As a UK-leading supplier of 3D printing filaments, we’ve analysed real UK filament sales from 01 Oct 2024 to 30 Sep 2025 to reveal the top 3D printer filaments and the trends shaping filament buying decisions in 2025. This report is written for engineers, 3D printing service bureaus and 3D print specialists in the UK who want clear, data-backed guidance.
In this report, you’ll learn:
- The best-selling materials (PLA, PETG, PLA Tough, ASA) and when to use each
- The most popular colours (why Black/White/Grey dominate)
- How XL spools cut cost-per-kg and changeovers for production runs
- Why spool-less ReFill is rising with Bambu AMS workflows
- The UK diameter split: 1.75 mm vs 2.85 mm—and what to stock
Read on to educate yourself on market trends and choose the right materials, colours and formats for reliable, scalable prints.
What are the Best-Selling 3D Print Material Types in 2025?
From 01 Oct 2024 to 30 Sep 2025, >90% of revenue came from just four filament lines:
- PLA (67.4%)
- PETg (19.2%)
- PLA Tough (3.9%)
- ASA (2.9%)
PLA leads because it’s the most reliable, cost-effective choice for day-to-day printing: low warp, easy first-layer adhesion, fast setup across Bambu Lab, Prusa and Creality ecosystems, and strong dimensional accuracy for prototypes and production jigs.
PETg follows as the default for functional parts—higher impact strength than PLA, better chemical/moisture resistance, and good layer bonding—making it the go-to for fixtures, covers and light-duty end-use components.
PLA Tough serves 3D print operators who want PLA’s printability with extra impact resistance (drop-tolerant housings, brackets), avoiding the process overhead of engineering polymers.
ASA rounds out the top tier UV resistant filament for outdoors and alternative to ABS, offering improved weatherability and reduced odour/warp—ideal for signage, enclosures and external fixtures.
In short: PLA = speed and simplicity; PETg = everyday functional strength; PLA Tough = tougher PLA without hassle; ASA = outdoor or UV-ready prints.
What is the Best-Selling Filament Colour in the UK?
Filament colour demand is highly concentrated: Black (33.1%) leads, followed by White (27.9%) and Grey (17.2%). Together, these neutrals account for ~80% of Filamentive revenue. Practical reasons drive this: black hides wear and layer artefacts on end-use parts; white supports clean lab/audit environments and easy post-processing/painting; grey photographs well, often cited as an “engineering colour”, and reads dimensional detail clearly.
Interestingly, this is broadly in-line with findings from a recent All3DP article which highlights black as the overwhelmingly most popular filament colour for 17/21 filament manufacturers.
Beyond this, Natural (4.3%) reflects sustainability-led use cases and translucent parts for visual applications; Red (4.1%) and Blue (2.8%) serve visibility, labelling and brand colouring in jigs/fixtures. Silver (2.2%) supports “machined look” aesthetics. The remainder sits in a long tail (each <1%).
Note: this has been calculated from the average of all colours across all materials.
Best-Selling Specialty 3D Printing Materials in the UK
PLA Matte – Premium, low-reflective finish that naturally hides layer lines. Great for visible parts: consumer housings, enclosures, signage, fixtures. Prints like standard PLA with cleaner-looking surfaces and minimal post-processing.
Carbon Fibre PETG – PETG reinforced with chopped carbon fibre (15%) for higher stiffness, strength-to-weight and improved temperature resistance versus PLA. Low warp, excellent layer adhesion and dimensional stability make it ideal for functional prototypes, jigs/fixtures and small-batch end-use parts. Tip: use a hardened nozzle (≥0.4–0.6 mm).
Wood PLA – PLA-infused with real wood fibres for a warm, realistic finish. Sands and stains well for architectural models, product mock-ups and education projects. Prints easily with low warp; consider larger nozzles (≥0.5 mm) and modest temps to control colour/texture due to abrasiveness.
Interesting 2025 3D Printing Filament UK Trends & Insights
Large-Format 3D Printing Demand Driving XL Filament Sales
Across 01.10.24–30.09.25, XL filament spools (2.3/4.5/8.5 kg) delivered over 50% of revenue, and half of our top 10 selling filament products were XL.
But why? Fewer filament changeovers, steadier uptime, and better cost per kilo for production runs. Typical customers are high-volume 3D printing services and operators of large-format printers, where high throughput is critical.
UK Bambu Boom means more spool-less ReFill filaments sold
With Bambu Lab AMS 3D printing now mainstream in the UK, ReFill has moved from nice-to-have to default for multi-material, lower-waste printing. In the period, ReFill filaments accounted for 10% of total sales and 13% of PLA
This is likely due to the fact that more than 80% of Bambu Lab users utilise the AMS. This has directly boosted spool-free ReFill demand, which supports sustainable, multi-material printing. Bambu Lab users account for more than 40% of our customer base.
What is the UK’s main filament diameter? 1.75mm vs 2.85mm
The market is decisively 1.75 mm (~80% of revenue), aligned to Bambu/Prusa/Creality desktop 3D printing ecosystems and market availability. However, 2.85mm filament remains vital for industries, universities, and large-format users. Its stiffer feedstock, higher throughput, and compatibility with XL spools make it ideal for production runs and professional systems like Ultimaker (used by 10% of Filamentive customers).
What should be Operators’ Filament Strategy – 2025 & Beyond?
Bottom line for UK 3D printers: the market is optimised for speed, simplicity and uptime. A PLA-led mix with PETG as the functional workhorse will cover most use cases; keep neutrals (Black/White/Grey) deep because they account for the lion’s share of demand.
If you’re running multiple machines or long jobs, XL filament spools are the cleanest lever for lowering cost-per-kg and cutting changeovers, especially for large format 3D printing.
If your fleet is Bambu-heavy (or moving that way), standardise on spool-less ReFill to optimise AMS compatibility, reduce packaging and lower cost.
Finally, assume 1.75mm as the UK filament diameter default for new purchases; maintain a focused 2.85mm range only where Ultimaker/legacy fleets justify it. Do this, and you’ll improve throughput, reduce waste, and make procurement simpler—while keeping engineers happy and jobs on schedule.
Need help choosing a standard set (material, colour, format, diameter)? We’ll spec a bundle or issue a quote that fits your 3D-print workflow, backed by UK filament stock.