The holiday season is the perfect time to get creative with your 3D printer. Whether you’re printing unique gifts, decorations for your home, or custom name tags for the Christmas table, the right 3D printer filament can make all the difference. Each filament type brings its own personality, from glossy silk finishes that shimmer under fairy lights to durable materials perfect for outdoor displays.
Here’s our guide to the best 3D printing filaments for holiday projects, plus a few tips to make your festive prints shine.
🎁 PLA – The Holiday All-Rounder
If you’re looking for a reliable, easy-to-use material for your holiday projects, PLA filament is your go-to. It’s one of the most popular filaments for beginners and experienced creators alike because it is easy to use and prints beautifully.
PLA is ideal for all kinds of festive creations, from Christmas tree ornaments and cookie cutters to custom name tags and tabletop decorations. It’s also available in a wide range of colours, including metallics, pastels, and even transparent options.
For something extra special, Silk PLA adds a gorgeous glossy finish that makes every print look professionally polished. Think shiny baubles, star toppers, or even elegant snowflakes that look stunning straight off the print bed.
If you want a bit more strength and temperature resistance, try PLA+ filament. It offers the same ease of printing as standard PLA, with enhanced durability, making it perfect for prints that need to last beyond the holiday season.
🌟 PETG – For Functional Festivity
When your projects need to withstand the elements, PETG filament is a fantastic choice. It combines the ease of PLA with some of the toughness of ABS, making it strong, flexible, and temperature-resistant.
PETG is a great option for outdoor holiday prints, such as light clips, front-yard decorations, or components for festive displays that need a bit of extra durability.
Another perk? PETG has a beautiful natural sheen, making it an excellent material for projects that call for a “store-bought” finish without the hassle of post-processing.
🎅 TPU – Add Some Flex to Your Festive Prints
Looking to make something fun and functional? TPU filament brings flexibility to your 3D printing projects. This rubber-like material bends and stretches, which makes it perfect for playful or practical designs.
You could print custom keychains, phone grips, or even stress-relief toys with a holiday twist (like Santa faces or reindeer antlers!). TPU also works well for protective accessories, such as flexible corners or bumpers for fragile decorations.
Because TPU is a bit trickier to print than PLA or PETG, we recommend slowing down your print speed and ensuring your extruder setup can handle flexible materials. But the results are worth it, your prints will be durable, long-lasting, and full of character.
✨ Specialty Filaments – Sparkle, Wood & Glow-in-the-Dark
If there’s ever a time to get experimental with your filament, it’s the holidays! Specialty filaments add magic and personality to your projects.
- Silk and Metallic PLA: These filaments produce a stunning, shiny surface that’s ideal for decorative prints. Use them for stars, baubles, or even a 3D-printed Christmas wreath.
- Glitter PLA: Perfect for those who believe there’s no such thing as too much sparkle. Glitter filament adds subtle shimmer that looks beautiful under fairy lights.
- Wood PLA: This unique filament contains real wood fibres, giving your prints a natural, rustic look and even a wood-like scent. Perfect for ornaments, name tags, or handmade-style gifts.
- Glow-in-the-Dark PLA: A fun choice for kids’ gifts or night-time displays. Just charge the print under light, and watch it glow!
Always ensure you follow the print recommendations for your specialty filament for the best results. If you nail the print settings, the creative possibilities are endless!
🧑🔧 Tips for Holiday Printing Success
Before you start your festive printing marathon, here are a few quick tips to make sure everything goes smoothly:
- Plan your prints early. Larger projects can take several hours (or days!) to complete.
- Keep your filaments dry. Humidity can cause poor print quality, so store your spools in airtight containers or use a filament dryer.
- Test small prints first. Try printing a mini version to check colour and settings before committing to a full-size decoration.
- Mix and match colours. Classic combinations like red and gold, silver and white, or green and glitter PLA always look festive.
- Level your bed and check adhesion. A perfectly level print bed helps ensure a successful print and prevents filament waste.
🎄 Bring Your Holiday Ideas to Life with RAW3D
The holidays are the perfect excuse to experiment, create, and share something special, whether it’s a personalised gift, a unique ornament, or a custom decoration made just for your home.
At RAW3D, we stock a wide range of 3D printer filaments, including PLA, PLA+, Silk PLA, PETG, TPU, and specialty options, so you can bring all your festive ideas to life.
Browse our collection online or drop by our O’Connor location to chat about the best materials for your next project.
Let’s make this holiday season a 3D-printed one!