Standard PLA. Cheap, easy, and the right answer for most decorative and low-stress prints.
Nozzle 200-220 °CBed 55-60 °C
Materials › PLA
PLA Polylactic acid (polylactide)
The friendly default. Easy, cheap, and comes in every color and finish you can imagine.
About PLA
Overview
- Where almost everyone starts: stiff, crisp detail, rarely needs tuning.
- Not for heat or impact. For warm places or parts that flex, use PETG.
- Comes as plain, PLA+ (tougher), Rapid (fast printers), and Matte or Silk (looks).
Pros
- Easiest filament to print; forgiving on almost any printer
- Little warping, no enclosure needed
- Huge range of colors and finishes (matte, silk, rapid, and more)
- Cheap and widely available
Cons
- Softens around 55-65 °C (glass transition), so it can deform in a hot car or near a heater
- Brittle: tends to snap rather than bend
- Degrades slowly outdoors in sunlight and moisture
Typical settings
- Nozzle
- 190-220 °C
- Bed
- 50-60 °C
- Enclosure
- Not needed
- Drying
- 45-50 °C for 4-6 h if it gets stringy or pops (stay under 50 °C so the spool does not deform)
PLA variants
Results
PLA with toughening additives. Less brittle and a bit stronger, still easy to print.
Nozzle 205-225 °CBed 55-65 °C
PLA tuned to melt and flow quickly so high-speed printers can run fast without under-extruding.
Nozzle 210-230 °CBed 55-65 °C
The speed of Rapid PLA with the toughening of PLA+. A strong choice for fast functional prints.
Nozzle 215-235 °CBed 55-65 °C
PLA with a non-glossy, velvety finish that hides layer lines and fingerprints.
Nozzle 200-225 °CBed 55-65 °C
Shiny, pearlescent PLA with a metallic or satin sheen. Prints beautifully but is weaker than normal PLA.
Nozzle 215-230 °CBed 55-65 °C
PLA with fine glitter particles that catch the light. Easy to print and fun to look at.
Nozzle 200-225 °CBed 55-65 °C
PLA with a speckled, stone-like look. Easy to print and good at hiding layer lines.
Nozzle 200-225 °CBed 55-65 °C
PLA blended with wood fibers for a warm, sandable, stainable look. Fussy to print.
Nozzle 190-215 °CBed 50-60 °C
Glow-in-the-dark PLA
Home, with precautions
PLA with glow pigment that charges in light and glows for hours. Great for fun, poor for strength.
Nozzle 200-220 °CBed 55-60 °C
PLA-CF
Home, with precautions
PLA filled with chopped carbon fiber. Very stiff, matte, and low-warp, but brittle and hard on nozzles.
Nozzle 210-240 °CBed 50-65 °C
Nothing matches. Try removing a filter.
Sources
- MakeItFrom: PLA vs PETG properties
- All3DP: PLA vs ABS vs PETG
- Elegoo: filament drying and storage guide
- Wikipedia: polylactic acid (naming and chemistry)
Figures vary by brand and test method; check your filament's datasheet.