The 3D Filament Tier List! Which Should YOU Use?
Video Overview & Insights
This episode is sponsored by Aura! Take your secrets off the market with 2 free weeks: https://aura.com/zackfreedman
This episode is sponsored by Aura! Get 2 free weeks: https://aura.com/zackfreedman
Physical tier list STLs: https://than.gs/m/1030965?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=zack_f
Based on the 3D Benchy Dry Dock Display Stand by 3D Print Burgas: https://makerworld.com/en/models/133067#profileId-144432
Well dang i just bought a bounch of pla for a1 mini will have to try some of the easier to use s tiers
Make me read your silly name! https://patreon.com/zackfreedman
Tell me your deepest secrets*: https://discord.gg/voidstarlab
I think I'll stick with ASA CF.
Filament Links (most give me affiliate bucks)
PLA: Protopasta https://bit.ly/3wVoJyM
Would be nice if you wrote the list somewhere
Silk PLA: Inland https://amzn.to/4cs4cSP
Carbon Fiber PLA: Inland (sponsored) https://bit.ly/49PfHBH
I got some cf petg and pctg spools after watching this
Metal Filled PLA: Protopasta https://bit.ly/4aqHEka, https://bit.ly/3VerIMI, https://bit.ly/3VchzQL, https://bit.ly/49PfQVL, https://bit.ly/3VjOJ0K
Wood PLA: Protopasta https://amzn.to/4cfjk5F
Where I live PLA now also appears to be more expensive than PETG, ABS and SBS (without the E). ABS is the cheapest. I'm told SBS is easier to print and has a rubbery feel after printing.
“Tough” PLA: Inland (sponsored) https://amzn.to/48YKT05
Matte PLA: Polymaker https://amzn.to/43kB8bt
It's 2026 and PCTG is still kinda expensive. But availability and colour selection got better.
A spool of the cheapest PCTG is 19€ from AzureFilm. I don't really like the colours. eSun and 3DJake are more vibrant, but are 30€ per kilo, which is oof compared to 12€ of PETG (and Matte)
High-Speed PLA: Sunlu PLA Meta (sponsored) https://amzn.to/3T7PQOs
“Flex PLA” PCL: Thibra https://bit.ly/48SehoW (thanks Wren from the Discord for the historic Makerbot Flex PLA!)
I watch you every now and then but am always curious. Do you use the google glasses as a teleprompter?
PETG: Taulman https://bit.ly/3Vi1dGe
Carbon Fiber PETG: Prusa Prusament by Josef “Stop calling me Josef ‘Prusament from Prusa Research’ Prusa” Prusa of Prusa Research (sponsored) https://bit.ly/4chld1Y
*And if you live in CA*
https://privacy.ca.gov/
This is for your ad, no point to pay for something the socialist in Cali get for free.
PCTG: 3DFuel https://amzn.to/3T98jKk
PET: Fusion https://bit.ly/4abjMQv
Whats best for sanding and painting?
CF PET: Bambu Labs (sponsored) https://bit.ly/3TxIGoa
PVB: PolyMaker https://bit.ly/3TiWwJP
Sounds awesome, but if you cancel your Aura subscription, they reverse the request, and you show up on all of those previous data broker sites. This is easy for these sites, because all they do is put a temporary public view block on your data, but it is still stored in their "cloud" or data repository.
ABS: Gizmo Dorks https://amzn.to/3IA1Gfm
ASA: Inland (sponsored) https://amzn.to/48RYVRk
Don't know if any chemist's ever responded in these 2 years since OP released this video but a few examples of Halogenated Hydrocarbons are chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, Freon like they is in A/Cs and fridges, Teflons, & Chlorine. Inorganic acid examples are Hydrochloric Acid like in our stomach, sulfuric acids like in car batteries, nitric acids like in fertilizers and explosives, phosphoric acids like in food additives & rust removal, and the worst of them all Hydroflouric acid used in glass etching & electronics but also can cause sever poisoning & complete disintegration of anything you put in it EXCEPT for PVDF filament he is speaking of. Very expensive but VERY VERY durable like as in lasting an unknown amount of time durability. However like he stated if your extruder has a sudden spike in temps by a few degrees the wrong direction the amount of deadly smoke after it destabilizes that will come off of it will literally melt whatever it touches & poison you.
HIPS: Gizmodorks https://amzn.to/3Tjdvvt
PA-6 Nylon: SainSmart https://amzn.to/4a9pOkK
CF PLA doesn't make any sense.
It's like weaker PLA that's itchy and more expensive.
PA-12 Nylon: Fillamentum Fishy Filament (not on the market yet)
PA-6 CF: Matterhackers (sponsored) https://bit.ly/3Vf4xlm
So is PCTG still the best? It's two years later and it's pretty inexpensive. About $36 at the link provided.
PA-12-CF: Raise3D Industrial PA12-CF https://bit.ly/3TjxMB5
Glass-Filled Nylon: Phaetus (sponsored) https://bit.ly/49HvrH3
Sheesh. Kind of makes me not want to take up printing at all. Now I’m bemmed and more confused than ever.
Nylon/PETG: Taulman (sponsored) https://bit.ly/3IAw3lP
Polycarbonate: Inland https://bit.ly/4ccrdsG
You Tosser...
PC Carbon Fiber: Priline https://amzn.to/49OKyP6
PMMA: Mitsubishi https://bit.ly/4cg0lbi
Wear a snorkel you robot!
PC-PBT: PolyMaker https://amzn.to/3TA0dvN
Chocolate: Cocoa Press https://bit.ly/4cbRHdL
Which ones are food grade safe.
TPU (Rigid): SainSmart https://amzn.to/4adGNma
TPU (Semi-Flex): NinjaTek (sponsored) https://bit.ly/3Pldiqx
TPU (Soft): Recreus https://bit.ly/3Pj9XYO
TPE: NinjaTek https://bit.ly/3IDazF8
ASA gf or cf not mentioned.
SEBS: Jabil https://amzn.to/3TjqvBh
Polypropylene: FormFutura https://amzn.to/4a6JgP0
For those that got confused like me: at 25:34 , 99D TPU does not exist. Zack probably meant TPUs with more than 99 A Shore hardness. The hardest TPU I came across was 83D, and this is already harder than PLA I think. At 26:07 he probably also meant 80*A* TPU, not 80*D* given he says it is as hard as the sole of a running shoe. For the TPU he says is 80*A*, I assume he is actually talking about the softest TPUs you can find. The softest I found was 55A TPU.
GF-PP: 3DXTech (sponsored) https://amzn.to/49S879w
OBC: 3DXTech (sponsored) https://bit.ly/43iKm8e
4:44 “Prusa and Bambu Labs, the two genders” all the other printer manufacturers are trans confirmed
HDPE: Inland https://amzn.to/3TgDzr9
POM: GizmoDorks https://amzn.to/4acCqHE
So what’s your fav PBT-PLA?
PVDF: Fillamentum https://bit.ly/4a8dTUj
PEEK: 3DXTech https://bit.ly/3o2zQzr
ABS in C teir?!
PEKK: 3DXTech https://bit.ly/4a8GEAe
PPS: 3DXTech https://bit.ly/3PjE4zx
I’ve learned a lot about plastic. Time to buy a printer I guess.
PSU: 3DXTech https://bit.ly/3TvGGwx
PES: 3DXTech https://bit.ly/3Tf8RyC
How do I find out what your tear letters mean?
PPSU: 3DXTech https://bit.ly/3zzZttz
CF-PEEK: 3DXTech https://bit.ly/2XOZaxx
Thank you this great ! Even as a professional user I learned about 1 more filament that I'm excited to try (PCTG)
Ultem 1010 (sponsored): 3DXTech https://bit.ly/3IBpYWd
Ultem 9085: 3DXTech https://bit.ly/3zDsKUc
I'm really happy you aren't part of the false mouvement saying cf reinforced filament are just a conspiracy to make us spend more
TPI: 3DXTech (sponsored) https://bit.ly/3TzhXaA
Timetable!
00:00-2:54 Intro
2:54-4:00 Regular PLA
PEKK is really terrible material and a tier ok
4:00-4:46 Silk PLA
4:46-5:45 Carbon Fiber PLA
I might be two years too late to be making this comment, but I watched this video looking for the most Blunt force resistant filament that I could use to make cool looking strong armour with my 3D printer, I came up with the TPU and PTCG filaments but I don’t know which one is cheaper and requires less augmentations. What filament would You use to make Strong armour and did I pick right?
5:45-6:26 Metal-Filled PLA
6:26-7:34 Wood PLA
Me starting new project: "Ok, it's time to watch filament tier list once again!"
7:34-8:10 “Tough” PLA
8:10-8:45 Matte PLA
it seems everything in S tier isn't available in my country, or at least not to consoomers.
8:45-9:33 High-Speed PLA
9:33-10:31 “Flex PLA” PCL
can you take all of these benchys... smash them, burn them, soak them, drench them in acid, drench them in caustic solution, blow them up and then re-rank them?
10:31-11:18 PETG
11:18-11:50 Carbon Fiber PETG
An excellent and useful video even in 2026 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿🖤🖤🖤
11:50-12:41 PCTG
12:41-13:35 PET
Brand new to 3d printing here so most of this went over my head but im learning and i have a long road ahead of me to catch up to, well, anyone else. Ill get there. Id love anyone to send me some good beginner- friendly youtubers who might have some good content about 3d printing....or good places to buy filament, where and what not to buy and helpful websites, etc. Thanks in advance.
I have a creality k2 plus with cfs, btw.
13:35-14:05 CF PET
14:05-14:44 PVB
This didn't age well with how garbage PLA-CF was proven to be.
14:44-15:40 ABS
15:40-16:22 ASA
45 minutes of failed benchies.
16:22-17:02 HIPS
17:02-18:16 PA-6 Nylon
Oh so you like 3d printing? Name every filament ever
18:16-18:50 PA-12 Nylon
18:50-19:32 CF Nylon
Give me you Zinc 160mm Zack. I will fight you.👊 (joking)
19:32-20:37 Glass-Filled Nylon
20:37-21:08 Nylon/PETG Alloys
🎉🎉
21:08-21:53 Polycarbonate
21:53-22:35 PC Carbon Fiber
Yes I actually am seriously deciding between PSU, PES and PPSU!
I work in the weirdest places and most awkward positions with the strangest chemicals 😂.
And yes you made my choices for filament tries a lot easier.
PLA
ASA
PEKK
PPS
PSU
TPU-99D
PA-6
PVDF
PA-12
PA-CF
GFPA
PC-PBT
22:35-23:36 PMMA (acrylic)
23:36-24:15 PC-PBT
PLA CF is a scam.
I recommend watching "3D Printing’s Biggest Scam Is Even Worse Than We Thought!" from @Ibuiltathing
24:15-24:56 ??? A SECRET ???
24:56-27:00 TPU
pla A
pla cf S?
turned off after this
and please get off your cyborg toy from your face... it's just infantile.
27:00-27:26 TPE
27:26-28:17 SEBS
I've watched this video far too many times 😂
28:17-29:04 Polypropylene
29:04-29:43 GF-PP
Wth ? Im printing PC at 350 mm/s
29:43-30:16 OBC
30:16-30:58 HDPE
did he just tell me to crank my hog
30:58-31:56 POM
31:56-33:06 PVDF
What is he wearing over his eye?
33:06-35:01 PEEK
35:01-35:38 PEKK
What about tullulone
35:38-36:19 PPS
36:19-36:58 PSU
36:58-37:21 PES and PPSU
37:21-37:46 CF-PEEK
37:46-39:38 Ultem
39:38-40:39 TPI
40:39-44:33 Thanks!
Credits:
LEMONS?! - Will Sasso
Ocean cleanup footage - The Ocean Cleanup
Interference SFX - Partners in Rhyme
Other SFX - www.zapsplat.com
*Please don't actually do this