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If you’re printing with an FDM-style 3D printer (the most popular and user-friendly type), your printer feeds a roll of plastic (or other material) filament through a hot extruder and then deposits it on the print bed in layers. You can have one of the best 3D printers or the best budget 3D printers on the market, use all the right settings in your slicer, and still end up with a print failure or ugly output if you don’t use the right filament.
The best filaments for 3D printing can not only provide good adhesion and avoid clogging your extruder but also build models with eye-popping colors, sharp details, and strong durability. Filament rolls are available in a virtually limitless array of different colors, including rainbow and translucent.
Fun fact: We easily used up to $800 worth of filament in our recent review of the massive Elegoo Orange Storm Giga. Not surprising for a machine with a build volume of 800 x 800x 1000 mm for sure. It’s not a machine for everyone, but if you are looking to make toddler-sized prints, you should stock up with the best filaments and go to our best 3D printer deals to see great discounts on materials. Check out our Giga review for performance details and to see all the fun prints we created.
We’ve tested over a hundred 3D printers, including the Best Multicolor 3D Printers in the market today, and burned through cases of filament using both Bowden and direct-drive extruders to help you find the best PLA, PETG, and TPU filaments for 3D printing.
Below is a summary of our picks, followed by a detailed list with photos and specs for each recommended filament.