Choosing a material is the biggest decision in a 3D printing order after the model itself. It sets how the part looks, how it behaves and how much it costs. This guide covers every material you can order from us online, and how to pick between them.
Upload your model for an instant price
The quickest way to compare is to upload your model and switch materials in the quote. The price updates straight away, so you can see the difference before you decide.
The short answer
- Most parts: standard PLA. It is the lowest-cost option, prints accurately, and comes in 14 colours plus rainbow.
- Small parts with fine detail, such as miniatures: resin.
- A particular look: silk, matte, glow in the dark or one of the speciality PLAs.
- A part that needs to bend or grip: TPU, a flexible, rubber-like plastic.
- A part that gets hot, lives outdoors or takes knocks: PETG, tougher and more heat-resistant than PLA.
- Heat resistance or outdoor toughness: a material we do not currently offer online. See the section at the end.
Materials compared
| Material | Finish | Best for | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard PLA | Slight sheen, 14 colours | Most parts: models, prototypes, household parts, props | Lowest |
| Rainbow PLA | Bands of colour up the print | Vases, toys, colourful decor | Same as standard PLA |
| Matte PLA | Flat, low sheen, hides layer lines | Product mock-ups, enclosures, display models | Same rate as standard PLA |
| Silk PLA | Shiny, metallic look | Trophies, ornaments, decorative pieces | A little more |
| Glow in the dark PLA | Pale in daylight, glows after charging | Toys, signs, Halloween decor | A little more |
| Marble PLA | Speckled stone look | Busts, vases, architectural models | A little more |
| Translucent PLA | Lets light through, diffused | Lampshades, light covers | A bit more again |
| Carbon fibre PLA | Dark, matte, textured; stiff | Mounts, brackets, technical-looking parts | Highest of the PLAs |
| Wood PLA | Matte, natural wood look | Ornaments, figurines, gifts | Highest of the PLAs |
| TPU (flexible), 8 colours | Rubber-like, bends and springs back | Grips, seals, gaskets, bumpers, phone cases, straps | More than standard PLA |
| PETG, black, white, grey and clear | Tough, slightly flexible, glossy; clear lets light through | Car parts, outdoor fittings, clips, brackets, enclosures, light covers | More than standard PLA |
| Resin (grey, clear, black, white) | Very smooth, fine detail | Miniatures, figures, small detailed parts | From about $5 a part |
All PLAs and TPU print on our FDM printers, up to 400 x 400 x 450 mm, and PETG up to 250 x 250 x 250 mm, with infill from 0% to 100% in 5% steps. Resin prints on a DLP printer, up to 80 x 127 x 160 mm, and is printed solid.
How to choose
Start with size
Our resin printer takes parts up to 80 x 127 x 160 mm. If your part is bigger than that, it is a PLA job (or it needs splitting into pieces). Large parts, cosplay armour and anything bigger than a hand are almost always better in PLA.
Then think about detail
Resin gives a much smoother surface and sharper small features than PLA. For 28 mm miniatures, jewellery-style pieces and small raised text, it is worth the higher starting price. For larger parts, PLA’s layer lines are much less noticeable. Our article on FDM printing over resin compares the two.
Then think about use
- Will it take a load? Standard PLA at a higher infill is the usual answer. Resin is harder but more brittle, and silk, wood and marble are chosen for looks rather than strength. Our infill percentage guide explains how to set infill.
- Will it be painted? Standard grey or white PLA, or grey or white resin for small detailed parts. Paying for a special finish only to cover it is wasted money.
- Will it be seen as it is? Choose the finish you want: matte for a product look, silk for shine, or a speciality PLA for a material effect.
- Does it need to survive heat, sun or knocks? Choose PETG. It softens at around 80°C against PLA’s 55 to 60°C, and bends a little where PLA would snap.
- Does it need to bend, squash or grip? Choose TPU. It is flexible and resists knocks and wear, but fine detail and sharp overhangs are harder than in PLA.
- Will it get hot or live outdoors? PLA can soften in heat, such as in a hot car or strong sun. Email us before you order.
Then compare cost
Every PLA part is priced mostly by the weight of plastic actually printed, which depends on the part’s size and infill, plus a small charge for its volume. The minimum is $1 per part. Speciality PLAs cost a little more per gram, so the same part costs slightly more in silk, glow, marble, translucent, carbon fibre or wood than in standard PLA. As a real example, a 30 x 20 x 10 mm block at 100% infill costs $1.92 in black PLA, $2.50 in wood PLA and $5.76 in black resin.
TPU is priced the same way, by weight, and costs more per gram than standard PLA: a 20 mm cube at 20% infill is about $1.48 in TPU.
Resin parts have a $5 printer minimum plus resin by weight, so they start from about $5 each. Prices include GST, and shipping is a flat $15 per order, free on orders of $80 or more.
Flexible parts: TPU
TPU is a flexible, rubber-like plastic. It suits grips, seals, gaskets, bumpers, phone cases, straps and cosplay parts that need to bend, and it stands up well to impact and abrasion. It prints on the same FDM printers as PLA, up to 400 x 400 x 450 mm, in black, blue, white, skin, grey, red, green and orange. Fine detail and sharp overhangs are harder than in PLA, very thin walls flex a lot, and it can leave fine strings. See TPU 3D printing for more.
Materials we don’t currently offer
The instant quote does not currently offer ABS, nylon, ASA or polycarbonate, and we do not offer food-safe PLA at the moment. For heat resistance, toughness or outdoor use, PETG covers most needs. If your part needs one of them, email quotes@3dprinting.zone and ask; we will tell you what we can do.
For how those materials compare with PLA, read PLA, PETG, ABS, nylon or TPU: choosing the right material for functional parts.
For how ordering works end to end, see our online 3D printing service or the 3D printing FAQs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest 3D printing material?
Standard PLA. Matte and rainbow PLA are charged at the same rate per gram. Every PLA part has a $1 minimum, and resin parts start from about $5.
Which material is strongest?
Of the materials we sell, standard PLA at a higher infill is the usual choice for parts that take a load. Carbon fibre PLA is stiffer but more brittle. Resin holds detail well but can snap in thin sections.
Which material gives the smoothest finish?
Resin, by a wide margin, for parts that fit its 80 x 127 x 160 mm build size. For larger parts, matte PLA hides layer lines best.
Do you print in ABS, PETG, TPU or nylon?
TPU and PETG, yes: both are in the instant quote. ABS and nylon are not in the instant quote at the moment. Email quotes@3dprinting.zone with your file and what the part needs to do, and we will let you know.
Can I order one part in several materials?
Yes. Add the same model to your cart once per material. Shipping is $15 per order, not per part (and free on orders of $80 or more), so comparing a few versions costs little extra.