Technologies
Start Your Project Off Right With the Best 3D Printing Filament in 2022
There are a lot of different 3D-printing materials out there. Here’s how to pick the right one for your project.
You’ve got the best 3D printer you can buy, but without materials, you can’t get printing. If you chose a fused deposition modeling, or FDM, printer — the most common type of 3D printer for hobbyists — you’ll need a few rolls of special plastic. The material we use for FDM 3D printing is called filament and it’s an easy material to pick up. There are, however, different types of filament, each good for certain projects and terrible for others. You’ll want to make sure you’re using the best filament for the job at hand, or it may fail.
I’ve put together this primer of the different types of filament as well as choices of the best filaments from my favorite brands. This will be updated regularly and contains some great choices for you to start.
It’s important to choose both the right type of material and the right brand of that type, be it PLA, ABS or something more exotic. Here are the best of each of the five main filament types.
Read more: Best 3D Printers
Those categories are:
PLA is the easiest material to use to make awesome things.
James Bricknell/CNETPolylactic acid
Polylactic acid, or PLA, is the most common 3D printing filament and the easiest to use. Unlike most plastics, it’s made from corn starches so it is non-toxic and, in theory, compostable, though it takes an industrial composter to do it. PLA uses a fairly low heat — between 190 and 215 degrees Celsius (or between 374 and 419 degrees Fahrenheit) — to melt the plastic for extrusion so it is the safest of the filaments. Almost every FDM 3D printer in the world can print PLA.
PLA pros
- Nontoxic
- No awful smell
- Easy to use for a beginner
- Almost universally usable on any FDM printer
- Very cheap
PLA cons
- Can require a lot of sanding
- Can easily warp in the sun or high-temp environments
- Can be brittle
MatterHackers
Build PLA from MatterHackers is great for projects that require finishing (sanding, painting and so on). I have about 12 rolls of it in my workshop, and use it for large projects, including my Mandalorian armor or cosplay swords. The dimensional accuracy — how consistent the diameter is along the length of the roll — is good, though nothing mind-blowing. It’s well within the sweet zone.
Post-processing is where Build Series PLA shines. It is simple to sand and holds paint well, as long as you use a good primer and filler first. Like all PLA, it holds together well using superglue and even takes putty and Bondo without complaint.
Flashforge
The color of this PLA is hard to describe, but it is beautiful. It has a purple-blue-green hue to it and looks like metal that’s been heated up a lot. Right now it’s probably my favorite-looking filament on my shelf.
It’s also easy to print with, and because of the shifting colors it hides layer lines well. If you’re looking for a dark filament that you aren’t painting over, I’d pick up a few rolls of this today.
MatterHackers
For something completely different in the PLA world, check out Quantum by MatterHackers. Transitional filament, mixing multiple colors, has been around for a while, but it normally changes color across the length of the material. This causes it to change color as it goes further up the model.
Quantum is actually two colors fused across the entire width, so you get an amazing transition from left to right. It’s absolutely mesmerizing, and I love using it for all sorts of different projects. From vases to giant articulated octopuses, it makes any model look breathtaking.
Cookiecad
I have been meaning to buy some of this beautiful filament for some time now, and I’m really happy I did. The color is almost exactly the same as Mint choc chip ice cream and the tiny flecks of marble color enhance the look even more. It prints great, with a nice glossy finish, and I found printing it at a higher temperature brings out that gloss really well.
More importantly than the print quality though, I love it for the way it makes me feel. The color just makes me happy and reminds me of days at the beach with my kids. It’s gorgeous.
Sunlu
Sunlu is one of those filaments that is really easy to get hold of and prints well every time you use it. It says its dimensional accuracy is +/- 0.02mm, but I’ve been lucky to never have the variance above 0.01mm in hands-on use.
Sunlu also comes in some beautiful matte colors, which is a welcome break from more common shiny filaments. Sanding and printing with it is easy. If you’re new to 3D printing and need to increase your collection of PLA, this is a cheap way to do it.
James Bricknell/CNET
Rainbow filament tends to transition between colors very slowly. This means you often get only one or two colors per model. Creality’s latest rainbow filament has a much shorter transition, so you get a much nicer rainbow effect across your models. It looks great on this amazing dragon from Fotis Mint.
Polymaker
For projects you can show off without having to paint them first, PolyTerra might be for you. The colors are vivid, and because they are matte, you don’t lose details in the reflections like with shiny filament.
PolyTerra also comes in recycled cardboard reels, and the creator, Polymaker, will plant a tree in the area where the roll was bought to help offset the cardboard used. This filament is still plastic of course, but it helps my conscience to use it.
Ataraxia Art
In this article about this flexible PLA I explained how, although this isn’t technically PLA, it does print much easier than TPU, a more common flexible filament. I used it to print an amazing Mandalorian Blacksmith helmet for my 4-year-old. She can’t break it because it’s so bouncy.
This isn’t for newbies, though. It took a lot of trial and error to get the setting for my 3D printer right, and because it is so soft the accuracy can be pretty wonky. But for something that’s different from normal PLA, it is worth checking out.
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
ABS was one of the more 3D printing filaments a few years back, and it still has some excellent uses. The biggest downside is the toxicity. You don’t want to breathe in ABS as it melts, so you’ll need a well-ventilated area. That aside, it’s sturdier and more heat-resistant than PLA. Most printers can print ABS, but you’ll need a heated bed that can reach 100 degrees Celsius for best results and protecting your printing job in an enclosed printer is a good idea.
ABS pros
- Can withstand a lot of heat
- Easy to sand
- Can be smoothed with acetone for a perfect shine
ABS cons
- Its fumes are toxic so it requires ventilation
- It needs far more heat to print than PLA
- You will need an enclosure to get good results
Inland
Inland makes good filament across the board and its ABS is no different. I’ve never had issues with the dimensions, and the final product has consistent layer lines. Sanding Inland ABS is a joy as the material can be wet-sanded to a smooth finish.
MatterHackers
Fillamentum is one of my favorite ABS makers. The colors are always so vibrant, and while it costs a little more than the competition, it keeps that vibrancy even after the model is finished printing. If you’re looking for ABS that you don’t need to paint, Fillamentum is a great place to start.
Polyethylene terephthalate glycol
PETG is chemically similar to the plastic that water and soft drink bottles are made of, and is a great alternative to ABS. It has the heat-resistant properties of ABS without the toxic fumes and can be sanded much like PLA. Most FDM printers that can print PLA can print PETG, though it takes a little more effort to get right.
PETG pros
- Easier to print than ABS
- Holds a finish well
- Easier to store than other filaments
PETG cons
- Requires high temps, which can damage printer parts over time.
Protomaker
This USA-made PETG has an excellent glassy look that is hard to achieve in melted plastic. The aqua color is subtle and gives the appearance of a stained glass window when printed at the high end of its temperature scale.
Printing with it was easy, though the roll is a little big for printers like the Bambu Lab X1, that has enclosed filament system.
Matterhackers
The Pro series filament from MatterHackers is a much nicer product than a lot of standard PETG. Yes, it costs a little more, but it’s designed to help reduce some of the issues that filament suffers from. It reduces shrinkage, so the part you make is as close to the part you designed as possible. This is a great material for those who make 3D printed models for a living, rather than a hobby.
Overture
Overture PETG is a favorite because it comes in an economical two-pack, making it ideal for multiple or larger jobs. I’ve used a lot of Overture products, including PETG and PLA, and they always print well. I once printed an 11-foot-long Masamune sword using Overture and it came out looking awesome.
Thermoplastic polyurethane
TPU is a flexible material that can make cool rubbery models. Most people use it to 3D print phone cases, but more serious modelers often use it to create connectors or flexible hinges to other materials. It can be a difficult material to work with and is best used on a direct-drive 3D printer such as the Prusa Mk3s, rather than a Bowden printer like the Anycubic Vyper. A direct drive printer places the gears to move the filament directly on the print head, while a Bowden setup has them on the frame of the printer.
TPU pros
- Flexible
- Won’t warp in the heat
- Available in fun colors
TPU cons
- Terrible for making solid prints
- Hard to work with on budget printers
MatterHackers
MatterHackers Build Series Materials sit in the perfect balance between usability and cost. Yes, I’ve had failures with the Build Series, but once you get it dialed into your printer, you can make dozens of fun, springy models.
I like to use it to make fun toys for my kid’s preschool as they can be thrown around with no fear of breaking into small, sharp pieces.
Exotic filaments
Exotic filaments are ones that are outside the normal five choices, or interesting variations on those choices. They’re often PLA mixed with carbon fiber or glow-in-the-dark chemicals and something that prints outside the normal parameters of a 3D printer. You’ll often need to upgrade your printer nozzle to use these. It’s advanced stuff, but I wanted to show you my favorite glow-in-the-dark filament, which is fun to print with.
Amolen PLA
Glow-in-the-dark filament normally comes in a standard «radioactive» green, but this beautiful roll transitions through multiple colors. It’s simply gorgeous.
It’s also worthwhile to buy some replacement brass nozzles for your printer as glow-in-the-dark filament can chew them up pretty quickly because the glowing material is more abrasive than standard colors.
Filament FAQ
What filament should I start with?
If you’re buying a printer for the first time, the best choice of filament is PLA. It is the easiest to print with, the safest in terms of fumes and the most readily available. Think about laying in a store of PLA when you first start. A 1-kilogram roll feels like a lot, but once you get the itch, materials get eaten up quickly.
Are there different sizes of filament?
Yes. There are two main thicknesses of filament and if you get them mixed up, your machine won’t print.
1.75mm filament is the most common. It’s been adopted by most of the 3D manufacturers in the world and if you have an entry-level printer, it’s likely to run on 1.75mm filament.
Some 3D printers still use the thicker 3mm style, though, so make sure you know which one yours uses before you spend a lot of money on the wrong material.
Are all filaments toxic?
When 3D printing with any filament, it is important to remember that you are essentially burning plastic. Inhaling that kind of thing is never going to be good, but not all filaments are equally bad.
Of the four main filament types, ABS is easily the most toxic. You shouldn’t think about printing it unless you have a well-ventilated space away from your day-to-day living spaces. I have a workshop with a full ventilation system and the fumes can still be pretty bad.
Both PLA and PETG are considered nontoxic, though you still want to keep your area ventilated as you use them. Both filaments are safe to print inside your home and while the fumes can smell pretty bad, they’re not classed as carcinogenic. While other forms of TPU can be toxic, the filament you use for 3D printing is considered nontoxic and nonreactive so you should be fine printing that as well.
Does the filament keep the same color after printing?
Normally yes. If your printer isn’t calibrated well, it could burn the filament, which would discolor it. But normally the color accuracy is pretty close.
A special note on clear plastics: You will not be able to get a completely translucent print with filament. The nature of the printing process makes any clear plastic misty and infill makes it blurry as well. If you are looking to print glass-like models, you will need a resin printer.
Having the right diameter makes for a better print.
Dan Ackerman/CNETHow we test filament
The testing of filament is mainly focused on a few details: Dimensional accuracy, winding precision, and printing quality. Winding precision is a visual test where I check to make sure the filament works well on the spool, without any crossovers that can cause snags while printing.
Print quality is done using a CNET calibration test that I use to test all of the 3D printers I review. When checking for filament quality, I’m looking for noticeable roughness and missing filament where moisture or other contaminants have interrupted the process of melting and cooling.
Dimensional accuracy is perhaps the most important test as it measures the consistency of filament. As you move along, the filament changes in diameter will cause the 3D printer to over- or under-extrude filament. This creates noticeable scarring in your model, or worse, complete failure. You want the material to have the same diameter the whole way through.
To measure the accuracy, I take a 5-meter piece of filament from the beginning, middle and end of the roll and measure the diameter at four equally spaced points. I then add all of those measurements up and divide the total by 12 — the total number of measurements taken — to give me an average across the roll. Most modern printers use 1.75mm filament so you want the filament to be as close to that as possible.
Great filament has a variance of +/- 0.02mm, good filament is +/- 0.03mm and rough filament is anything +/- 0.05mm. All of the filaments we have recommended here are at least 0.03mm on average.
More on 3D printing
Technologies
This TracFone Settlement Will Pay Over $53K to Some People, but You’ll Have to Apply Soon
TracFone is paying out a sizable settlement to those affected by a data breach. Time is running out to opt in if you’re eligible.
This deep into the age of smartphones, I’d bet that a lot of you out there haven’t thought about TracFone in a while. But a good number of folks still get wireless service through it, and they ought to know about the impending settlement payments coming from the company.
TracFone is currently accepting applications for a class action lawsuit settlement after it was accused of failing to prevent a major data breach several years ago. While the total amount the company is set to pay out isn’t known, the potential payout to impacted customers could be huge, depending on the damages they suffered.
Founded nearly 30 years ago, TracFone is a mobile virtual network operator, or MVNO. It’s best known for offering cheaper, prepaid and no-contract mobile phone service — catering to folks who don’t need or want contract service and who prefer to pay as they go. TracFone piggybacks off the network operated by Verizon, TracFone’s parent company since 2021. In addition to services under its own name, you might also be familiar with TracFone’s offerings under a few other popular brand names: Straight Talk Wireless, Total Wireless, Simple Mobile, SafeLink Wireless, Net10 Wireless and Walmart Family Mobile.
At the time it was acquired by Verizon, the company boasted 21 million users and a presence in 90,000 retail stores, though those numbers have dwindled since then.
For everything you need to know about the TracFone settlement, keep reading. And for more settlement news, here’s everything you need to know about AT&T’s $177 million settlement.
Why was TracFone sued?
This settlement from TracFone came in response to a class action lawsuit filed against the company after a December 2021 data breach exposed the personal data of its customers. The plaintiffs in the case argued that the company failed to provide cybersecurity measures that would’ve prevented the breach
While TracFone has agreed to pay a settlement, it has not admitted to any wrongdoing in this case.
Who qualifies for the TracFone settlement?
The settlement is open to any customer of TracFone, or one of its above-mentioned brands, who resides in the US and can verify damages suffered as a result of the breach. In order to do that and get paid, you’ll need to provide materials proving the authenticity of your claims, such as receipts, bank statements, invoices, phone bills, credit reports, police reports or identity theft reports.
If you think you’re eligible for the TracFone settlement and can back it up with documentation, you can submit your claim on the official settlement website.
How long do I have to join the TracFone settlement?
Settlement applications are open through Aug. 7, so you have little less than a month to join the settlement.
How much can I get paid from the TracFone settlement?
That’s going to be dependent on the damages you suffered and can verify, but the upper limits are pretty generous.
For simpler out-of-pocket expenses, you can get up $3,250. These include costs like bank fees, mail costs, gasoline purchases, credit reports fees and insurance taken out between Nov. 15, 2021, and Aug. 7, 2025. You can also claim up to 15 hours of lost time due to the fallout of the data breach, at $30 an hour.
For «extraordinary» expenses resulting from the breach, you can claim up to $50,000 in damages. This can include things like verifiable losses caused by identity theft or loss of business opportunities. TracFone will also provide class members with identity theft insurance worth up to $1 million.
When will I get paid from the TracFone settlement?
That’s still up in the air, but you can expect it to be sometime in the fall at the earliest. In order for payments to go out, the final approval hearing, set for Sept. 16, still needs to be held. A clearer picture of the payment schedule should be available by then.
For more settlement news, find out if you’re eligible for GameStop’s Facebook privacy settlement payments.
Technologies
Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Season 4’s Third Double XP Weekend Is Live Now
With Season 4 ending in three weeks, now is the perfect time to take advantage of double battle pass XP to clinch out some of the final tiers.
With less than 30 days left in Black Ops 6 Season 4, players are hustling to finish up the latest Call of Duty battle pass. Never fear — developer Treyarch has your back with another double XP weekend and three boosts for players to take advantage of. You’ll be able to speed through battle pass tiers, account levels and weapon attachment unlocks to kickstart your advancement of the newest seasonal content. This double XP weekend runs from Friday to Monday.
Anyone playing Black Ops 6 during the event period has a universal double battle pass XP, account XP and weapon XP earn rate applied to their account. If you log in now, you can hop into battle and reap the rewards of this double XP weekend right away, including the LC10 submachine gun and the FFAR 1 assault rifle.
This isn’t a Quad Feed double XP weekend, which means zombies mode players won’t be able to benefit from double GobbleGum drop rates. But the three biggest double XP boosts are active, which means your double XP tokens will be locked for the duration of the event.
Here’s everything you need to know about this double XP weekend. If you’re looking for something else to play, see our recommendations for the best game subscription services.
When does the double XP weekend start in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6?
It’s live. This double XP weekend kicked off on Friday at 1 p.m. ET.
Not sure when the double XP weekend went live for you? Here’s when the event started in your time zone:
- ET: July 11 at 1 p.m.
- CT: July 11 at noon.
- MT: July 11 at 11 a.m.
- PT: July 11 at 10 a.m.
It’s always worth starting your game ahead of your gaming session if possible. As with every Black Ops 6 patch, the update is going to require you to download new content and restart the application.
When does the Double XP Weekend end in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6?
Some double XP «weekends» are much longer events, lasting five to seven days. That isn’t the case this time around. This double XP weekend will end on Monday. Your double XP tokens will once again unlock after this time.
Here’s when the double XP weekend will end in your time zone:
- ET: July 14 at 1 p.m.
- CT: July 14 at noon.
- MT: July 14 at 11 a.m.
- PT: July 14 at 10 a.m.
Does Call of Duty Warzone have double XP this weekend?
Call of Duty Warzone has a double XP weekend running in tandem with Black Ops 6. That means Warzone players will also be able to benefit from this boost by leveling up their account, weapons and battle passes at twice the normal speed.
New players have a chance to level up the weapons they unlock from the new and improved Warzone Armory, and returning players can continue unlocking new attachments for the suite of Black Ops 6 weaponry added to Warzone.
Black Ops 6 double XP FAQ
Technologies
Price of Switch 2 Might Increase Soon Because of Tariffs
Industry analysts offered their thoughts on the console’s potential new price once tariffs hit.
It’s been more than a month since Switch 2 came out. As Nintendo’s most expensive console, at $450, it has yet to see a price jump because of President Donald Trump’s new tariffs, but that can still change.
Trump first announced his plans for tariffs on April 2, the same day that the Switch 2 was revealed. The tariffs targeted two countries important to Nintendo: Japan, where the company is based, and Vietnam, where some of its products are manufactured. He did declare soon after the announcement that the tariffs are on pause for Japan and Vietnam for 90 days. Time appears to have run out as the tariffs are set to officially start on Aug. 1.
As for how much Nintendo would need to jack up prices to compensate for the tariffs, that’s a complicated answer.
How much is the Switch 2 after tariffs?
Wedbush Securities Analyst Michael Pachter believes that after the pause happens and tariffs are applied to products made in Vietnam and sold by Japan, like the Switch 2, he expects Nintendo of Japan to ship the consoles to Nintendo of America at the bare minimum cost of the console to pay the lowest tariffs possible.
«I think it will be $75 to $100 additional on price, maybe a tad more,» Pachter said. This would put the price of Switch 2 after tariffs in the $525 to $550 range.
Piers Harding-Rolls, Ampere Analysis research director, gave a similar price range in his opinion about the Switch 2.
«This is a pretty fluid situation, after all. Nintendo will not want to change the price but I think everything is on the table now and an increase of at least $50 to $100 for the base console is realistic to offset some of the additional costs,» Harding-Rolls said. «Alternatively, Nintendo might conclude that the US market is too important to the company and that it will swallow the additional cost and make up the margin on digital games sales instead.»
DFC Intelligence CEO David Cole has a similar take on the price. He told Forbes in April that he expects the price to increase but not that much, as he believes the starting price of $450 already has baked into it a percentage to cover possible tariffs.
«It is not likely Nintendo will raise the price, and if they do, we don’t expect it to be 20%,» Cole told Forbes. A 20% increase would put the price of the console after tariffs at about $540.
The Switch 2 is already expensive
When Nintendo revealed the Switch 2 on April 2, the stream for the show ended without revealing the price. Instead, everyone interested had to visit the site and see the starting price of $450 and the bundle with Mario Kart World for $500.
This price would make the Switch 2 the most expensive Nintendo console at launch when not factoring in inflation. Like Cole, some assumed the higher price tag included a premium for a possible tariff but that doesn’t appear to be the case, according to Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser.
«Put [the April 2 announcement] aside. Any previous tariffs were not factored into the price itself,» Bowser told The Verge after the reveal.
Read more: Rising Cost of Nintendo Switch 2 Games: Are Trump’s Tariffs to Blame?
In an interview with CBC in April, Bowser defended the $450 price tag, saying it was appropriate for the machine’s value.
«We recognize there are some people that may not be able to afford [the Switch 2’s] price point,» he told CBC. «That’s why we wanted to make the other Switch platforms available, so [people] still have an opportunity to come into our gaming universe, be a part of these characters in these worlds, and see the value, if you will, in whatever rung of the platform they come in.»
Nintendo cleared a major hurdle by releasing its latest console at the announced launch price, although some accessories did go up in cost. The company may still need to raise the price of the Switch 2 in the future, like Microsoft did, and what many speculate Sony will have to do soon on its PS5.
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