How to Find the Right 3D Printer Filament (and the Best Price)

Searching for filament sounds simple until you try it. The same material is sold as single 1 kg spools, 4-packs and 16-packs, under hundreds of brand names, at prices that look nothing alike. A $30 listing might be a bargain or might be a single spool of something you will never use.

The approach below keeps it simple: decide what you need, compare on price per kilogram, then check the details. FilamentHound is a good filament comparison site for that last step, so this guide links to it where it helps.

1. Start with the material

The material matters more than the brand, so settle it first. If you are not sure, the short version is:

PLA for almost everything when you are starting out. It is easy to print and cheap. Browse PLA filament prices, or see PLA+ if you want something a little tougher.
PETG for stronger, more heat-tolerant parts and things that live outdoors. Here are the current PETG prices.
ABS and ASA for parts that need real heat resistance. They need an enclosed printer and good ventilation, so most beginners skip them for now. See ABS and ASA.
TPU for flexible parts like gaskets and phone cases. It is fussier to print, so it is a second-month material. Compare TPU filament.

For a full explanation of what each one is good at, read our guide to the types of 3D printing filaments. FilamentHound also publishes helpful write-ups, including PETG vs PLA and PLA types explained.

If you want faster printing, look for the high-speed variants, such as high-speed PLA and high-speed PETG. They are made for fast printers.

2. Check that it fits your printer

Before you compare prices, make sure the filament will actually work with your machine.

Diameter: almost every consumer printer uses 1.75 mm filament. Check yours.
Spool size: if you use a multicolor system like an AMS, make sure it accepts the spool you are buying. Some spools are wider or larger than the system expects.
Nozzle: carbon fiber and glow-in-the-dark filaments wear out a standard brass nozzle quickly. They need a hardened nozzle, which is covered in our advanced tools guide. If you are shopping for something like carbon fiber PLA, plan for that.
Enclosure: if the material needs one, such as carbon fiber nylon or polycarbonate, make sure your printer has one.

3. Compare on price per kilogram

This is the single most useful habit. Spool sizes and pack counts vary so much that the sticker price tells you very little. Divide the total price by the total weight in kilograms and you can compare any two listings fairly.

For example, a 4-pack of 1 kg spools for $32 works out to $8 per kg. A single 1 kg spool for $18 is $18 per kg, more than twice as much, even though the number on the page is smaller.

Doing that math across thousands of listings by hand is not realistic. FilamentHound shows the price per kilogram on every listing and sorts by it, and its prices refresh every couple of hours. Start here:

The full catalog: every in-stock listing sorted by price per kilogram, lowest first. Use the filters on the left to narrow it by material, brand, color, spool size and more.

Living in Canada? There is a version for Amazon.ca prices as well.

4. Choose a brand you can trust

The cheapest price per kilogram is often an unfamiliar brand. That is fine for a test print or a bulk spool of black PLA, but for your first few spools it is worth paying a little more for a name with a track record, because consistent diameter and clean winding save you a lot of failed prints.

Our top filament brands guide covers who is worth knowing and why. If you already have a brand in mind, you can filter FilamentHound's listings by brand:

If you are choosing your very first spool, start with your first filament purchase before anything else.

5. Read the listing, not just the price

Once you have a shortlist, take a minute to check:

What is actually in the box. Packs often contain assorted colors, so make sure you are getting the colors you want.
Recent reviews. Look for comments about tangles, diameter problems and moisture, not just the star rating.
Packaging. Vacuum-sealed with a desiccant pack is what you want to see.
The seller. Buy from the brand's own store or a well-reviewed seller.

FilamentHound has a short guide on buying filament on Amazon that goes through the common pitfalls.

6. Watch for deals

Filament prices move around, and there are regular sales and coupon codes. FilamentHound keeps a page of current filament deals and coupon codes updated automatically, which is a better use of your time than checking each store yourself. If you do not need the filament today, waiting for a sale on a bulk pack is the easiest way to lower your cost per kilogram.

7. Store it properly once it arrives

Cheap filament that has soaked up moisture prints worse than expensive filament kept dry. Seal spools in an airtight container with desiccant, and consider a dryer if you print PETG, nylon or TPU. We cover storage and dryers in our essential tools guide, and FilamentHound has a good guide to filament storage and drying.

The short version

Pick the material first. PLA is the right answer for most beginners.
Make sure the diameter and spool size fit your printer.
Compare on price per kilogram, not the sticker price.
For your first spools, choose a known brand over the absolute cheapest.
Check what is in the pack, then check recent reviews.
Wait for a sale if you are buying in bulk.
Keep it dry.

When you are ready to shop, a comparison site like FilamentHound is a good way to find the lowest price per kilogram for the filament you want.