Selecting the right filament is crucial for achieving quality prints. However for amateur ethusiasts and professionals alike, money talks. Here we compare five low-cost filaments available in 1kg spools, focussing on both price and performance.
Polylactic Acid (PLA) filaments dominate the 3d printing bargain bin as they are relatively cheaper to manufacture than other filament types. PLA is derived from renewable resources such as corn starch or sugarcane, making it more sustainable and cost-effective to produce. In contrast, filaments made from other materials are petroleum-based, which makes their production costs more sensitive to fluctuations in oil prices.
Some of the cheapest filaments available are listed below.
eSUN PLA Refill Filament
According to the product description, this is actually a PLA+ filament (enhanced formulation for strength and flexiblity) rather than a basic PLA.
Key Features:
- Price: £12.79/kg
- Diameter: 1.75mm
- Weight: 1kg spool
- Material: PLA+
- Dimensional accuracy: +/- 0.05mm
- Colour options: Grey; black; cold white; fire engine red; white
The colour options are limited, and this filament refill requires a reel for use, that needs to be purchased seperately (and some users commented that it is difficult to fit). It is compatible with a range of 3d printers.
75% of users gave this fialment a five star rating.
Amazon Basics PLA Filament
This is a basic amazon own-brand PLA filament.
Key Features:
- Price: £14.24/kg
- Diameter: 1.75mm
- Weight: 1kg spool
- Material: PLA
- Dimensional accuracy: Not reported
- Colour options: More than 20 colours
This filament has nearly 19,000 reviews on amazon UK, with nearly two thirds giving it a five star rating.
One user commented:
“I see a lot of comments out on the net with advice to steer clear of stuff like this. It’s cheap and of course has to be rubbish because of that.
Being the adventurous sort on a tight budget I ignored common advice and bought some. That was three years ago. Since then I have purchased several more rolls and a a few of these multipacks (when they are available).
To be fair to Amazon they don’t make any claims to this being premium PLA. Are there better ones? Absolutely there are. For many you pay quite a bit more as well. On a budget, this PLA is just fine. I get perfectly satisfactory prints with high detail and reliable replication across different prints… So far, I have found this PLA to be one of the most consistent and reliable at this price range.”
ELEGOO PLA+ Filament
ELEGOO is a popular filament in the UK, and this bargain basement price is for PLA+ (modified to make it stronger and more flexible) rather than just regular PLA.
Key Features:
- Price: £14.99/kg
- Diameter: 1.75mm
- Weight: 1kg spool
- Material: PLA+
- Dimensional accuracy: +/- 0.02mm
- Colour options: More than 20 colours
Users comment positively on this filament’s quality and functionality. One user commented “”…The value for money is outstanding, especially considering the performance and reliability it provides….”
AMZ3D PLA Filament
The underdog of the filament scene, this small Canadian company offers a basic PLA filament at prices to compete with the big dogs.
Key Features:
- Price: £19.99/kg
- Diameter: 1.75mm
- Weight: 1kg spool
- Material: PLA
- Dimensional accuracy: +/- 0.03mm
- Colour options: Black; dark blue; dark violet; gold; lake blue; lavender; orange; pink; purple; sakura pink; translucent yellow; translucent natural; white; wood; yellow
Though less purchased (and reviewed) nearly three quarters of users gave this filament a five star rating, and the vast majority rated it positively on value for money.
Sovol PLA Filament Silk Tri Colour
Silk filaments give a glossy, metallic finish, and some can be found in multiple colours that give a dramatic gradient or marbled effect. This Chinese Sovol brand is one of the cheapest multi-colour silk filaments available.
Key Features:
- Price: £19.99/kg
- Diameter: 1.75mm
- Weight: 1kg spool
- Material: PLA
- Dimensional accuracy: +/- 0.03mm
- Colour options: Bronze/purple/green; gold/silver/bronze; green rainbow; red/blue/green; rose/blue; rose/blue/yellow; rose/gold; yellow rainbow
Two thirds of users gave this filament a five star review and several commented on the striking colours it produced compared with other, more expensive, silks.
These filaments demonstrate that performance and functionality can come cheaply, particularly when using PLA.
Leave a Reply