What can you 3D print with? Practically anything. Seriously, the list ranges from chocolate to titanium to human cells.

Whats the best material for your project? Well, thats harder to say, but the more you know about the options out there and the attributes of various materials, the better your parts will turn out. In fact, materials, in the long run, will make up the bulk of your 3D printing investment, so it pays to do a little research.

Here at All3DP, we have hundreds of guides to 3D printer filaments, fromPLA vs ABS vs PETGto the bestcarbon-fiber-infused filamentsto ourMetal Powder Buyers Guide. We print every day and test and compare various materials. Whether youre a home hobbyist just getting started or a seasoned engineer looking to build a better industrial component, weve got you covered.

In this ultimate guide, we will take a look at every 3D printing material category as well as special attributes, such as flame-resistant and bio-compatible to help you select the best material for your next project to improve the quality of your prints.

Quick Primer on 3D Printing Material Types: Filament, Resin, Powder More

If you already have a 3D printer, you know what type of material to feed it: fused deposition modeling (FDM) uses spools of filament, liquid crystal display (LCD) uses bottles of resin, selective laser sintering (SLS) uses powder, and so forth.

But if youre starting with the desired material, such as carbon-fiber nylon or aluminum, and working backward to match your 3D printer to it, you should know that there are more than one technology to choose from per material. For example, carbon fiber nylon is available as a filament, pellets, and powder, so its applicable to both FDM and SLS, while aluminum comes in filament, powder, and wire for various 3D printing technologies, each having unique attributes and costs.

Most 3D printing materials are unique to 3D printing but more often today, standard manufacturing materials, such as the polymer pellets used in injection molding or metal wire used in welding can be fed to 3D printers, and are often the more economical solution.

Which FDM Filament Should I Use?

The most popular way to 3D print is with a fused deposition modeling (FDM) printer, which has traditionally been the easiest and cheapest method. This type of 3D printer uses material in filament form, which is a spool of a plastic cord.

The most common filaments are made of the thermoplastics PLA, ABS, and PETG, but there are so many, many more out there that expand what you can create with your FDM printer.

From functional models, such as tools or prosthetics, to fun objects, such as games or figurines, theres a filament out there thats best suited to the task at hand.

A crowd favorite in our 3D printing materials guide is PLA. Its affordable, easy to print with, and practically universally compatible with FDM printers. PLA filament is short for polylactic acid, a thermoplastic polymer derived from renewable resources, specifically corn starch or sugar cane. It can be recycled at industrial facilities but isnot biodegradable.

Remember the quality of Lego bricks? Then you can relate to why ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) is one of the most popular 3D printing materials to date. Made from petroleum, ABS is commonly used in injection molding and is found in many household items, such as those rock-hard Lego bricks, phone cases, or bicycle helmets due to its durability, robustness, and temperature resistance.

PETG is made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the material you know from plastic water bottles, but some ethylene glycol is replaced with CHDM (cyclohexanedimethanol) hence the letter G after PET for glycol-modified. The result is a filament that is clearer, less brittle, and easier to use than its base form of PET.

TPEs (thermoplastic elastomers) are a class of materials that are a blend of plastic and rubber, and include TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), TPC (thermoplastic co-polyester), and others.

Polyamide (PA), commonly known as nylon, is a tough and durable material used for a wide range of applications. The material stands out for its toughness and its resistance to high temperatures and impacts. It offers good tensile and mechanical strength.

Wood filament is another composite, typically PLA infused with wood fiber. There are many wood-PLA 3D printer filaments available today. These include the more standard wood varieties, such as pine, birch, cedar, ebony, and willow, but the range also extends to less common types, like bamboo, cherry, coconut, cork, and olive.

With a clearer understanding of popular FDM filaments like PLA, ABS, PETG, TPEs, Nylon, and even wood-infused options, you're now better equipped to select the right material for your FDM printing projects. Each offers a distinct set of properties, from ease of use and affordability to strength and flexibility. While this guide has focused on these common choices, the world of 3D printing materials extends far beyond. The critical first step, however, is always to match the material's strengths to your application's demands, ensuring your prints are not just successful, but optimal.