The Best Filament for Miniatures (2023) | Top Picks + Buyers Guide
3D printing has had a massive boost in popularity over the last few years. With the hobby becoming far more accessible to those interested in it. These days you can get a 3D printer and all of the stuff needed to work it for a fairly cheap price. Which is fantastic since it means that more and more people can find out how useful 3D printing is. Whether you want to make functional items or just make stuff that looks cool. With this medium, you can do pretty much anything. But right now we’re talking about miniatures, and if you’re into tabletop gaming you’ll want to pay attention. So we’ve put together a list of the Best Filament for Miniatures at different price points to help you out with your purchase. So let’s get right into it!
Table of Contents
Best Filament for Miniatures
3D printing lets you create any kind of miniature that you want. Which is an awesome amount of freedom and is something that can only be achieved by 3D printing. But the key thing is to figure out which filament you should use. Since they all have different properties and finishes that will affect how the final model turns out.
Flashforge PLA
For our first option on this list, we’ve gone for something cheaper for those who don’t want to spend too much money. We’ve chosen this filament from FlashForge for its low price and great quality. So with filament, you’re really looking at what kind of quality you can expect for the printed models. You want to avoid filaments that form uneven layers, have too much stringing, or form bubbles during the printing process. Luckily with this filament, you shouldn’t have any of those problems. But at that same time, there isn’t anything that really stands out here either.
This is a PLA filament which means that the models it produces are strong and stiff. Perfect for models that are meant to be for show, like miniatures. PLA has issues with heat resistance though so keep that in mind when using it to make models. This filament comes in a small range of colors that include yellow, blue, orange, red, white, and transparent. The color choices here are fairly standard and aren’t anything too special. But they should be plenty for beginner printers or those who just paint over their models anyway. In practice, this filament works really well when building a model. It has strong adhesion and no obvious flaws in the models that it prints. This is exactly what you want when you’re making miniatures and aesthetics are the most important thing.
This filament is compatible with the vast majority of FDM printers so you should be good to use this with your printer too. This is a really good option for any level of 3D printer, regardless if you’re a newcomer or someone with experience. It produces great-looking models and doesn’t cost too much either which is exactly what you want.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Good Quality Prints
- Widely Compatible
Cons:
- Noisy in Some Printers
- Limited Colour Range
STVICTORY 3D Printer Filament
Next up we’ve got a filament that still has an affordable price and comes in a wider range of colors. We’ve gone for this filament from STVICTORY for its low cost which makes it great for people who want a cheaper filament. And getting cheap filament isn’t a bad idea at all if you want to save some money. Since a good, cheap filament can often produce similar results to more expensive options. Most of the time the difference is negligible unless you know exactly what you want from your prints. But if you’re a new 3D printer, seriously consider this filament.
Again, this is a PLA filament which means that it’s very strong and stiff. This is perfect for making miniatures, but if you plan on making some other stuff too just remember that it doesn’t do well with heat. The colors that you can get this filament in are black, blue, gold, silver, red and white. So it still isn’t a huge color range and there aren’t any unique colors here. But this should still be enough for most people who are going to do some 3D printing. And the chances are that you’ll probably paint over it anyway if you’re making miniatures.
The printing quality here is really good and should satisfy most people. There isn’t any sort of drastic stringing or glaring imperfection in the models that it produces. As long as your printer is at the right settings, you should get some really high-quality prints here. It’s also widely compatible with most FDM printers, though double-check that it will work with yours before buying it. Ultimately this is another great option for those that want affordable filament that does its job really well.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Great Quality Prints
- Widely Compatible
Cons:
- Designed for Hobbyist Prints
- Limited Colour Range
HATCHBOX ABS
For our next option, we’ve got a filament that comes in a huge range of colors. We’ve chosen this range of filament from HATCHBOX for its great quality prints and massive color range. The very first thing to note here is that this is a different type of filament from what we’ve already had on this list. This is an ABS filament, which is a lighter alternative to PLA. Usually, this is the filament that is used for more practical models that have a more functional use. But it’ll work just fine for miniatures too and produce a strong model.
The biggest positive to this filament is less about how good it is on its own. But rather the wide range of colors it comes in, which is great for those who don’t paint their models. If you tend to prefer to leave your prints as is, then you may be interested in the variety of colors you can get here. With colors ranging from blue, black, gold, green, pink, and even more too. And since this is still a fairly affordable filament, you may be able to get a selection of your favorite colors to start printing. Though some of the colors will require different temperature settings so bear that in mind.
The print quality you get from this filament is very good too. It doesn’t produce any glaring imperfections or annoying little marks when used correctly. So if you want a filament that will produce highly detailed models in good condition, this is a great one to go for. There have been a few reports that it is a little hard to work with though, so prepare to do some tinkering to dial in the correct settings. Overall this is another great filament to use, no matter what your skill level for 3D printing is.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Great Quality Prints
- Wide Colour Variety
Cons:
- May Require Tweaking Some Settings
- Requires a Hot Printer
Eryone Ultra Silk Filament
Next up on the list, we’ve gone for a filament that provides a unique style for those that want it. We’ve gone for this filament from Eryone for its great quality prints and nice glossy style. The thing that sets this filament apart from all of the others on this list is the glossy finish that it has. It’ll give all of your models a shiny surface that looks fantastic and really helps models stand out a little bit more. If you like miniatures that have a pseudo golden effect or that just look shiny in general, you’re in luck here.
This is a PLA filament and as such provides strength and stiffness to the models printed with it. It is often the preferred type of filament to use for things like miniatures. The printing quality with this filament is also really good. It allows for high detail and doesn’t really have problems with stringing or globbing. Make sure that you’re using the filament with the settings that the manufacturer recommends though, so you get the intended experience.
The colors that it comes in are bronze, gold, silver, copper, dark gold, red and black. They all have a glossy, shiny surface which makes them look great. And even if you don’t like the glossy surface for some models, you can just paint over it if you so wish. This may not be the best option for someone who is using a 3D printer for the first time, you may prefer to go with a more standard filament. But for those that want to try something different you may really like this. Especially if you’re making miniatures that resemble statues or something else that’s a little different.
Pros:
- Glossy Finish
- Great Quality Prints
- Wide Colour Variety
Cons:
- Not for Standard Prints
- May Require Tweaking Some Settings
OVERTURE PETG Filament
For the final choice on this list, we’ve gone for a reliable filament that can get the job done. We’ve chosen this filament from OVERTURE for its great printing quality and wide assortment of color options. The first thing to note here is that this is a PETG filament and that’s going to mean a few different things. PETG is another form of filament that works in FDM printers and is usually much stronger and more durable than PLA or ABS. This makes it great for any prints that need to stay strong and not break.
This makes it a good filament to use for miniatures because of how much stronger it is. If you’ve got a print with a lot of small details you probably don’t want them snapping off on a whim. With PETG you can hopefully avoid that and keep your prints in good condition for longer. This filament also comes in a large range of colors that include black, blue, gold, orange, pink, purple, and more. No matter what color you’re in need of you should be able to find it here. This makes this a great choice for people who don’t like to paint their models and prefer to use the color of the filament instead.
The important thing to note with this filament is that it’s a little more tricky to use than PLA. This is because it needs a printer that can deliver higher temperatures. And if you have a cheaper printer that struggles to get really hot, you may not be able to really make use of this filament. If you’ve got the printer to use it then this is a fantastic filament to go for. And you can’t get a much better filament for making miniatures.
Pros:
- Strong & Durable
- Great Quality Prints
- Wide Colour Variety
Cons:
- Needs High Temperatures
- Harder to Use than PLA
Buying Guide
If you’ve come this far down the list and still aren’t sure which filament would be the best for you, don’t worry! In this section, we’ll be giving you some extra tips and advice to help you out with your purchase.
PLA vs ABS vs PETG
We’ve briefly talked about three different kinds of filaments and they’re all great in their own ways. But they also have their own characteristics that you should be aware of before you buy any of them. Let’s start off with PLA which is a fairly common filament and probably the first one you’ll consider getting. This is a cheap filament that’s widely available and fantastic for people who don’t know what they’re doing. It’s very forgiving as it doesn’t need very high temperatures to be able to work. Plus it creates models that are strong and stiff.
ABS is a slightly less common filament but one that you can still find anywhere. This is a tricker filament to print with and is typically used by people who know what they’re doing. It has a higher resistance to heat and is generally lighter and tougher than PLA filament. Though it needs a printer that can reach high temperatures, this is a great option for making miniatures, provided you know what you’re doing.
Then there is PETG filament which is a filament you might not have been aware of since it’s slightly less known than PLA and ABS. PETG is a filament that sits in between PLA and ABS. It’s strong, durable, and needs a printer that can deliver high temperatures to work efficiently. It combines the best aspects of both PLA and ABS and in a lot of ways this many people’s favorite filament.
Is PLA or Resin Better for Miniatures?
If you plan on printing highly detailed miniatures or game pieces, you can expect to get better performance from resin printers compared to PLA printers. The resolution from resin printers is substantially better than the best PLA options, which generally excel at larger prints like terrain. However, PLA printers can easily handle simple miniatures with ease.
How does 3D printing work?
If you are a complete beginner to 3D printing this short guide will help you get started! The process of 3D printing is an interesting one and it has quite a few steps. The first and most important thing to have is a decent PC. Whether that be your gaming laptop or your work desktop, just make sure that it can handle some 3D modeling software. These include, but aren’t limited to:
- AutoCAD
- FreeCAD
- Autodesk Revit
- Solidworks
There’s tons of software out there and a lot of it is pretty good and will do what you need it to. Now the performance of your PC is going to be what decides how well these programs run. It’s important that your specs either meet the recommended requirements or exceed them. The last thing you want is to wait a lifetime for the software to open, have the program stutter every 30 seconds and finally after about an hour you’ll start printing. No one wants that, so let’s use the Solidworks system requirements as a gauge:
- Windows 10
- 16GB RAM (minimum)
Or
- 32GB RAM (recommended)
- At least 20GB of free space on a hard drive or SSD
- 4GB VRAM
Tips:
- Make sure that the filament you’re buying can work with the printer you have. Some filaments are designed for certain printers and don’t like to play nice with other printer brands.
- Double-check reviews for the filament you want and see what they say. They may point out glaring issues that you can avoid by purchasing a different filament.
- PLA filament is a bit more common than PETG and it’s also easier to use. Though the trade-off is that it’s more fragile than PETG. So if you’re making models that are more for a show like figures or statues stick with PLA. If you’re making things that are going to have more of functional use, stick with PETG.
- ABS filament is great but beginners to 3D printing should stay away from it. There are a lot of factors that can make ABS filaments not work correctly.
- If you’re a beginner to 3D printing, use PLA filament since it’s the most forgiving kind of filament you can use.
Verdict – The Best Filament for Miniatures
That’s our list for The Best Filament for Miniatures. If it helped you out at all, please let us know all about it in the comments down below. Thanks for reading!
