: {{ item.price }}

The Pros

• {{ p }}

The Cons

• {{ c }}

View on Amazon →

{{ para }}

Frequently Asked Questions About Filaments

Here are a couple of the most commonly asked questions we get about 3d printing with PLA filament materials.

Can You Paint on PLA Filament?

Yes, PLA is one of the best 3D printer filaments to use if you plan on painting your items. It is essential to prep your PLA print by removing any supports, sanding the surface, and applying a primer before painting.

With the proper preparation, just about any paint will work on PLA. We recommend using acrylic paints, enamels, or lacquers. You can use brushes, spray cans, or any other means of application that you desire.

What Temperature Should You Use When Printing With PLA Filament?

Opinions can vary, but we find that PLA is versatile enough to be used between 180 °C and 230 °C. For the best results, try using 210 °C. For more detail, see our full guide to PLA print temperature.

PLA is an attractive choice for budget-conscious printers in part because it doesn’t require a printer with a heated bed. However, if your printer does have a heated bed, set it somewhere between 20 °C and 60 °C. We also recommend using a cooling fan because it helps limit PLA oozing and helps produce the most accurate details and sharpest forms.