PLA 3D printing
Standard PLA is the classic, budget-friendly hobby filament and the lowest-priced material we print — a little cheaper than PLA Plus. It prints easily with crisp detail in the same wide color range, which makes it the right pick for prototypes, test fits, and display pieces that don't need extra toughness.
Starting price
$4.60 / part
Standard (basic) PLA — the classic, budget-friendly hobby filament and our lowest-priced material. Prints easily with crisp detail in the same wide color range as PLA Plus. A little stiffer but more brittle than PLA Plus, and it softens in sustained heat or direct sun (~60°C), so keep it indoors. Best for prototypes, test fits, display pieces, and cost-sensitive parts — step up to PLA Plus when a part needs more toughness.
Properties
- Strength
- Good, but stiffer and more brittle than PLA Plus
- Flexibility
- Low
- Heat resistance
- Low (softens ~60 °C)
- Outdoor / UV
- Indoor use only
- Finish
- Crisp detail — easy to sand and paint
- Density
- 1.24 g/cm³
Best for
- Budget one-offs, test fits, and quick iterations
- Display pieces, figurines, and décor
- Cosplay and prop parts you'll sand, fill, and paint
- Colorful indoor parts on a budget
Consider something else for
- Parts that get dropped, flexed, or snapped together — PLA Plus is tougher and more ductile
- Parts left in a hot car or direct sun — PLA softens around 60 °C
- High-heat or heavy-load engineering parts (choose PETG, ABS, or PPA-CF)
Compare materials
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