Se ti piace la stampa 3D, sia per progetti di hobby, prototipi, o produzione in piccoli lotti, comprendendo il prezzo per grammo di PLA (acido polilattico) è essenziale per il bilancio. Il PLA è uno dei materiali per la stampa 3D più popolari, ma il suo prezzo non è fisso: varia da 0.2 RMB/grammo per PLA sfuso standard A 3 RMB/grammo per PLA modificato ad alte prestazioni. Questa guida analizza i fattori chiave che influenzano i prezzi del PLA, fornisce pratici riferimenti di prezzo, condivide suggerimenti per risparmiare sui costi, and answers common questions to help you make cost-effective choices.
1. 4 Core Factors That Affect the Price Per Gram of 3D Printed PLA
The price per gram of PLA is shaped by tangible factors, from the material’s formulation to how much you buy. Below is a detailed breakdown with real numbers to show their impact:
(1) PLA Type & Prestazione
PLA is divided into standard and modified grades, with modified PLA costing significantly more due to added properties (PER ESEMPIO., Resistenza al calore, tenacità):
| PLA Type | Fascia di prezzo (RMB/grammo) | Caratteristiche chiave | Applicazioni tipiche |
| PLA standard | 0.2 ~ 1 | Facile da stampare, biodegradabile, basso costo | Hobby models, prototipi di base, progetti educativi |
| Modified PLA – Resistente alle alte temperature | 1 ~ 2 | Withstands 80–120°C (contro. 50–60°C for standard PLA) | Parti funzionali (PER ESEMPIO., small appliance brackets) |
| Modified PLA – Tough/Impact-Resistant | 1.2 ~ 2.5 | Meno fragile, better for repeated use | Parti giocattoli, maniglie degli strumenti, wearable accessories |
| Modified PLA – Specialità (Wood Grain/Glow-in-the-Dark) | 1.5 ~ 3 | Aesthetic effects; unique textures | Oggetti decorativi, custom figurines |
Esempio: A 200g hobby model made with standard PLA costs 40–200 RMB (0.2–1 RMB/gram). The same model made with wood-grain PLA would cost 300–600 RMB—1.5–3x more.
(2) Brand Origin & Qualità
Brand origin impacts both price and consistency. International brands offer premium quality but higher costs, while domestic brands provide cost-effective options for most users:
| Brand Category | Fascia di prezzo (RMB/grammo) | Quality Traits | Popular Brands |
| Domestic Standard Brands | 0.2 ~ 0.8 | Buona stampabilità; suitable for most users | eSUN, Crealtà, Polymaker (Domestic Line) |
| International Premium Brands | 0.8 ~ 2 | Controllo di qualità rigoroso; minimal stringing/warping | NatureWorks, Prussiano, Hatchbox |
| Specialty Modified Brands | 1.5 ~ 3 | Expert-formulated for specific performance | ColorFabb (Tough PLA), Fiberlogy (High-Temp PLA) |
Nota chiave: International brands like NatureWorks (a leading PLA resin producer) often set the benchmark for quality, but their filaments cost 2–4x more than basic domestic PLA.
(3) Purchase Volume
Buying PLA in bulk is one of the easiest ways to lower the price per gram. Suppliers offer discounts for larger orders, as they reduce packaging and logistics costs:
| Purchase Volume | Price Per Gram (PLA standard) | Total Cost Example (1kg vs. 10kg) | Discount vs. Piccoli lotti |
| Piccolo lotto (<1kg) | 0.5 ~ 1 RMB/grammo | 1kg: 500 ~ 1,000 RMB | 0% (No Discount) |
| Medium Batch (1–10kg) | 0.3 ~ 0.7 RMB/grammo | 10kg: 3,000 ~ 7,000 RMB | 20 ~ 40% |
| Grande lotto (>10kg) | 0.2 ~ 0.5 RMB/grammo | 20kg: 4,000 ~ 10,000 RMB | 40 ~ 60% |
Esempio: A hobbyist buying 500g of standard PLA pays 0.8 RMB/grammo (400 RMB total). A small business buying 10kg pays 0.4 RMB/grammo (4,000 RMB total)—halving the price per gram.
(4) Fornitura di mercato & Demand
PLA is made from renewable resources like corn or cassava, so its price is linked to agricultural commodity costs:
- Raw Material Fluctuations: If corn prices rise by 20%, standard PLA prices may increase by 10–15% (PER ESEMPIO., da 0.5 A 0.58 RMB/grammo).
- 3D Printing Demand Spikes: During peak seasons (PER ESEMPIO., holiday gift-making, school project deadlines), demand for PLA rises, pushing prices up by 5–10% temporarily.
2. Practical Price Reference Table for 3D Printed PLA
To quickly check if a PLA price is reasonable, use this table of common PLA types, brands, and their per-gram costs:
| PLA Category | Brand Type | Price Per Gram (RMB/grammo) | Meglio per |
| PLA standard | Domestic | 0.2 ~ 0.8 | Progetti di hobby, prototipi di base |
| PLA standard | International | 0.8 ~ 2 | Modelli di alta precisione, Risultati coerenti |
| High-Temperature PLA | Domestic | 1 ~ 1.5 | Functional parts needing moderate heat resistance |
| High-Temperature PLA | International | 1.5 ~ 2.5 | Industrial prototypes, high-reliability parts |
| Specialty PLA (Wood Grain/Glow) | Domestic | 1.5 ~ 2.5 | Oggetti decorativi, custom designs |
| Specialty PLA (Wood Grain/Glow) | International | 2 ~ 3 | Premium aesthetic projects, professional displays |
3. 5 Proven Tips to Reduce the Cost of 3D Printed PLA
You don’t have to sacrifice print quality to save money on PLA. Try these strategies:
(1) Choose Standard PLA for Non-Critical Projects
Only use modified PLA when you need its specific properties. Per esempio:
- Use standard PLA for a decorative plant pot (no heat/toughness needed) instead of wood-grain PLA—save 50–70% per gram.
- Reserve high-temperature PLA for parts like small lamp shades (exposed to mild heat) and use standard PLA for the base.
(2) Buy in Bulk (Even with Friends)
If you don’t need 10kg alone, team up with other 3D printing enthusiasts (PER ESEMPIO., via local maker groups) to split a bulk order. Per esempio:
- 5 hobbyists splitting a 10kg roll of standard PLA pay 0.4 RMB/gram each—vs. 0.8 RMB/gram for individual 2kg rolls.
(3) Opt for Domestic Brands
Domestic PLA brands (PER ESEMPIO., eSUN, Crealtà) offer print quality close to international brands but at half the price. Per esempio:
- eSUN Standard PLA (0.5 RMB/grammo) prints just as smoothly as Prusament PLA (1 RMB/grammo) for most hobby projects.
(4) Optimize Print Settings to Reduce Waste
- Adjust Infill: Use 10–20% infill for decorative parts (contro. 50% per parti funzionali) to cut material use by 30–80%.
- Design Lightweight Parts: Add hollow structures or lattice patterns to reduce part weight—e.g., a 200g vase becomes 100g with a hollow design, saving 100g of PLA.
- Reuse Supports: Design supports that can be recycled (PER ESEMPIO., breakable tabs) and reprocess them into small test prints.
(5) Stock Up During Sales
Suppliers often run promotions during shopping holidays (PER ESEMPIO., 618, Double 11 in Cina) or end-of-season clearance. Per esempio:
- A 1kg roll of standard PLA that normally costs 500 RMB may drop to 350 RMB during sales—saving 0.15 RMB/grammo.
4. Key Precautions When Buying 3D Printed PLA
To avoid overpaying or buying low-quality PLA, keep these in mind:
(1) Check Compatibility with Your Printer
Most PLA works with FDM printers, but some specialty PLA (PER ESEMPIO., alta temperatura) may require higher nozzle temperatures (210–230°C vs. 190–210°C for standard PLA). Confirm your printer can handle the settings before purchasing.
(2) Verify Material Freshness
PLA absorbs moisture easily, which causes print defects (PER ESEMPIO., bolle, stringa). Check the production date—fresh PLA (meno di 6 months old) has better printability. Avoid discounted PLA that’s been stored for over a year.
(3) Test Small Quantities First
For specialty PLA (PER ESEMPIO., glow-in-the-dark), buy a small 100g sample first to test print quality. This avoids wasting money on a 1kg roll that doesn’t meet your needs.
Yigu Technology’s Perspective on 3D Printed PLA Pricing
Alla tecnologia Yigu, Crediamo balancing quality and cost is key to choosing 3D printed PLA. Many users overspend by buying international specialty PLA for basic projects—for example, using NatureWorks PLA (1.5 RMB/grammo) for a simple prototype when domestic standard PLA (0.5 RMB/grammo) works just as well. Our team helps clients select the right PLA: for hobbyists, we recommend cost-effective domestic standard PLA; for industrial prototypes needing heat resistance, we suggest domestic modified PLA (1–1.5 RMB/gram) to save 30–50% vs. international options. We also assist with bulk ordering, helping small businesses and maker groups access 40–60% discounts. Our goal is to make PLA accessible and affordable for all 3D printing needs.
Domande frequenti
- Why is modified PLA (PER ESEMPIO., alta temperatura) more expensive than standard PLA?
Modified PLA requires adding special additives (PER ESEMPIO., heat-resistant polymers for high-temperature grades, impact modifiers for tough grades) durante la produzione. These additives increase raw material costs by 50–100%, which translates to higher per-gram prices. Per esempio, high-temperature PLA has 30–40% more additive costs than standard PLA.
- Can I mix different brands of PLA to save money?
Mixing brands is not recommended. Different PLA brands have slight variations in formulation (PER ESEMPIO., plasticizer content, molecular weight), which can cause inconsistent print quality (PER ESEMPIO., uneven layer adhesion, varying shrinkage). Stick to one brand for a single project to ensure reliable results.
- Is it cheaper to buy PLA filaments or make my own PLA pellets?
Making your own PLA pellets is not cost-effective for most users. Richiede attrezzature costose (PER ESEMPIO., pellettizzatore, asciugatrice) e resina PLA grezza, che costa 10–20 RMB/kg (ma necessita di essere trasformato in filamenti). Per hobbisti e piccole imprese, acquistare filamenti prefabbricati è più economico e conveniente: si evitano i costi delle apparecchiature e si garantisce un diametro del filamento costante.