Connect with us

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.

A collection of awesome 3D printing models!A collection of awesome 3D printing models!
James Bricknell/CNET

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:

3D printed articulated snake3D printed articulated snake

PLA is the easiest material to use to make awesome things.

James Bricknell/CNET

Polylactic 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.

$26 at Amazon

You’re receiving price alerts for Flashforge 3D Printer Filament Mulitcolor PLA 1.75mm, 3D Printing Filament 1kg Spool-Dimensional Accuracy +/- 0.02mm, Environmental Friendliness, no Smoke and no Odor (Burnt Titanium, PLA)

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.

$35 at Amazon

You’re receiving price alerts for CookieCad Mint chip

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.

$19 at Amazon

You’re receiving price alerts for Sunlu PLA

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.

$20 at Amazon

You’re receiving price alerts for Polymaker PolyTerra

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. 

$35 at Amazon

You’re receiving price alerts for ATARAXIA ART Flexible PLA filament 1.75mm, 3D Printer Filament, PLA filament,1kg, Better Than TPU, 89A Shore Hardness, Patent Formula, Compatible Bowden Extruder, With Filament storage Bag, PLA VIOLET

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.

$21 at Amazon

You’re receiving price alerts for Inland 1.75mm Black ABS

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.

$39 at Amazon

You’re receiving price alerts for Overture PETG Filament 2-pack

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. 

$37 at Amazon

You’re receiving price alerts for Amolen PLA Filament Glow in The Dark Multicolor PLA

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.

Calipers measuring filamentCalipers measuring filament

Having the right diameter makes for a better print.

Dan Ackerman/CNET

How 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.

graph showing average lengthsgraph showing average lengths
James Bricknell/CNET

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.

Technologies

We Learned How to Share Info About ICE and Police Raids on Apps Like Ring Neighbors

If you’re wondering how to post about ICE on neighborhood apps, here are some tips.

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has been in the spotlight due to its repression of immigrants and targeting of protesters, not only in Minnesota but across the country. The FBI has also been investigating related Signal chats, and Facebook is taking down posts about ICE. Earlier this month, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression accused the Department of Homeland Security of forcing tech companies to censor «protected speech» on social media platforms

I contacted two social platforms — Nextdoor and Ring Neighbors — to see what they allow and what happens when you see ICE activity from your video doorbell or in person. I learned what sort of posts they allow, what gets taken down and how to talk about nearby raids. Here’s what you should know, too.

Are posts getting banned on apps like Ring Neighbors?

I reached out to Ring about its Neighbors app policies regarding recent events and police raids, as well as Reddit reports about posts being taken down. The company provided information about its policies and explained why Ring tends to remove certain posts or prevent them from going live on Neighbors. 

Posts about a general law enforcement presence can get nixed. So if someone said ICE was spotted in «Bell Gardens,» their post would be denied because that’s too vague. Or if a post asked, «Hey, is there any ICE activity in town?» it wouldn’t be allowed. Other posts get banned if they:

  • Explicitly obstruct law enforcement
  • Voice political opinions
  • Assume immigration status or other types of prejudice
  • Don’t pertain to local events

Read more: Is it Legal for Police to Seize Your Home Security Videos?

What’s a safe way to post about police activity?

Posts that cite an exact location or images showing agents directly connected to an event tend not to be taken down. If someone said, «I saw ICE knocking on doors at the IHOP on Florence and Pico,» that would be allowed under Ring’s guidelines. Other allowed posts provide information on the exact cross streets, addresses, complexes, blocks and so on.

Bans aren’t always immediate. Sometimes posts that violate guidelines are taken down after the fact, either through post-published moderation, flagging or user deletion. Customers can usually appeal moderation decisions to ensure consistency.

When I turned to Nextdoor, another popular neighborhood app used for discussing events, a company spokesperson said something similar: «Our platform fosters discussions of local issues and, as such, our Community Guidelines prohibit broad commentary or personal opinions on national political topics.»

As long as it’s a local issue and users follow the basic community guidelines (be respectful, don’t discriminate and use your true identity), then posts should be fine.

What are the guidelines for posting on Ring Neighbors?

When I visit my own Neighbors app, I see — contrary to some reports — that users frequently post about hearing sirens or police activity in their own neighborhoods, ask about masked strangers or raise questions about law enforcement.

You can still post about security concerns on Ring Neighbors and other apps, even and especially when they involve police activity. You can also post about people you don’t recognize and strangers knocking, which opens the door (not literally) to talking about masked federal ICE agents who aren’t wearing any identifiers.

In other words, it looks like what Ring said mostly tracks. Explicit information citing current, local events, preferably with address data, is allowed.

«Focus on the behavior that raised your suspicion,» Nextdoor recommends. «Describe the potentially criminal or dangerous activity you observed or experienced — what the person was doing, what they said (if they spoke to you). Include the direction they were last headed.» If you post with an eye toward your neighborhood’s safety, your post is less likely to be removed.

Finally, avoid posts that include gruesome content or violate someone’s privacy, as these are also red flags likely to lead to a block.

Is Ring currently sharing information with ICE?

You may also be concerned that Ring is sharing your security videos with ICE or the surveillance company Flock Safety. In early 2026, Ring canceled its pending contract with Flock and has not announced any direct arrangements with law enforcement services. 

Ring’s published guidelines say the company doesn’t share information with the police or federal agencies without a binding request, such as a search warrant, subpoena or court order. However, since Ring’s plans have changed abruptly over the past several months, they could shift again in the future. CNET will continue to report on further developments.

Can users coordinate on apps like Ring Neighbors?

This is a gray area, and it’s hard to know whether discussions will be removed. In my experience on the Neighbors app, many discussions about sirens and unexplained police presence were left up, allowing people to share their own perspectives and what they heard on police scanners.

It’s possible that the more these posts mention ICE or federal enforcement, the more likely they’ll be removed, and if conversations move into discussions about national issues or general legal advice, they may be taken down. But many people have reported successfully using apps like Neighbors to discuss nearby law enforcement raids, so I don’t see any evidence of a blanket ban.

Groups using the Neighbors app to communicate important information or provide help should also be aware of the Neighbors Verified tag, which is available to public safety agencies and community organizations. This tag makes it easier for Neighbors users to trust information and announcements from specific accounts. Verified accounts don’t have access to any additional user information.

Can agents cover up my security cam or doorbell?

In the past, published footage and news reports have shown federal agents covering up a video doorbell during an ICE raid. While it’s not common, civil rights attorneys have said actions like these are illegal. This issue connects to a larger fight over filming ICE in general, something the Department of Homeland Security has said is illegal, and US courts have said is protected under the First Amendment. 

Devices on your own property should be fine if ICE follows the current law — you can find more details here — but it’s always a good idea to immediately save any pertinent video footage, preferably in more than one device. 

What are my rights if I’m worried about ICE raids?

Whether you’re concerned about federal immigration raids, curious about what law enforcement is doing or just want clarification about your rights, it’s a good idea to consult the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Immigrant Justice Center. Here is some advice they give. 

  • Don’t escalate: In cases where federal agents or people appearing to be agents have knocked on doors, people have done nothing and simply waited for agents to leave. Remember, without a warrant, they usually can’t enter a house, and if you have a video doorbell, it can still record everything that happens. Avoid confrontation when possible, and don’t give law enforcement anything to act on. Remember, everyone still has the right to remain silent.
  • If you feel your safety is endangered, call 911 or seek help from a nonprofit: Calling 911 is very helpful if you feel unsafe because of nearby events. You can explain the situation and have a record of the call. 911 is an emergency response service and isn’t in the business of reporting to federal agents. There are also local immigrant rights agencies you can contact to report ICE, and groups like the ACLU can usually point you in the right direction.

For more information, take a look at the latest news on what Ring is letting the police see (it’s good news for privacy fans), the legal ramifications of recording video or audio in your home, and what you and landlords can legally do with security cameras.

Continue Reading

Technologies

This 160-Watt Anker Charger Just Dropped to $106, but Probably Not for Long

The Anker Prime charger can power three devices simultaneously, including laptops.

You’ll never run out of charging ports again with this Anker 160-watt, three-port charger, especially while it’s down to just $106. It’s currently at its lowest price of the year, but we can’t promise that it’ll stay that way. That’s why we recommend acting fast if you want to snag this bargain charger.

This Anker charger would normally set you back around $150, so you’ll save $44 with this deal. You won’t even have to enter any discount codes or clip any coupons to do it.

The charger has three ports pumping out a total of 160 watts of power — and a single port can charge at 140 watts. That’s enough for the M5 14-inch MacBook Pro and even its larger 16-inch relative, too.

There’s a handy display that shows you information on how the charger is performing, and the pins can be folded away to make the charger perfect for traveling. In fact, Anker’s charger is around the same size as a pair of AirPods Pro 3 earbuds, so it’s highly portable.

Why this deal matters

You can never have too many chargers, and this one does the job of three. It isn’t cheap, to be sure, but with plenty of power on tap and a design that makes it great for taking on the road, it’s still a great buy with this discount.

Continue Reading

Technologies

Meta and AMD’s Multibillion-Dollar Deal Is All About the AI Chips

Meta will take a stake in the chipmaker in exchange for a commitment to buy billions of dollars’ worth of AI chips.

Meta is joining OpenAI as one of the major tech companies to take a stake in chipmaker AMD, as part of an AI hardware buying frenzy. Meta and AMD on Tuesday announced a partnership that will involve CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s tech giant buying billions of dollars’ worth of AMD Instinct GPUs in order to fuel its ambitions to build out AI offerings across Meta platforms, including Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp.

In a release, Meta described the deal as «multi-year,» and said the AI purchase will provide Meta with up to 6 gigawatts of AMD GPUs, «the silicon computing technology used to support modern AI models.» 

According to the US Department of Energy, a single gigawatt (1 billion watts) is equivalent to nearly 2,000 large solar panels or 100 million LED bulbs.

In AMD’s version of the announcement, CEO Lisa Su said, «We are proud to expand our strategic partnership with Meta as they push the boundaries of AI at unprecedented scale.» As part of the deal, Meta will take a 10% stake in AMD.

AMD, based in Santa Clara, California, previously signed a deal with ChatGPT-maker OpenAI that it announced last October, which is similar to the Meta deal and also gives its AI rival 10% ownership of AMD.

(Disclosure: Ziff Davis, CNET’s parent company, in 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.)

What does this mean for the rest of us?

AMD’s two megadeals may not have an immediate impact on people who use Meta’s social networking and communications apps, or even on those who buy AMD’s products, including desktop processors and graphics cards.

But it signals that large companies making huge bets on the future of AI are doing what they can to secure the hardware they need as supplies tighten and prices rise for components such as RAM. Some of those constraints aren’t expected to end anytime soon, and shoppers could begin to see prices rise even more than they already have for computers, smartphones, vehicles and other products that heavily rely on computing components like these.

It is also a sign that Meta’s ambitions for AI are not slowing down as it continues to compete with companies including OpenAI, Microsoft and Google to develop AI products and tools.

Also a factor: Meta’s push into wearables

Another reason AMD may want access to AI chips goes beyond its own data centers and online platforms: Meta has increasingly been focused on wearables such as its Oakley Meta AI Glasses and other potential new portable products

In addition to what AMD’s GPUs can offer Meta for AI infrastructure power, AMD may also be part of its wearable future.

 «With AI models requiring unprecedented processing power to process real-time data and information, Meta is focused on securing the supply chain necessary for its wearable devices,» said Michael J. Wolf, founder and CEO of the consulting firm Activate.

Wolf believes that the deals Meta and OpenAI have signed won’t be the last time a major AI-focused company locks down a supply of semiconductors. 

«As consumer hardware transitions from smartphones to smart glasses, we will absolutely see more of these mega-deals,» Wolf said.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © Verum World Media