Walk into any filament listing and you'll find hundreds of options. Here's the shortcut: start with PLA, buy good-quality spools, and add specialty materials only when a project needs them.
Start here: PLA
PLA is easy to print, has almost no smell, comes in hundreds of colours and suits most beginner projects. Buy a 1 kg spool each of black, white and one fun colour, and you're set for weeks.
The fun finishes
- Matte PLA hides layer lines and looks premium on figures and decor.
- Silk PLA has a metallic shine that's perfect for vases and trophies.
- Dual-colour silk shifts between two colours as you turn the print.
- Glow-in-the-dark PLA is a kids' favourite. It's slightly abrasive, so a hardened nozzle is worth having.
When to move on
| Need | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoors, sun, water | PETG | Tougher and UV resistant |
| Hot car, near motors | ABS / ASA | Much higher heat resistance |
| Flexible, grippy | TPU | Rubber-like, almost unbreakable |
How much do you need?
A 1 kg spool prints roughly 30–100 small objects, depending on size. Our instant quote tool shows the weight of any model, which is a handy way to estimate.
Read next: PLA vs PETG vs ABS and how to store filament.
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