A new printer can arrive with everything from a full starter spool to a tiny coil that is gone before you finish calibration. So, do 3D printers come with filament? Sometimes, but buyers should treat included material as a bonus rather than a complete supply for printing.
Most consumer 3D printers include a small amount of filament, especially beginner-focused models. The amount, material type, and quality vary by manufacturer and bundle. If you are planning your first project, ordering filament before the printer arrives prevents an avoidable delay.
Do 3D Printers Come With Filament?
Many 3D printers come with a sample spool or a short length of filament. It is usually intended for a first test print, setup model, or calibration piece. Some brands include 100 g to 250 g spools, while others provide only enough material for a few small prints. A standard full spool is typically 1 kg, so the included material is often a fraction of what most users will need.
Printers sold as kits, entry-level machines, and classroom-oriented bundles are the most likely to include filament. Higher-end printers may include a sample, but the focus is often on the machine, accessories, and software rather than consumables. Used printers may include leftover filament, but that should not be assumed and its storage condition matters.
The product listing is the only reliable answer for a specific model. Look under “what’s in the box,” package contents, or included accessories. If filament is not listed, assume it is not included.
What Included Filament Is Usually Like
Included filament is commonly PLA in a basic color such as white, gray, black, or green. PLA is the normal choice because it is easy to print, has a low tendency to warp, and works well for setup prints on most machines.
That does not mean every sample spool is the same. Some are name-brand material packed in a vacuum-sealed bag with desiccant. Others are unmarked filament supplied only to help confirm that the printer can extrude plastic. The latter may print adequately, but it is not necessarily the material you will want for regular projects, customer parts, or fine-detail work.
Small sample spools can also create a false impression of how quickly filament is used. A calibration cube may require only 15 to 25 g. A practical storage bracket, large figurine, or multi-part organizer can consume several hundred grams. Projects with supports, rafts, multiple failed attempts, or color changes use even more.
Is a Sample Spool Enough for Your First Print?
For a small test model, usually yes. For a planned project, usually no.
A 100 g sample spool may handle a few calibration models and one or two modest parts. It is less likely to complete a larger item, especially if you need to tune settings first. New users should expect some material to go toward bed leveling, flow checks, temperature towers, and prints that do not come out as expected.
The practical move is to have at least one 1 kg spool ready when the printer is delivered. For a first material, standard PLA or PLA+ is the straightforward choice. PLA is reliable for display models, learning, household organizers, prototypes, and many general-purpose prints. PLA+ can offer improved toughness while keeping the familiar printing behavior many beginners want.
If your printer uses the common 1.75 mm filament diameter, make sure the spool is 1.75 mm. A smaller number of machines use 2.85 mm filament. Diameter is not interchangeable, so check the printer specifications before ordering.
Choosing Filament Beyond the Included Sample
The right material depends on the part, not just the printer. Starting with PLA is sensible, but it is not the answer for every use case.
PLA and PLA+ work well when appearance, ease of use, and dimensional detail matter. They are popular for models, fixtures, educational projects, and indoor items that will not face significant heat. Matte PLA+ is useful when you want a low-gloss surface that hides layer lines more effectively. Silk, rainbow, luminous, wood-filled, and other specialty options can make a finished piece stand out, though they may need more careful settings than standard PLA.
PETG is a strong next step for functional parts that need better impact resistance and moisture resistance than PLA. It is often selected for containers, brackets, shop accessories, and parts that will see regular handling. PETG can string more than PLA, so expect to spend some time dialing in temperature and retraction.
TPU is flexible and suited to items such as bumpers, feet, grips, cable protection, and soft cases. It prints more slowly and benefits from a filament path designed for flexible materials. ABS and ASA are better suited to parts needing higher heat resistance. They also demand more from the printer setup, particularly temperature control and ventilation. ASA is often preferred for outdoor parts because of its weather and UV resistance.
High-speed PLA is worth considering if you own a printer designed to run fast and want to reduce print times without giving up basic PLA convenience. The key is matching the material to both the printer’s capabilities and the performance the part actually needs.
Do Not Forget Spool Compatibility and Storage
Filament is not a universal purchase just because the diameter matches. Some enclosed printers use spool holders with limited clearance. Certain automated material systems have spool width, weight, cardboard-core, or RFID requirements. Check the printer’s supported spool dimensions if you are buying larger spools, refills, or third-party materials.
Storage also affects whether filament prints consistently. PLA is forgiving, but it can still absorb moisture over time. PETG, TPU, nylon, and other moisture-sensitive filaments can show stringing, popping, rough surfaces, or weak layers when wet. Keep unopened filament sealed until needed, then store open spools in an airtight container with desiccant. A filament dryer is useful when a spool has been exposed to humid conditions or when surface quality starts to decline.
This matters even with included filament. A sample spool that has sat unsealed in a warehouse, garage, or classroom for a long time may not perform like fresh material.
What to Buy With a New 3D Printer
You do not need a wall of spools before your first print, but a little planning makes the setup period easier. Start with one or two full spools of reliable PLA or PLA+, ideally in colors you will actually use. Black, white, gray, and a brighter color provide a practical starting range for learning and general projects.
If you already know your use case, add one material that fits it. Choose PETG for tougher functional parts, TPU for flexibility, or ASA for outdoor use once your printer setup supports it. This is more useful than buying several novelty colors of a material that does not suit the job.
It also helps to keep basic print-prep supplies on hand. A clean build plate improves first-layer adhesion, and simple tools for removing prints or trimming support material save time. But filament is the item most likely to stop a new printer from being useful on day one.
When Included Filament Is Actually a Good Deal
A printer that includes a full 1 kg spool from a reputable filament brand offers meaningful value, particularly for a first-time buyer. It gives you enough material to learn the machine, complete real projects, and identify what colors or materials you want next.
A small sample still has value. It lets you verify that the printer powers on, homes correctly, extrudes material, and produces a basic model before opening your own spool. Just do not budget around it. Treat it as a commissioning supply, not your production inventory.
For classrooms, small businesses, and anyone printing on a schedule, buying extra filament before setup is even more important. Running out halfway through a long print can mean a visible seam, a failed part, or a complete restart. Keeping a second spool of your most-used material and color reduces that risk.
The best first purchase is simple: confirm your printer’s filament diameter and spool requirements, then order a full spool of dependable PLA or PLA+. The sample material in the box may get you started, but having the right filament ready is what gets your printer working for you.