PLA

Polylactic Acid

The default starting material for most hobbyists. Corn/sugarcane-derived thermoplastic. Stiff, easy to print, decent surface finish. Not heat-resistant, not flexible, not chemical-resistant. Great for decorative and low-stress functional parts. PLA is known for low warp and shrink, relatively clean printing, and good dimensional consistency, though bed adhesion can still depend on surface prep and temperature tuning.

Skill level: Beginner

This filament is beginner-friendly to print. Worth watching: it can be low on heat resistance.

Nozzle 195-220 °CBed 35-65 °CEnclosure Not RequiredStrength MediumHeat LowMoisture LowFumes LowBed adhesion Easyⓘ

ⓘ Ratings you can usually improve by dialing in your settings.

Things to watch

Softens in heat, not for hot cars or near heat sources
Degrades in sunlight, not ideal for long-term outdoor use
Can be brittle, may crack under sharp impact
Wears down under friction, not for high-wear parts

Strengths

Solid strength for everyday parts
Stiff and rigid, resists flexing
Stays flat, very little warping
Prints clean with minimal stringing
Food-safe potential with the right setup

Full spec sheet · 53 fields

Printing requirements

NOZZLE TEMP

195-220 °C

BED TEMP BAND

Off, 40-60°C

PART COOLING

Max 100%

FIRST-LAYER FAN

Off

ENCLOSURE / CHAMBER

Ambient (20-35°C)

VOC / FUMES

Low

AIR MANAGEMENT

Open Window / Room Ventilation

Dilutes airborne contaminants but doesn't filter them.

FLOW RATIO

ADHESION AID

Optional (Brim)

DRY BEFORE PRINTING

Optional

ACTIVE DRYING DURING PRINT

Not needed

DRYING

40-50 °C for 4-6 h

Printing characteristics

PRINT ACCURACY

Excellentⓘ

WARPING

None

SHRINKAGE

0.2-0.6 %

BED ADHESION DIFFICULTY

Easyⓘ

POST-PRINT BED RELEASE

Easy

LAYER ADHESION

Goodⓘ

BRIDGING & OVERHANG

Excellentⓘ

STRINGING

Minimalⓘ

OOZING

Minimalⓘ

SPEED SENSITIVITY

Lowⓘ

RECOMMENDED MAX SPEED

200 mm/s

MOISTURE SENSITIVITY

Low

ODOR

Mild

DRAFT SENSITIVITY

Low

Material properties

DENSITY

1.24 g/cm³

STRENGTH

Medium · 50 MPa

STIFFNESS

High · 3.50 GPa

TOUGHNESS

Low · 3.0 kJ/m²

FLEXIBILITY

Rigid · 5% elong.

HEAT RESISTANCE

Low · 55 °C HDT

GLASS TRANSITION (TG)

60 °C

WATER ABSORPTION

Medium · 0.50% in 24h

FLEXURAL STRENGTH

Medium · 80 MPa

FLEXURAL STIFFNESS

High · 3.60 GPa

UV RESISTANCE

Poor

CHEMICAL RESISTANCE

Poor

WEAR RESISTANCE

Poor

WEATHER RESISTANCE

Poor

FLAME RESISTANCE

Poor

ELECTRICAL INSULATION

Good

CREEP RESISTANCE

Fair

FATIGUE RESISTANCE

Poor

HARDNESS

Hard 80-90D

BIODEGRADABILITY

Partial

FOOD-SAFE POTENTIAL

With proper processing

Post-processing

SANDABLE

Good

PAINTABLE

Good

VAPOR SMOOTHING

Limited (Ethyl acetate)

GLUE COMPATIBILITY

Good

MACHINABILITY

Good

ANNEALING

Possible

Common uses

Decor & Cosplay Display modelsFigurines & statues

Home & Lifestyle Drawer organizersPlanters

Tabletop & Gaming Board game insertsMiniatures

Filaments (1119)

All brands

Filament ↕	Brand ↕	Series ↕	Specialties
Black + Red	eSun	Silk Magic	SilkCoextrusion
Green + Blue	eSun	Silk Magic	SilkCoextrusion
Red + Black + Gold	eSun	Silk Magic	SilkTriextrusion
Red + Blue	eSun	Silk Magic	SilkCoextrusion
Absolute Black	Bambu Lab	Pure
Aged Brass	AMOLEN	Silk Basic	Metallic
Air Wood	Overture	Standard	Lightweight
Almond Yellow	eSun	Matte
Almond Yellow	eSun	PLA+	High SpeedTough / Impact Resistant
Alpine Forest	Overture	Rock	Stone
Alpine Green	Bambu Lab	Sparkle
Amber Sea	AMOLEN	Silk S-Series	Triextrusion
Amber Yellow	AMOLEN	Crystal Transparent	TranslucentGradient
Amethyst Violet	Atomic Filament	Translucent
Anthracite Grey	Prusament	Standard	Basic

1–15 of 1119