Miniatures
What filament should I use for miniatures?
First in this ranking: Prusament PLA.
- Nozzle205–225 °C
- Bed40–60 °C
- Speed—
- Dry—
- Density1.24 g/cm³
Ranked filaments
| Rank | Filament | Material | Nozzle | Bed | Price / kg | Datasheet | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prusament PLAPlain PLA with a tight listed nozzle range. The material Prusa points at figures and small detail. | PLA | 205–225 | 40–60 | — | — | |
| 2 | Polymaker Polylite PLAA second plain PLA with nozzle and bed listed, if that is the spool already on the printer. | PLA | 190–230 | 25–60 | — | Datasheet | |
| 3 | ELEGOO PLA BasicElegoo PLA comes up in the miniature threads as a cheap PLA that still holds detail. This row is the basic PLA, not a filled grade. | PLA | 190–230 | 35–65 | — | — | |
| 4 | eSUN 3D PLA+PLA+ is what several miniature printers name for a less brittle model. It is still PLA-family, and the ‘plus’ formula is this product’s, not a standard. | PLA+ | 190–230 | 50–70 | — | — |
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How the ranking was chosen
Choose PLA, then choose a nozzle small enough for the model. The brand argument on the forums is about consistency and matte finish, not about switching to ABS.
Pros and cons
Pros
- PLA is the low-warp material Prusa recommends for figures, statues, and other detailed models.
- The four rows are ordinary PLA or PLA+, which is what the miniature threads actually print.
Cons
- A tabletop miniature left in a hot car is still PLA. Prusa’s softening warning applies.
- FDM layer lines do not disappear because the brand is good. The PrintedMinis thread also says a resin printer is the display-quality route.
Printer considerations
- Detail at 28 mm is a nozzle and layer-height problem as much as a polymer problem. A 0.4 mm nozzle will not match a 0.2 mm nozzle, whatever the spool says.
- Keep the printer cool enough for PLA. An enclosure that helps ASA will hurt a small PLA print that needs part cooling.
- Matte PLA can hide layer lines; some miniature printers also call matte slightly abrasive. If the product page records a hardened nozzle, believe that cell.
What the community says
r/PrintedMinis asks which PLA, not whether to switch to PETG, for 28 mm models. Replies name Bambu PLA, Elegoo PLA+, eSUN PLA+, and matte PLA, argue about layer lines and paint, and tell people to dry the spool. PETG appears as a sturdier option for larger, less detailed models. Resin is the comparison when the goal is display detail.
- What filament do you use for printing miniatures?, r/PrintedMinis
- Best filament for 3D printed minis?, r/PrintedMinis
Sources & notes
Accessed 14 October 2026.
Related questions
- What filament should a beginner use?Beginners
- What filament should I use for cosplay armor?Cosplay
- What filament should I use on a printer with no enclosure?Open printers
Questions
Should miniatures be PLA+?
Plain PLA is the first recommendation because that is the detailed-model material in Prusa’s guide. PLA+ is on the list because miniature printers use it when plain PLA feels brittle. Neither one is a different printing process.
Does this catalog store a ‘best for minis’ flag?
No. The table is temperature, price per kilogram, datasheet, and affiliate link from the product record. The ranking is the guide.