Silk PLA vs PLA Plus: Which One Should You Buy?
Silk PLA gives a glossy finish for display prints, while the PLA Plus bundle gives tougher, more flexible parts, and one bundle in this guide combines both.
On this page
For silk pla vs pla plus, the choice comes down to finish versus toughness: silk PLA gives a glossy, silky surface for display pieces, while the PLA Plus bundle here gives improved impact resistance and flexibility for parts that need to hold up. A filament can combine both, and the bundle in this guide does exactly that, with a silk finish on an upgraded PLA Plus base. Choose silk PLA when shine matters for display, and choose the PLA Plus bundle when a part needs to resist cracking or snapping.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. LaserEngraveHQ earns a commission from purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you. Read our affiliate disclosure.
Silk PLA vs PLA Plus: the short answer
Silk PLA is a filament type known for its finish. The listings in this guide describe silk PLA with words like glossy, smooth, silky and shiny, and they point it at display models, decorative prints, art and craft. PLA Plus is a material upgrade. The bundle listing in this guide describes upgraded PLA Plus with significantly improved impact resistance and flexibility compared with standard PLA, and it says prints are less likely to crack or snap. A shiny print is not automatically a tough print. The bundle listing combines both ideas, with a silk finish on a PLA Plus base.
| Filament | Finish stated | Toughness stated | Diameter stated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silk PLA | Glossy, silky, shiny | Not stated as PLA Plus | 1.75mm |
| PLA Plus | Not stated as silk | Improved impact resistance and flexibility | 1.75mm |
| Silk PLA+ | Silky, glossy, dual color | Improved impact resistance and flexibility | 1.75mm |
What silk PLA is
Silk PLA listings in this guide all state a diameter of 1.75mm, and they all describe a glossy surface, and three of them add that no polishing, finishing or post-processing is needed, while the ELEGOO listing states a glossy finish without that claim. The SUNLU Silk listing describes a glossy, smooth silky surface that needs no polishing, for art and craft. The ELEGOO Silk listing describes a glossy finish with shiny dual colors, for decorative prints. The ERYONE Silk listing describes a brilliant silk finish with shimmering metallic effects and no post-processing needed, for artistic and decorative prints. The bundle listing describes a smooth, satin-like surface with rich, vibrant tones, with no sanding or finishing required. Color is part of the silk appeal in these listings. The bundle listing states dual and tri color shifts, so colors shift as a model rotates. The ELEGOO listing states dual color Blue Green. The ERYONE listing states Liquid Gold. The SUNLU Silk listing states Silver. A silk print therefore shows color and shine first, and strength comes from the base material, not from shine alone.
What PLA Plus is
PLA Plus in this guide appears only in the bundle listing, so every PLA Plus claim here comes from that listing alone. The bundle listing states that the filament is made from upgraded PLA Plus, and it describes significantly improved impact resistance and flexibility compared with standard PLA. The bundle listing also states that prints are less likely to crack or snap, and it points that durability at functional or intricate parts. No other listing in this guide states PLA Plus, and no other listing states improved impact resistance and flexibility in those words. A silk PLA listing that does not mention PLA Plus should not be read as a PLA Plus listing. For parts that must hold up under handling, the PLA Plus wording is the signal to look for, not the word silk on its own.
Settings stated in the listings
Settings differ by listing, so the settings for one spool should not be copied to another spool. The SUNLU Silk listing recommends a nozzle temperature of 205-215°C, a hot bed temperature of 60-80°C, and a print speed of 30-60mm/s. The ERYONE listing states a temperature range of 190-220°C for use on most FDM printers. The ELEGOO listing and the bundle listing state no nozzle temperature, no bed temperature and no print speed in their bullets. Diameter tolerances also differ by listing. The bundle listing states a diameter of 1.75mm with a tolerance of ±0.02mm. The SUNLU Silk listing states a diameter of 1.75mm with a tolerance of ±0.02mm. The ERYONE listing states a diameter of 1.75mm with a tolerance of ±0.03mm. The ELEGOO listing states a diameter of 1.75mm, but it gives two different tolerance figures, and that contradiction is covered in the gear section below. Spool size also differs by listing, and those sizes are given in the gear section below.
The gear in this guide
The SUNLU Silk PLA+ bundle comes first in this guide because it is the only listing that states both a silk finish and a PLA Plus base. The bundle listing states four 250g mini spools in dual and tri colors, with Red Gold, Blue Green, Red Blue and Green Purple named in the title. The bundle listing states a diameter of 1.75mm with a tolerance of ±0.02mm, and it states vacuum-sealed storage bags. The SUNLU Silk Silver spool comes next because it states the fullest settings in this guide. The SUNLU Silk listing states a 1KG spool in Silver, a diameter of 1.75mm with a tolerance of ±0.02mm, a nozzle temperature of 205-215°C, a hot bed temperature of 60-80°C, and a print speed of 30-60mm/s. The SUNLU Silk listing also states a spool diameter of 203.2mm and a spool width of 63.5mm. The ERYONE Liquid Gold spool comes next. The ERYONE listing states a 1kg spool in Liquid Gold, a diameter of 1.75mm with a tolerance of ±0.03mm, and a temperature range of 190-220°C. The ERYONE listing also states vacuum-sealed packaging with desiccant. The ELEGOO Dual Color Blue Green spool comes last in this guide because its listing contradicts itself on tolerance. The ELEGOO listing title states an accuracy of +/-0.02mm, while its bullets state a dimensional accuracy of +/-0.05mm, so both figures are stated here and neither one is presented as settled. The ELEGOO listing states a 1KG spool in Dual Color Blue Green, a diameter of 1.75mm, and vacuum-sealed packaging.
Choosing between them
For display models and decorative prints, the silk listings point in the same direction: a glossy surface, with no polishing, finishing or post-processing stated for three of the four listings. For miniatures, prototypes and high-visibility models, the ERYONE listing points to rich, saturated color and sharp detail resolution. For art and craft, the SUNLU Silk listing points to color and shine. For cosplay props and artistic creations, the bundle listing points to color shifts as a model rotates. For functional or intricate parts, the bundle listing points to improved impact resistance and flexibility from its PLA Plus base. For a reader who wants several colors at once, the bundle listing states four 250g mini spools, so color combinations can be tried without committing to full-size rolls. For a reader who wants a single long run in one color, the other listings state 1KG spools. ELEGOO and ERYONE state compatibility with most FDM printers, SUNLU describes its spool as suitable for a lot of FDM printers, and the bundle listing names Bambu Lab printers in its title. Diameter is common ground: all four listings state 1.75mm, so diameter alone does not separate these spools.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Reading silk as toughness: only the bundle listing states PLA Plus with improved impact resistance and flexibility.
- Copying settings between spools: the SUNLU Silk listing states 205-215°C, while the ERYONE listing states 190-220°C, and the other listings state no temperatures.
- Treating the ELEGOO tolerance as settled: its title states +/-0.02mm, while its bullets state +/-0.05mm.
- Expecting a single color from a dual color spool: the ELEGOO listing states Dual Color Blue Green, and the bundle listing states dual and tri color shifts.
- Assuming every spool is 1KG: the bundle listing states four 250g mini spools, not a single 1KG spool.
Silk PLA vs PLA Plus: the short version
- Silk PLA means a glossy, silky finish for display and decorative prints.
- PLA Plus, as described in the bundle listing, means upgraded PLA with improved impact resistance and flexibility.
- Silk PLA+ combines both in one spool, as stated in the bundle listing.
- Check the listing for temperatures, tolerance and spool size before buying, because those figures differ by listing.
- For shine alone, choose silk PLA. For tougher parts, choose the PLA Plus bundle listing.
FAQ: lasers and CNC
Is silk PLA the same as PLA Plus?
No. Silk describes a glossy finish, while PLA Plus, as described in the bundle listing, describes upgraded PLA with improved impact resistance and flexibility. A silk PLA+ filament combines both.
Which settings should I use for silk PLA?
The SUNLU Silk listing recommends a nozzle temperature of 205-215°C, a hot bed temperature of 60-80°C, and a print speed of 30-60mm/s. The ERYONE listing states a temperature range of 190-220°C.
Does silk PLA print in dual colors?
The ELEGOO listing states Dual Color Blue Green. The bundle listing states dual and tri color shifts, so colors shift as a model rotates.
Is silk PLA good for functional parts?
Silk listings in this guide point to display and decorative prints. For tougher parts, the PLA Plus listing states improved impact resistance and flexibility compared with standard PLA.
What spool sizes are in this guide?
The bundle listing states four 250g mini spools. The other listings in this guide state 1KG spools, with the ERYONE listing stating 1kg.
Related: silk PLA vs matte PLA, PLA vs PLA Plus filament, bulk PLA filament, FDM vs resin 3D printer, FDM 3D printers and 3D printers.
