The 9 Best PLA Filaments for 3D Printing

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Written by Marcello De Lio

Last Updated

2 min read
Models 3D printed with the best pla filaments

PLA filament (polylactic acid) is popular among 3D printing enthusiasts. It’s easy to print, affordable, and produces excellent results.

With so many filament manufacturers offering PLA, choosing the right material for your 3D printer can be difficult. When selecting the best PLA filament for your needs, consider factors such as material quality, diameter consistency, and color vibrancy.

We’ve spent considerable time researching and testing many PLA filaments to help you find the best options that cater to both performance and aesthetics. Join us as we explore the top PLA filaments.

Best PLA Filaments

Models printed by 3d printer using PolyMaker PLA filament

We’ve compiled a list of the best PLA filaments available on Amazon, making it easy to choose the perfect one for your 3D printing needs.

Top Pick

Hatchbox PLA

$25.99

Why: Hatchbox is a staple in the 3D printing community, offering reliable print quality and a wide range of colors. It's ideal for daily printing projects because of its ease of printing, dimensional accuracy, and vibrant colors.

Price Range: ~$25 for a 1 kg spool

Specs: 1.75 mm diameter, ±0.03 mm tolerance

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11/02/2024 02:26 pm GMT
Premium Pick

Prusament PLA

$69.99

Why: Manufactured by Prusa, Prusament offers top-notch quality with tight tolerances of ±0.02 mm. The filament comes in a variety of vibrant colors, including glitter variants. It has low warping and produces consistent and excellent print quality.

Price Range: $50 - $60 for a 1 kg spool

Specs: 1.75 mm diameter, ±0.02 mm tolerance

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11/02/2024 02:37 pm GMT
Budget Pick

SUNLU PLA

$16.98

Why: Sunlu PLA offers affordability without compromising on quality. Our tests show that the budget filament provides smooth extrusion, high dimensional accuracy, low warping, and minimal stringing. It's also available in various colors, making it suitable for everyday printing needs.

Price Range: $15 - $20 for a 1 kg spool.

Specifications: 1.75 mm diameter, ±0.02 mm tolerance

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11/02/2024 02:41 pm GMT
Flexible Pick

Ataraxia Art Flexible PLA

$29.99

Why: Ataraxia Art's Flexible PLA offers a patented formula with a Shore hardness of 89A. The flexible filament provides the easy-to-print features of PLA and flexibility similar to TPU. It suits projects requiring elasticity, such as shoe insoles, phone cases, and decorative items. I've found the filament easy to use with Bowden and direct drive extruders.

Price Range: $28-35 for a 1 kg spool.

Specifications: 1.75 mm diameter with a tolerance of ±0.03 mm.

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11/02/2024 03:41 pm GMT
Flexible Pick

Ataraxia Art Flexible PLA

$29.99

Why: Ataraxia Art's Flexible PLA offers a patented formula with a Shore hardness of 89A. The flexible filament provides the easy-to-print features of PLA and flexibility similar to TPU. It suits projects requiring elasticity, such as shoe insoles, phone cases, and decorative items. I've found the filament easy to use with Bowden and direct drive extruders.

Price Range: $28-35 for a 1 kg spool.

Specifications: 1.75 mm diameter with a tolerance of ±0.03 mm.

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11/02/2024 03:41 pm GMT
Wood-Filled

Creality Wood Filament PLA

$29.99

Why: Creality's Wood Filament PLA combines PLA with up to 40% wood fibers for a natural wood-like appearance and texture. This filament is ideal for creating decorative items that mimic the look and feel of wood. Wood filament is notoriously difficult to print, but I've found this filament produces the most consistent print quality.

Price Range: $25 - $30 for a 1 kg spool.

Specifications: 1.75 mm diameter with a tolerance of ±0.03 mm.

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11/02/2024 03:53 pm GMT
Metal Pick

Protopasta Stainless Steel Filled PLA

$49.99

Why: Protopasta has quickly become one of my favorite filament brands thanks to its high-quality materials and experimental filaments. Its stainless steel PLA contains 60% stainless steel particles, providing a metallic sheen and added weight. It's suitable for decorative items or functional prototypes requiring a metal-like finish. A bit of post-processing helps give your materials a steel-like shine.

Price Range: Approximately $50-70 for a 0.5 kg spool.

Specifications: 1.75 mm diameter with a ± 0.05 mm

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11/02/2024 03:59 pm GMT
Glow in the Dark Pick

AMOLEN Glow in The Dark PLA Filament

$29.99

Why: Amolen's Glow PLA offers a strong luminescent effect and is available in multiple colors. It's ideal for fun projects and for creating gifts for loved ones.

Price Range: Around $30 for a 1 kg spool.

Specifications: 1.75 mm diameter with a tolerance of ±0.03 mm.

Amazon
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11/02/2024 04:02 pm GMT

How We Pick the Best Filament

When selecting the best 3D printer filament, we looked at several features: price, material quality, eco-conscious features, print quality, and ease of use.

To produce our list, we relied on user feedback through direct interviews, forum posts, comments, and reviews, as well as our own testing and years of experience.

We tested every product on the list but didn’t strictly stick with our tests for quality control because various external features, including air temperature, humidity, 3D printer calibration, and print settings, can impact print quality. 

Our top three choices are in order of top pick, budget pick, and upgrade pick. The rest of the list is in no particular order.

Buying Guide

3D printed models with colorful plastic using OVerture PLA Filament

When looking for the best PLA filaments for our 3D printing projects, it’s important to consider several factors to ensure the final prints are of high quality. Here are some features to keep an eye on:

Material Quality

Material quality was our primary focus. In addition to testing every product on the list, we rely on community feedback to ensure we get the best information before selecting filaments for our list.

High-quality PLA filament is crucial for successful prints.

We look for filament with a consistent diameter, as this will provide a more even flow through the extruder.

The diameter should be within a tolerance of +/- 0.05 mm or lower.

Additionally, the best PLA filaments for 3D printing should not have many issues with stringing, zits, or blobs.

High-quality PLA filament should have great bed adhesion and layer-to-layer adhesion. After printing, it should be easy to remove the model from the heated print bed.

Color options and vibrancy

PLA filaments come in a wide variety of colors. Consider colors that are vibrant and rich, as these will make our prints stand out.

Additionally, think about whether we want a glossy finish or a more matte appearance when selecting our filament.

Filament Winding

A well-wound filament spool is important for trouble-free printing. If the filament is tangled or wound too tightly, it can lead to extruder jams, breaks, or skipped layers.

The best PLA filaments on the market have high-quality control standards to ensure the filament rolls are wound without tangles. 

Opt for filaments that are evenly wound and well-packed.

Environmentally friendly

We gave extra credit to PLA brands with environmental features.

Many brands have made the switch to cardboard filament rolls or offer eco-friendly PLA with recyclable or biodegradable material.

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Written by

Marcello co-founded 3D Print Mentor to share his love of 3D printing. Marcello used to own an online 3D printing company, where he sold unique designs and customized novelty gifts. After closing the business, Marcello’s new passion is 3D printing replica movie props and cosplay items.

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