Choosing filament is choosing engineering properties — not colors. Use this four-step framework and you'll never over-buy or under-build again.
Step 1: Define the application
What will the part do? Visual display, mechanical function, outdoor exposure, heat, flex, food contact? Write it down — the application dictates the material family.
Step 2: Map properties to materials
| Requirement | Pick |
|---|---|
| Easiest printing, best detail | PLA |
| Tough + durable + chemical resistant | PETG |
| Heat up to 85 °C + post-processing | ABS (enclosure) |
| Outdoor UV, long life | ASA |
| Flexible, shock-absorbing | TPU |
| Gears, moving parts, wear | PA (nylon) |
| Stiffest, tightest tolerances | PA-CF |
| Maximum heat + impact | PC |
Step 3: Check your printer's capability
- Max nozzle temp (PTFE-lined hotends cap ~260 °C → no PC)
- Enclosure (needed for ABS/ASA/PC)
- Direct drive vs bowden (TPU easier on direct drive)
Step 4: Budget & volume
Price per kg varies 2–3× between PLA and PA-CF. For production, use our per-kg price list and compare at 3/5 kg spool sizes.
Still unsure? Use the interactive comparison tool or send us your part file — free recommendation in 4 hours.