Normalise everything to price per kilogram
Filament is sold as 1 kg spools, refills without a spool, multi-roll bundles and bulk packs. Divide the price by the kilograms of filament to compare them; every product below is listed in 1 kg units, so a single roll’s price is its per-kg price.
Prices are as listed on each brand’s official store in US dollars on 30 October 2026. Anycubic’s figures come from its global store with the non-EU shipping option; that store points US buyers to a separate US store, where prices may differ [6]. Several were sale prices, and stock varied by colour. Shipping and tax are extra; Bambu’s filament pages state free shipping on orders over $59, excluding printers and AMS units [1].
PLA and PETG price per kg by brand
The table shows the cheapest listed option in each format we could verify. Bambu’s PETG HF page says the product is discontinued and will not be restocked once sold out, so its prices may not be available for long [2].
| Product | Format | Listed price | Per kg | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bambu PLA Basic | 1 kg with spool | $17.99 [1] | $17.99 | RFID tag read by AMS [1] |
| Bambu PLA Basic | 1 kg refill | $14.99 [1] | $14.99 | Needs a reusable spool |
| Bambu PETG HF | 1 kg with spool | $18.99 [2] | $18.99 | Discontinued; most colours out of stock [2] |
| Bambu PETG HF | 1 kg refill | $15.99 [2] | $15.99 | One refill variant listed [2] |
| Creality Hyper PLA | 1 kg; 5 / 10 / 20 rolls | $19.99; $16.99 / $15.99 / $14.99 each [3] | $14.99 to $19.99 | Four-roll bundle $62.99 ($15.75 per kg) [3] |
| Creality Hyper PETG | 1 kg; 5 / 10 / 20 rolls | $18.99; $16.14 / $15.19 / $14.24 each [4] | $14.24 to $18.99 | Struck-through from $25.99 [4] |
| Anycubic PETG | 1 kg | $16.99 [5] | $16.99 | Price for non-EU shipping [5] |
| Anycubic PLA Basic Refill | 10 / 20 / 50 / 100 kg | $104.99 / $199.89 / $474.74 / $899.51 [6] | $10.50 / $9.99 / $9.49 / $9.00 | Non-EU shipping option [6] |
Refills, multi-buys and bulk: when each makes sense
Refills remove the spool. Bambu’s PLA refill saves $3 per kilogram against the spooled version, but Bambu’s listing notes that the refill needs to be used with a spool, so you need at least one reusable spool to start [1].
Multi-buy tiers reward buying in batches. Creality’s Hyper PLA drops from $19.99 to $14.99 a roll at 20 rolls, a 25% discount, but only if you can use 20 kg before it absorbs moisture [3].
Bulk packs are the cheapest per kilogram here: Anycubic’s 100 kg PLA refill pack works out at about $9.00 per kg [6]. They suit print farms and heavy users with dry storage, not a first-year hobbyist.
Worked example: 1.5 kg of PLA a month
Assume you print 1.5 kg of PLA a month, or 18 kg a year. This is an illustrative assumption, not a typical figure.
Storage changes the real price
Bambu says all filaments absorb moisture, and damp filament causes stringing, bubbles, rough surfaces and weaker parts; it recommends drying if unsure and keeping filament sealed with desiccant during use [7]. Its drying table recommends 50 °C for 8 hours in a forced-air oven for PLA Basic and 60 to 65 °C for 8 hours for PETG [8].
A bulk pack you cannot store dry is not a saving. Factor in airtight boxes and a dryer, which our first-year budget guide prices, before buying more than a few months’ supply.
RFID and multicolour compatibility caveats
Bambu embeds printing parameters in an RFID tag that its AMS reads [1]. Creality warns that for its CFS system you should choose the RFID plastic-spool version of Hyper PLA, and that paper spools are not recommended in CFS or other multicolour boxes [3]. Cheaper formats may lack these features, so check before buying for a multicolour setup.
Material type matters too: Bambu lists its ABS as not compatible with the AMS lite [9], and its material guide warns that some brands’ PET-CF, PA-CF and PLA-CF are too brittle or abrasive for AMS units [7].
Questions before you decide
Is refill filament cheaper than spooled filament?
For Bambu PLA Basic, yes: $14.99 for a 1 kg refill against $17.99 with a spool on 30 October 2026. Bambu says refills must be used with a reusable spool.
Can I use paper-spool filament in a multicolour unit?
Creality says paper spools are not recommended in its CFS or other multicolour boxes and recommends its RFID plastic-spool version for CFS.
What is the cheapest per-kilogram option listed?
Anycubic’s 100 kg PLA Basic Refill pack at $899.51, about $9.00 per kg, on 30 October 2026. It only makes sense with dry storage and heavy use.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- Bambu Lab US store: PLA Basic filament Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Bambu Lab US store: PETG HF filament Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Creality store: Hyper Series PLA 1kg Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Creality store: Hyper Series PETG 1kg Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Anycubic store: PETG Filament Mix & Match Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Anycubic store: PLA Basic Refill 10-100kg deals Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Bambu Lab Wiki: filament guide and material table Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Bambu Lab Wiki: filament drying recommendations Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Bambu Lab US store: ABS filament, properties and safety tips Accessed 30 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.