How to Choose a 3D Print Material

Andrew Dzobko

Choosing the right material is the most important decision for any custom 3D print. The wrong choice can mean a part that warps, snaps, fades, or simply doesn't look the way you imagined. This guide walks through the most common use cases and matches each one to the best material available in our Available Materials collection.

Everyday Decoration & Display Pieces

Best material: PLA

For items like figurines, plant pots, desk organizers, and wall art that live indoors and won't face heat or stress, PLA is the go-to. It prints with sharp detail, comes in a huge range of colours, and is the easiest material to work with. If you want an eye-catching finish, consider:

Keep in mind that PLA softens around 60 °C, so avoid leaving PLA prints in a hot car or near a radiator.

Functional Clips, Brackets & Everyday Hardware

Best material: PETG

When a part needs to actually do something — hold a cable, snap onto a surface, or take occasional knocks — PETG is a strong step up from PLA. It's tougher, slightly flexible, and more moisture-resistant, which matters for anything near a sink or window. Our options include:

  • PETG HF — a high-flow formulation for fast, clean results on functional parts
  • PETG Translucent — great when you want a semi-clear or light-diffusing look alongside durability
  • PETG-CF — carbon-fibre reinforced for extra stiffness on structural clips and mounts

Flexible & Grip Parts

Best material: TPU

If the part needs to bend, squish, or provide grip — phone cases, vibration dampeners, gaskets, cable protectors, or soft-touch handles — TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) is the answer. Hardness is measured on the Shore A scale: lower numbers are softer.

  • TPU 85A — noticeably soft and rubbery; ideal for grips, bumpers, and anything that needs real give
  • TPU 95A HF — firmer and still flexible; suits protective cases and light-duty gaskets
  • Multicolor TPU — flexible with a gradient colour effect for wearables or custom accessories

Heat-Resistant Parts

Best material: PETG-CF or ASA

If the part sits near a warm appliance, inside a car dashboard, or anywhere temperatures regularly exceed 60–70 °C, standard PLA will deform. Step up to:

  • PETG-CF — handles moderate heat better than plain PETG while staying easy to print
  • PETG-CF High Ex 100 — a high-performance carbon-fibre blend for demanding thermal environments
  • ASA — similar heat resistance to ABS with better UV stability; a good all-round pick for warm, bright environments

Outdoor Use & UV Exposure

Best material: ASA

Prolonged sunlight yellows and embrittles many filaments. ASA is specifically formulated for outdoor durability — it resists UV degradation, handles rain and temperature swings, and keeps its colour longer than PLA or PETG. Choose from:

  • ASA — the reliable standard choice for garden labels, outdoor fixtures, and mounting hardware
  • ASA-CF — carbon-fibre reinforced ASA for outdoor structural parts that also need extra stiffness

Food-Contact Limits

Important note on all filaments

None of the materials listed here are certified for prolonged or repeated food contact in their printed form. The layer lines in FDM prints create micro-gaps that can harbour bacteria, and most pigments are not food-safe. For items like cookie cutters or one-time-use forms, PETG is generally considered a lower-risk option compared to ABS — but for anything used repeatedly with food, a food-safe coating or a different manufacturing process is recommended. Always check current regulations in your jurisdiction before using any printed part with food.

Aesthetic Finishes & Special Effects

Best materials: PLA Silk+, PLA Silk Dual Color, PLA Galaxy

Sometimes the finish is the feature. If the goal is a piece that looks polished straight off the printer with minimal post-processing:

  • PLA Silk+ — rich, deep metallic sheen; the closest you'll get to a painted look without painting
  • PLA Silk Dual Color — two-tone shimmer that changes as the print rises; no post-processing needed for the effect
  • PLA Galaxy — glitter-like particles suspended in the filament create a unique sparkle effect

These finishes are purely visual — they carry the same structural and heat limits as standard PLA.

Post-Processing: Sanding, Priming & Painting

Most compatible: PLA, PETG, ASA

If you plan to sand, prime, and paint your print to a smooth, uniform finish:

  • PLA sands easily and accepts most acrylic primers and paints without special prep.
  • PETG can be sanded but requires a little more patience; it responds well to spray primers designed for plastics.
  • ASA behaves similarly to ABS and can be acetone-smoothed with care — though standard spray primers work well too.
  • TPU is difficult to sand or paint due to its flexibility; it's best ordered in the final colour you want.

For any material, start with a coarse grit (120–220) to remove layer lines and finish with a fine grit (400–800) before priming.

Quick-Reference Summary

Use Case Recommended Material
Everyday décor / display PLA (Silk+, Galaxy, Dual Color)
Functional clips & brackets PETG, PETG-CF
Flexible / grip parts TPU 85A, TPU 95A HF
Heat-resistant parts PETG-CF, ASA
Outdoor / UV exposure ASA, ASA-CF
Food contact See note above — no certified option
Special effect finishes PLA Silk+, Galaxy, Dual Color
Paint / post-process PLA, PETG, ASA

Still not sure? Browse the full Available Materials collection to see every filament we stock, or reach out and describe your project — we're happy to suggest the right match.

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