PLA vs PLA-CF
PLA-CF is PLA filled with chopped carbon fibre: stiffer and matte-finished, but more brittle, abrasive to brass nozzles and no more heat-resistant than plain PLA. On price, PLA is the cheaper today: an established 1 kg spool costs a median of £15.99 per kg, against £35.67 for PLA-CF. We track 4,021 PLA and 25 PLA-CF listings. The cheapest single listings are £6.39 per kg (PLA) and £15.96 per kg (PLA-CF).
| PLA | PLA-CF | |
|---|---|---|
| Listings tracked | 4,021 | 25 |
| Cheapest per kg today | £6.39 | £15.96 |
| Median per kg today 1 kg spools, 100+ reviews |
£15.99 | £35.67 |
| Ease of printing | Easiest: prints cool on an open printer with a brass nozzle | Easy: PLA settings, but it needs a hardened nozzle |
| Heat resistance | Low: softens from about 55°C | Low: about 55°C, the carbon fibre does not raise the heat limit |
| Enclosure needed | No | No |
| Typical uses | Models, toys, ornaments and prototypes | Stiff, light parts with a matte finish: brackets, jigs and drone parts |
| Main drawback | Softens in a hot car or a sunny window | Abrasive to brass nozzles, and more brittle than plain PLA |
Prices are per kilogram of filament, with multi-spool bundles counted at their full weight, and are read from Amazon UK several times a day. The median is the middle listing among established 1 kg spools (new, with 100 or more reviews): half cost less per kg, half cost more. Little-known listings are left out of it because they are priced far higher and rarely bought; the listing counts and the cheapest figures cover everything we track.
Which should you buy: PLA or PLA-CF?
Buy plain PLA for nearly everything: it takes a knock better than the filled version. Buy PLA-CF when you want stiffness and a matte finish that hides layer lines, for brackets, jigs and drone parts, and fit a hardened steel nozzle first. If the goal is a genuinely tougher part, PLA+ or PETG will serve you better.
The five cheapest PLA listings today
| Product | Material | Weight | Rating | Price | Per kg | Deal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 3DHoJor 6KG Matte PLA Filament Bundle 1.75mm Multicolor for 3D Printers |
PLA | 6 kg | 5.0 out of 5 (2 Amazon ratings) | £38.35 | £6.39 | 19% below |
 OVERTURE 3D Printer Filament PLA 1.75mm 2kg Bundle, Black*1+White*1 |
PLA | 2 kg | 4.6 out of 5 (29 Amazon ratings) | £13.13 | £6.57 | Warehouse · 30% under new |
 3DHoJor Matte PLA Filament 1.75mm 1kg*4 Multicolor Bundle for 3D Printers |
PLA | 4 kg | 4.4 out of 5 (52 Amazon ratings) | £26.63 | £6.66 | 19% below |
 3DHoJor Matte PLA Filament 1.75mm 1kg*4 Multicolor Bundle for 3D Printers |
PLA | 4 kg | 4.4 out of 5 (52 Amazon ratings) | £26.63 | £6.66 | 19% below |
 DEEPLEE PLA Basic Refill Filament 1.75mm White 4kg Bundle |
PLA | 4 kg refill | 4.2 out of 5 (323 Amazon ratings) | £26.85 | £6.71 | Warehouse · 13% under new |
All 4,021 PLA listings, ranked by £/kg
The five cheapest PLA-CF listings today
| Product | Material | Weight | Rating | Price | Per kg | Deal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Creality Hyper PLA-CF Filament 1.75 mm, Carbon Fiber High-Speed PLA 50-300 mm/ |
PLA-CF | 1 kg | 4.5 out of 5 (96 Amazon ratings) | £15.96 | £15.96 | Warehouse · 35% under new |
 Polymaker HT-PLA-GF Filament 1.75mm Power Tool Red, High Temp PLA for 3D Print |
PLA-CF | 1 kg | 4.2 out of 5 (45 Amazon ratings) | £16.72 | £16.72 | Like New · 22% under new |
 Carbon Fiber PLA Filament 1.75mm, TINMORRY PLA-CF 3D Printing Filament, Compat |
PLA-CF | 1 kg | 4.5 out of 5 (48 Amazon ratings) | £16.99 | £16.99 | — |
 eSUN PLA Filament 1.75mm 1KG(2.2LBS), PLA CF Carbon Fiber Filled PLA, Black |
PLA-CF | 1 kg | 4.6 out of 5 (715 Amazon ratings) | £18.99 | £18.99 | 5% below |
 Polymaker HT-PLA-GF Filament 1.75mm Power Tool Yellow, High Temp PLA for 3D Pr |
PLA-CF | 1 kg | 3.1 out of 5 (30 Amazon ratings) | £22.23 | £22.23 | 25% below |
All 25 PLA-CF listings, ranked by £/kg
Questions people ask
Is PLA or PLA-CF filament cheaper per kilogram in the UK?
PLA filament is cheaper per kilogram than PLA-CF on Amazon UK in November 2026. Among established 1 kg spools (100 or more reviews) tracked by 3D Printer Deals, the median PLA spool costs 15.99 pounds per kilogram across 1,569 listings, against 35.67 pounds for PLA-CF across 9. The cheapest single listings are 6.39 pounds per kilogram for PLA and 15.96 pounds for PLA-CF.
Is PLA easier to print than PLA-CF?
Yes, PLA is easier to print than PLA-CF. PLA is the easiest filament to print: it prints cool on an open printer with a standard brass nozzle. PLA-CF prints at PLA settings but is abrasive, so it needs a hardened nozzle.
Which copes better with heat, PLA or PLA-CF filament?
PLA and PLA-CF cope with about the same heat. PLA softens from about 55°C. PLA-CF softens at about the same 55°C as plain PLA, because the carbon fibre does not raise the heat limit.
Do you need an enclosed 3D printer for PLA or PLA-CF?
No, neither PLA nor PLA-CF needs an enclosed 3D printer. PLA does not need an enclosure. PLA-CF does not need an enclosure.
Guides
-
Carbon fibre filament explained: is it worth it?
Carbon fibre filament is ordinary plastic filled with chopped carbon fibres. It prints stiffer and with a matte finish, but not necessarily stronger, and it needs a hardened nozzle.
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Hardened vs brass nozzles: when you actually need one
Abrasive filament destroys brass nozzles fast. Which filaments count, what hardened steel costs you in heat transfer, and when brass is still the right choice.