Written by Jackson B.
Quick answer: Choose PLA Basic for low-cost everyday prints, PLA+ for tougher functional parts and easy AMS feeding, Matte PLA when you want layer lines hidden, Silk PLA for glossy display pieces and High Speed PLA if your printer already runs fast. Per our data sheets all five have a 53°C heat deflection temperature, so none suit hot cars.
We stock five solid-colour PLA lines, all on 1 kg, 1.75 mm spools, and they print at similar temperatures. The differences that matter are toughness, surface finish, listed print speed, spool design and price. This guide lines them up using the figures on our data sheets, then gives a plain "pick this if" recommendation for each. If you are still deciding between PLA and other materials, the filament finder is a quick place to start.
The five PLA lines side by side
All technical values are per our data sheets (downloadable from each product page). Prices are per 1 kg roll at the time of writing.
| Property | PLA Basic | PLA+ | Matte PLA | Silk PLA | High Speed PLA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $15.95 (Black), $16.95 (colours) | $21.95 | $23.95 | $23.95–$24.95 | $24.95 |
| Colours | 18 | 18 | 22 | 17 | 26 |
| Finish | Standard | Standard | Low gloss, hides layer lines | High shine, near-metallic | Standard |
| Impact strength (ISO 180) | 4.5–5 kJ/m² | 9.5–10.5 kJ/m² | 7–9 kJ/m² | 5–6 kJ/m² | 4.5–5 kJ/m² |
| Tensile strength (ISO 527) | 45–49 MPa | 45.5–49 MPa | 50–55 MPa | 45–49 MPa | 45–49 MPa |
| Elongation at break | 13.5–15.5% | 14.5–16.5% | 6–7% | 10.5–12.5% | 10.5–15.5% |
| Nozzle temperature | 190–220°C | 190–220°C | 190–230°C | 200–230°C | 190–220°C |
| Bed temperature | 25–60°C | 25–60°C | 25–60°C | 25–60°C | 25–60°C |
| Listed print speed | 40–250 mm/s | 60–90 mm/s | 60–90 mm/s | 40–60 mm/s | 60–350 mm/s |
| HDT at 0.455 MPa | 53°C | 53°C | 53°C | 53°C | 53°C |
| Spool and AMS | Thinner spool; respool for AMS | 2.5 mm spool walls, AMS-ready | 200 mm AMS-compatible spool | AMS-compatible | AMS and AMS lite, if the spool fits |
High Speed PLA mechanical figures are for specimens printed flat (X-Y). The other sheets do not state an orientation.
Pick this if
| Filament | Pick this if | Skip it if |
|---|---|---|
| PLA Basic | You are learning, printing test pieces or prototypes, or want the lowest cost per kilogram | You want to load rolls straight into an AMS without respooling |
| PLA+ | You print clips, brackets and other indoor functional parts, or run an AMS | You want a matte or glossy look |
| Matte PLA | You print display models, presentation prototypes or props and want layer lines less visible | The part needs to bend or flex before it breaks |
| Silk PLA | You print vases, trophies, character models or gifts where shine matters most | The part carries load or needs strong layer bonding |
| High Speed PLA | Your printer already runs fast and you want throughput with a wide colour range | You print slowly or need the toughest PLA we sell |
Toughness: what the impact numbers mean
Tensile strength measures how hard you can pull on a test bar before it fails. On our data sheets the five lines sit within a few MPa of each other, with Matte PLA slightly ahead. Impact strength (the ISO 180 test) measures how much energy a notched bar absorbs when it is struck, which is closer to what happens when a clip snaps or a part hits the floor.
That is where the lines separate. Per our data sheets PLA+ absorbs roughly twice the impact energy of PLA Basic, Silk PLA or High Speed PLA. Our PLA+ product page describes it as modified, toughened PLA with lower brittleness, and the figures back that up. Matte PLA lands in between on impact strength, but its elongation at break is only 6–7%, so it behaves as a stiffer material that bends less before it breaks. For clips and snap-fits, PLA+ is the safer PLA choice.
Finish: standard, matte or silk
Matte PLA gives a low-gloss surface that diffuses light, which makes layer lines much less obvious. Our product page describes it as needing no special settings, nozzles or enclosure. It comes in 22 colours.
Silk PLA is PLA blended with additives such as elastomers and flow modifiers that change how the layers fuse and reflect light, giving a high-shine, almost metallic look. Our product page is clear that it is designed for looks rather than strength: it can be slightly more brittle, with reduced interlayer strength, and prints best a little hotter and slower. Its data sheet lists a 200–230°C nozzle range and 40–60 mm/s, the slowest of the five.
For more on each effect finish, read Matte PLA: The Secret to Hiding Layer Lines and Silk PLA: What It Is and How to Print It.
Speed: reading the listed ranges
The listed print speed on each data sheet is the manufacturer's guidance for that formulation. High Speed PLA tops out at 350 mm/s, PLA Basic at 250 mm/s, PLA+ and Matte PLA at 90 mm/s, and Silk PLA at 60 mm/s.
The melt flow rate on the data sheets helps explain the gap. Measured under the same test conditions (190°C, 2.16 kg), High Speed PLA flows at 10–20 g/10 min, against 3–6 for PLA+ and 4–8 for PLA Basic and Matte PLA. A filament that flows more easily when molten is easier to push through the nozzle quickly. High Speed PLA is also the stiffest of the five on paper, with a tensile modulus of 2,000–2,100 MPa (X-Y), but it gives up impact strength to PLA+.
Heat and outdoor use
Every PLA line here lists a heat deflection temperature of 53°C and a continuous use temperature of 50°C. That makes any of them a poor choice for car interiors, parts left in direct summer sun and anything near a heat source. For warm or outdoor parts, look at the PETG range or the ASA range, and check the figures in our heat deflection temperature chart.
Spools and the Bambu Lab AMS
- PLA Basic comes on a thinner, standard spool. Our product page suggests moving it onto an AMS-compatible spool for AMS or other multi-material use.
- PLA+ uses a spool with thicker 2.5 mm walls that our product page describes as gentler on the AMS, with better roller grip and fewer tangles.
- Matte PLA comes on a standard 200 mm AMS-compatible spool.
- Silk PLA is listed as fully AMS-compatible.
- High Speed PLA is listed as suitable for the AMS and AMS lite, provided the spool fits and you load it according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Drying
Per our data sheets PLA absorbs little moisture (under 0.5% in 24 hours for all five), but a roll left out in humid weather can still print poorly. Dry PLA+, Matte, Silk and High Speed PLA at 40–45°C for 4–6 hours, and PLA Basic at 50°C for 5 hours.
What it costs to stock up
Filament volume pricing applies automatically at checkout, and you can mix lines and colours: 3 or more rolls get 5% off, 6 or more get 10% off and 12 or more get 15% off. A full carton of 12 rolls of the same colour gets 20% off. That brings a carton of PLA Basic in Black to about $12.76 a roll and a carton of PLA+ to about $17.56 a roll.
Shop the materials in this guide
- 1.75 mm PLA Basic Filament - 1 KG: the lowest-cost PLA we sell, for learning and everyday prints.
- 1.75 mm PLA+ Filament - 1 KG: about twice the impact strength of PLA Basic per our data sheets, on an AMS-friendly spool.
- 1.75 mm Matte PLA Filament - 1 KG: low-gloss finish that hides layer lines, in 22 colours.
- 1.75 mm Silk PLA Filament - 1 KG: high-shine display prints in 17 colours.
- 1.75 mm High Speed PLA Filament - 1 KG: listed up to 350 mm/s for fast printers, in 26 colours.
Frequently asked questions
Is PLA+ stronger than PLA Basic?
It is tougher rather than stronger in a straight pull. Per our data sheets tensile strength is almost the same, but PLA+ absorbs about twice the impact energy, so it is less likely to snap.
Can I use PLA Basic in a Bambu Lab AMS?
Yes, but it comes on a thinner spool. For the most reliable feeding, move it onto an AMS-compatible spool, or choose PLA+ or Matte PLA, which ship on AMS-compatible spools.
Which PLA is best for a car or outdoors?
None of them. All five list a 53°C heat deflection temperature. Use PETG or ASA for parts that get hot or sit in the sun.
Is High Speed PLA worth it on a slower printer?
Usually not. Its advantage is the higher listed speed range. On a printer running under 90 mm/s, PLA+ costs less and has about twice the impact strength per our data sheets.
