Pla vs Matte Pla: Which One Should You Buy?

pla vs matte pla comes down to surface finish. Standard PLA, as the ELEGOO listing below describes it, prints with a glossy surface, and the SUNLU PLA listing describes smooth printing, while matte PLA prints with a flat surface that shows little shine. The finish changes how a model looks under room light. Both carry the PLA name, and the listings here cover standard PLA and a tougher PLA+ variant. No matte PLA spool appears among the listed products, so this guide compares the finishes and then walks through the listed spools so you can see what each listing actually states.

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What pla vs matte pla means for a print

Finish is the difference named by the keyword in this comparison. The ELEGOO PLA listing states a glossy surface finish, and the SUNLU PLA listing describes smooth printing with excellent layer adhesion. Matte PLA sits at the other end of that scale: a flat surface with little shine, chosen when a maker wants a model that does not catch the light. Nothing in the listed products states a matte finish, so treat any matte spool you shop for as a separate listing and check its own stated finish rather than assuming it matches these spools.

Diameter is common ground across the listed spools. All four state a 1.75mm diameter and a dimensional accuracy of +/- 0.02mm, and all four state compatibility with most FDM 3D printers. That shared diameter means the choice here is about finish and stated print settings, not about filament size.

Standard PLA: what the listings state

The SUNLU PLA spool in black states neat winding with a 100% neat rate, which the listing says reduces tangles and jams, plus a spool diameter of 8.00 inches, a spool width of 2.50 inches and a spool hub hole diameter of 2.20 inches. Its recommended settings are a nozzle temperature of 200-230°C, a bed temperature of 50-65°C and a printing speed of 50-100mm/s. The listing describes the filament as reliable, versatile and easy to use, with no clogs, bubbles or tangles claimed.

The ELEGOO PLA spools in black and brown state the same 1.75mm diameter and +/- 0.02mm accuracy, a 1kg spool weight stated as 2.2lbs, and compatibility with most common 1.75mm FDM 3D printers. The black spool listing states a glossy surface finish, low warp and shrinkage, and filament that is dried before packaging and vacuum sealed against moisture. The brown spool listing states the same accuracy and weight, low warp and shrinkage, and strong layer adhesion, but states no spool dimensions and no warranty term. Neither ELEGOO listing states recommended temperatures or speeds, so those figures are Not stated for those two spools.

Where PLA+ fits

The SUNLU PLA+ 2.0 spool in black is the upgraded listing in this group. Compared with standard PLA+ filament, the listing says it is more resistant to brittleness and cracking, and it supports fast printing at speeds of up to 300mm/s. Its recommended settings are a nozzle temperature of 205-220°C, a bed temperature of 50-60°C and a print speed of 100-300mm/s. The spool dimensions stated are a diameter of 195mm, a width of 57mm and a hub hole diameter of 63mm, and the listing states airtight vacuum packaging to keep the filament moisture-free. A 30-Day warranty description is stated for this spool. PLA+ is still a PLA family filament, not a matte finish, so it belongs on the standard side of this comparison while offering tougher stated prints and faster stated speeds.

Gear mentioned in this guide

The four listed spools, ranked by the strength of their stated specs, are:

SUNLU PLA+ 2.0, black, 1KG. The strongest stated spec set here: up to 300mm/s printing, a 205-220°C nozzle range, a 50-60°C bed range, stated spool dimensions and a 30-Day warranty description. Who it suits: a maker who wants the highest stated speeds and a tougher PLA+ listing. Who should skip it: anyone shopping specifically for a matte finish, which this listing does not state.

SUNLU PLA, black, 1KG. A standard PLA listing with stated settings for nozzle, bed and speed: 200-230°C nozzle, 50-65°C bed and 50-100mm/s printing, plus a 100% neat winding rate and stated spool dimensions. Who it suits: a maker who wants stated settings for every part of a print. Who should skip it: anyone needing a stated warranty term, which this listing does not state.

ELEGOO PLA, black, 1KG. The clearest glossy-finish listing here, with a stated glossy surface, dried and vacuum sealed packaging, and a 30 day term stated for quality reasons. Who it suits: a maker who wants the glossy standard PLA look with stated moisture protection. Who should skip it: anyone needing stated temperatures or speeds, which this listing does not state.

ELEGOO PLA, brown, 1KG. The same 1.75mm diameter, +/- 0.02mm accuracy and 1kg spool weight as the black ELEGOO spool, in brown, with strong layer adhesion stated. Who it suits: a maker who wants a brown standard PLA spool at the same stated diameter and accuracy. Who should skip it: anyone needing stated temperatures, speeds, spool dimensions or a warranty term, none of which this listing states.

How to choose between the finishes

Start from the look you want. If a glossy, smooth surface suits the model, the ELEGOO black listing states a glossy finish and the SUNLU PLA listing describes smooth printing. If a flat surface with little shine suits it better, look for a listing that states a matte finish by name, and compare its stated diameter, accuracy and settings with the ones above before buying. Every listed spool here states 1.75mm for FDM printers, so check that any matte spool you consider states the same diameter your printer uses.

Then check the settings the listing actually states. The SUNLU listings give nozzle and bed ranges plus speeds, while the ELEGOO listings give none, so a maker who leans on stated settings has more to work with from SUNLU. Also check spool size against your printer: the SUNLU PLA spool dimensions are stated in inches and the PLA+ 2.0 spool dimensions in millimetres, while the ELEGOO listings state no spool dimensions. For related finish comparisons, see our pla vs silk pla, silk pla vs matte pla and pla vs pla plus filament guides.

FAQ: lasers and CNC

What is the difference between PLA and matte PLA?

The ELEGOO standard PLA listing states a glossy surface finish, and the SUNLU PLA listing describes smooth printing, while matte PLA prints with a flat surface that shows little shine. No matte PLA spool appears among the listed products, so this guide states no matte spool specs.

Are all four listed spools 1.75mm?

Yes. All four listings state a 1.75mm diameter with a dimensional accuracy of +/- 0.02mm, and all four state compatibility with most FDM 3D printers.

What temperatures do the listed PLA products recommend?

The SUNLU PLA listing recommends a nozzle temperature of 200-230°C and a bed temperature of 50-65°C. The SUNLU PLA+ 2.0 listing recommends 205-220°C at the nozzle and 50-60°C at the bed. The ELEGOO listings state no temperatures.

How fast can the listed filaments print?

The SUNLU PLA listing recommends a printing speed of 50-100mm/s. The SUNLU PLA+ 2.0 listing supports speeds of up to 300mm/s with a recommended print speed of 100-300mm/s. The ELEGOO listings state no speeds.

Do any listed spools state a warranty term?

Yes. The SUNLU PLA+ 2.0 listing states a 30-Day warranty description, and the ELEGOO black PLA listing states a 30 day term for quality reasons. The SUNLU PLA and ELEGOO brown listings state no warranty term.

Related: best bulk pla filament and best 3d printer for small business. Also see our pla vs silk pla guide.