Pick the right filament for your 3D printer
It's not really about which filament is "best". The right choice depends on whether the part has to sit outside, flex, take heat, look good or actually be used mechanically.
- Norwegian guide
- Printer compatibility
- Hardened nozzle & drying
- Use-case based
Practical reading on filament and 3D printing
Short, honest guides — written for Norwegian 3D-printer users.
PLA vs PETG – which should I choose?
The most common filament dilemma. Compares strength, finish, use cases and beginner friendliness.
Best filament for beginners 2026
Which filament types are easiest to start with, and which ones should you wait with?
ASA vs PETG for outdoor parts
What handles sun, UV, heat and weather best — and which one needs an enclosed printer?
How to dry filament properly
Temperatures, times and signs of moisture for PLA, PETG, TPU, ASA and technical filaments.
Hardened nozzle – when do you need one?
When abrasive filaments require a hardened nozzle, and when regular brass is enough.
TPU – guide to flexible filament
Hardness (Shore A), printer requirements, speed and typical use cases for flexible parts.
Pick the right filament by use case
A visual decision guide — recommendations, alternatives and difficulty per use case.
| Use case | Recommended | Alternative | Avoid | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prototypes & test parts | PLA | PETG | Nylon, PA-CF, PC, PC-CF | ★★★★★ |
| Functional parts | PETG | ASA | PLA, TPU | ★★★★★ |
| Outdoor parts | ASA | PETG | PLA, TPU | ★★★★★ |
| Flexible parts | TPU | TPE | PLA, PETG, ASA, PC | ★★★★★ |
| Heat-resistant parts | PC | ASA | PLA, PETG, TPU | ★★★★★ |
| Strong technical parts | Nylon | PA-CF | PLA, PETG, TPU | ★★★★★ |
| Gears, brackets, mechanical | PA-CF | Nylon | PLA, PETG, TPU | ★★★★★ |
| Parts that should look nice | PLA | PETG | ASA, TPU, Nylon, PC, PC-CF | ★★★★★ |
Prototypes & test parts
★★★★★- Recommended
- PLA
- Alternative
- PETG
- Avoid
- Nylon, PA-CF, PC, PC-CF
Functional parts
★★★★★- Recommended
- PETG
- Alternative
- ASA
- Avoid
- PLA, TPU
Outdoor parts
★★★★★- Recommended
- ASA
- Alternative
- PETG
- Avoid
- PLA, TPU
Flexible parts
★★★★★- Recommended
- TPU
- Alternative
- TPE
- Avoid
- PLA, PETG, ASA, PC
Heat-resistant parts
★★★★★- Recommended
- PC
- Alternative
- ASA
- Avoid
- PLA, PETG, TPU
Strong technical parts
★★★★★- Recommended
- Nylon
- Alternative
- PA-CF
- Avoid
- PLA, PETG, TPU
Gears, brackets, mechanical
★★★★★- Recommended
- PA-CF
- Alternative
- Nylon
- Avoid
- PLA, PETG, TPU
Parts that should look nice
★★★★★- Recommended
- PLA
- Alternative
- PETG
- Avoid
- ASA, TPU, Nylon, PC, PC-CF
Filament choices that go wrong
Most filament problems come from picking the wrong material for the job — not from bad slicer settings.
PLA in parts that sit in a hot car
PETG for nice decorative parts
ASA on an open printer
PA-CF through a brass nozzle
TPU at high speed
Nylon without drying
How Filamentguiden works
- 1
Pick your printer
We check nozzle, build plate, chamber and temperature requirements against your hardware.
- 2
Pick what you want to print
Functional parts, decor, outdoor, flexible — pick by use, not by chemistry.
- 3
See recommended filaments and retailers
We send you on to Norwegian retailers. Price and stock are always confirmed at the retailer.
Four paths through Filamentguiden
What each filament is actually good for
Best use, what to avoid, what it usually needs, and the typical problems — for the materials Norwegian 3D-printer users meet first.
- Best for:
- Prototypes, decor, simple parts and beginners
- Avoid if:
- The part has to take heat, flex a lot, or live outside long-term
- Usually needs:
- A regular brass nozzle and an open printer is fine
- Typical issues:
- Brittleness, low heat resistance
- Best for:
- Functional parts, brackets, containers and parts that take a bit more
- Avoid if:
- You need an extremely clean surface or very stiff details
- Usually needs:
- A bit less cooling and some control over stringing
- Typical issues:
- Stringing, poor bridging and a sticky first layer
- Best for:
- Outdoor parts, UV-stable components and technical parts
- Avoid if:
- You print on a fully open machine without ventilation
- Usually needs:
- Enclosure, good temperature control and ventilation
- Typical issues:
- Warping, smell and weak layer bonding at wrong temps
- Best for:
- Flexible parts, gaskets, dampers and grips
- Avoid if:
- The part must be fully rigid or dimension-critical
- Usually needs:
- Lower speed and controlled feeding
- Typical issues:
- Feeding, stringing and uneven extrusion
- Best for:
- Strong and tough technical parts
- Avoid if:
- You can't dry the filament properly
- Usually needs:
- Drying, high temperatures and preferably an enclosure
- Typical issues:
- Moisture, warping and inconsistent dimensions
- Best for:
- Strong, stiff and dimensionally stable technical parts
- Avoid if:
- You don't have a hardened nozzle or a capable printer
- Usually needs:
- Hardened nozzle, drying and higher temperatures
- Typical issues:
- Nozzle wear, moisture and high machine requirements
- Best for:
- Heat-exposed and strong parts
- Avoid if:
- You have an open printer or poor temperature control
- Usually needs:
- High nozzle temperature, enclosure and a good build plate
- Typical issues:
- Warping, poor adhesion and high print temperatures
- Best for:
- Technical components that must be strong, stiff and heat-tolerant
- Avoid if:
- You have a standard beginner printer without an enclosure
- Usually needs:
- Hardened nozzle, high temperatures, drying and enclosure
- Typical issues:
- Demanding settings, wear and costly failed prints
How filaments are assessed
Each material is judged on the same practical criteria, not on brand or marketing copy:
- Use case before brand name
- Printability for normal users
- Requirements for printer, nozzle and build plate
- Risk of warping, moisture and stringing
- Whether the material fits beginners or more technical use
Free mini-guide: Pick the right filament without guessing
A short, practical PDF that explains the differences between the most common filament types, what they're used for, what to avoid, and which materials need a hardened nozzle, drying or an enclosed printer.
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Frequently asked questions
Savner du en printer, filamenttype eller funksjon?
Filamentguiden bygges videre basert på tilbakemeldinger fra norske 3D-printerbrukere.