3D Printing Filament Cheat Sheet

The ultimate guide to choosing the right filament for your 3D printing projects. Compare materials, understand their properties, and find the best options for your needs.

View Tier List Beginner Guide

Understanding Tiers

Design around it if possible - exceptional materials worth prioritizing

Excellent, broadly useful - reliable workhorses for most projects

Good but situational - higher friction to use or more specialized

Niche, annoying, or usually outclassed - use only when necessary

Not worth it - fundamentally problematic materials to avoid

Non-standard tiering - unique materials with specific use cases

Quick Selection Guide

Find the best filament for your specific use case

Cosmetic Models & Prototypes

Best for display pieces and visual prototypes

APLA BMatte PLA BSilk PLA

Functional Indoor Parts

Durable parts for indoor use

APETG STough PLA BNylon PA6

Outdoor Parts

UV-resistant materials for outdoor exposure

AASA APETG CABS

Heat Resistant Parts

Parts that need to withstand high temperatures

CABS AASA BPolycarbonate APEKK

Wear & Friction Parts

Gears, bushings, and sliding components

BNylon PA6 FPOM BCarbon Fiber Nylon

Flexible Parts

Gaskets, grips, bumpers, and rubber-like components

STPU BSemi-flexible TPU ASEBS

Beginners

Easy-to-print materials for those starting out

APLA APETG STPU

Best Looking Prints

Aesthetically impressive filaments

SCarbon Fiber PLA BMatte PLA BSilk PLA

New to 3D Printing?

Start With These

PLA (general prints)
PETG (functional parts)
TPU 95A (flexible parts, only after comfortable with PLA/PETG)

Avoid Without Enclosure

Avoid Without Drying

Nylon/PA
PVA/BVOH
TPU (if humid conditions)

Read the full beginner guide →

All Filaments

Complete list of 40 filament types with print settings and tier rankings. Click any filament for detailed information.

Tier	Filament	Family	Nozzle Temp	Bed Temp	Enclosure
S	Carbon Fiber PLA PLA-CF	PLA	200°C - 230°C	50°C - 60°C	Not Needed	Details →
S	Tough PLA PLA + PBT alloy	PLA	200°C - 230°C	50°C - 70°C	Not Needed	Details →
S	High-speed PLA Fast PLA / High flow PLA	PLA	190°C - 230°C	50°C - 60°C	Not Needed	Details →
S	Carbon Fiber PETG PETG-CF	PETG	230°C - 260°C	70°C - 90°C	Optional	Details →
S	PCTG Polycyclohexylene Dimethylene Terephthalate Glycol-modified	PETG	230°C - 260°C	70°C - 85°C	Optional	Details →
S	TPU Thermoplastic Polyurethane	Flexible	200°C - 240°C	30°C - 60°C	Not Needed	Details →
S	Glass-filled Nylon PA-GF / GFPA	Nylon (PA)	260°C - 290°C	80°C - 100°C	Required	Details →
A	PLA Polylactic Acid	PLA	185°C - 235°C	50°C - 60°C	Not Needed	Details →
A	PETG Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol-modified	PETG	215°C - 270°C	70°C - 90°C	Optional	Details →
A	ASA Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate	ASA	220°C - 275°C	90°C - 110°C	Recommended	Details →
A	SEBS Styrene Ethylene Butylene Styrene	Flexible	200°C - 240°C	40°C - 60°C	Not Needed	Details →
A	Carbon Fiber Polycarbonate CFPC / PC-CF	PC	270°C - 300°C	100°C - 120°C	Required	Details →
A	PC-PBT Polycarbonate + PBT alloy	PC	250°C - 270°C	80°C - 100°C	Recommended	Details →
A	PEKK Polyether Ketone Ketone	PEEK-family	340°C - 380°C	120°C - 160°C	Required	Details →
A	PEI 9085 Ultem 9085	PEI	350°C - 400°C	120°C - 160°C	Required	Details →
B	Silk PLA Shiny PLA	PLA	190°C - 220°C	50°C - 60°C	Not Needed	Details →
B	Wood PLA PLA + sawdust	PLA	180°C - 220°C	50°C - 60°C	Not Needed	Details →
B	Matte PLA Matte PLA composite	PLA	190°C - 220°C	50°C - 60°C	Not Needed	Details →
B	HIPS High Impact Polystyrene	PS	220°C - 250°C	90°C - 110°C	Recommended	Details →
B	Semi-flexible TPU Mid-durometer TPU	Flexible	210°C - 230°C	40°C - 60°C	Not Needed	Details →
B	Nylon PA6 Polyamide 6	Nylon (PA)	240°C - 290°C	70°C - 110°C	Required	Details →
B	Nylon PA12 Polyamide 12	Nylon (PA)	260°C - 300°C	80°C - 110°C	Required	Details →
B	Carbon Fiber Nylon PA-CF / Nylon-CF	Nylon (PA)	250°C - 290°C	80°C - 100°C	Required	Details →
B	Polycarbonate PC	PC	260°C - 310°C	90°C - 120°C	Required	Details →
B	Glass-filled Polypropylene GFPP / PP-GF	PP	230°C - 260°C	80°C - 100°C	Required	Details →
B	PSU Polysulfone	PSU	340°C - 380°C	140°C - 180°C	Required	Details →
B	PVA Polyvinyl Alcohol	Water-soluble supports	180°C - 220°C	45°C - 60°C	Not Needed	Details →
B	PCL Polycaprolactone	PCL	60°C - 110°C	30°C - 45°C	Not Needed	Details →
C	ABS Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene	ABS	230°C - 255°C	95°C - 110°C	Recommended	Details →
C	Soft TPU Low durometer TPU (~80A)	Flexible	200°C - 220°C	30°C - 50°C	Not Needed	Details →
C	PMMA Acrylic / Plexiglass / Perspex	PMMA	230°C - 260°C	70°C - 100°C	Recommended	Details →
C	PEEK Polyether Ether Ketone	PEEK-family	360°C - 450°C	120°C - 200°C	Required	Details →
C	PPS Polyphenylene Sulfide	PPS	300°C - 340°C	120°C - 150°C	Required	Details →
F	Metal-filled PLA PLA + metal shavings	PLA	190°C - 220°C	50°C - 60°C	Not Needed	Details →
F	TPE Generic TPE filament	Flexible	200°C - 230°C	30°C - 50°C	Not Needed	Details →
F	Polypropylene PP	PP	220°C - 250°C	80°C - 100°C	Recommended	Details →
F	POM Acetal / Delrin / Polyoxymethylene	POM	220°C - 260°C	90°C - 120°C	Required	Details →
F	HDPE High Density Polyethylene	HDPE	220°C - 260°C	80°C - 100°C	Required	Details →
F	PVDF Polyvinylidene Fluoride / Kynar	PVDF	220°C - 260°C	70°C - 90°C	Recommended	Details →
SP	PVB Polyvinyl Butyral	PVB	190°C - 220°C	50°C - 70°C	Not Needed	Details →

Ready to Start Printing?

Check out our recommended brands and find the best deals on quality filaments from trusted manufacturers.

Browse Recommended Brands