# What filament should a beginner use?

A beginner should start with PLA. Prusa calls it one of the easiest materials to print, and the r/3Dprinting beginner threads say to learn PLA before PETG or anything filled.

Start with a plain PLA that has a listed nozzle and bed range. Change one thing at a time after that. PLA+ is a reasonable second spool, not a different hobby.

Updated 2026-10-14. Sources accessed 2026-10-14. Use case: Beginners.

## Ranked filaments

| Rank | Filament | Nozzle | Bed | Price per kg |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Polymaker Polylite PLA | 190–230 °C | 25–60 °C | Not listed |
| 2 | Prusament PLA | 205–225 °C | 40–60 °C | Not listed |
| 3 | ELEGOO PLA Basic | 190–230 °C | 35–65 °C | Not listed |
| 4 | eSUN 3D PLA+ | 190–230 °C | 50–70 °C | Not listed |

## What the community says

Asked what a first filament should be, r/3Dprinting answers PLA, then names ordinary brands and tells people to skip silk, wood, and glow for the first spool. PETG shows up as the second material, after PLA is already working. eSUN PLA+ is a frequent ‘stronger but still easy’ suggestion, which is why it is ranked last here rather than first.

## Sources

- [PLA, Prusa Knowledge Base](https://help.prusa3d.com/article/pla_2062) (manufacturer)
- [Prusa filament material guide](https://help.prusa3d.com/filament-material-guide) (manufacturer)
- [A good filament type for a beginner, r/3Dprinting](https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/gokwya/a_good_filament_type_for_a_beginner/) (reddit)
- [Best filament for beginner, r/3Dprinting](https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/k0na6y/best_fillament_for_beginner/) (reddit)
- [Filament recommendations for the new guy, r/3Dprinting](https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/w2nfr7/filament_recommendations_for_the_new_guy/) (reddit)

HTML: https://filamentfacts.com/answers/beginners