With PC, the list of things to look out for doesn’t end with proper storage and tuned retraction. One source of difficulty with PC is its sensitivity to the environment. If nothing else is working for you, it may be time to consider your setup:

• Temperature: PC melts at much higher temperatures than most traditional printing materials. For this reason, an all-metal hot end and a heated bed are mandatory, and printing in a controlled environment with an enclosure is highly recommended.
• Airflow: Similar to ABS, PC filament prints poorly if there’s airflow, usually causing brittle prints. Part cooling should be turned off to ensure proper interlayer adhesion. Keep in mind that this material is designed to be functional (as opposed to aesthetically pleasing), which means that the print quality may suffer.
• Bed adhesion: Another infamous challenge of PC is its poor bed adhesion. To tackle this, call in some help from the trusty glue stick, hair spray, or Kapton tape. You can also turn to more dedicated solutions like a PEI sheet, BuildTak, or Magigoo PC.

Now that you’re equipped with all this PC insight, it’s time to get to the filaments. Below, we’ve gathered some of the best PC options around to get you started!

Polymaker’s PolyMax PC (formerly known as PC-Max) is the toughest PC material the company offers. Tuned for smooth extrusion and warp resistance, PolyMax PC offers high performance without compromising on printability (as far as PC goes, at least). Durability is exceptional, with drastically improved impact resistance compared to other PC filaments. Its strength is also fit for the most demanding of applications, as demonstrated by Polymaker lifting over 800 kg with a PolyMax PC hook.

Available in white and black color variants, PolyMax PC stands out from the crowd for its toughness and printability.

• Nozzle temperature: 250-270 °C
• Bed temperature: 90-105 °C
• Diameters: 1.75 mm, 2.85 mm
• Price per kg: ~$53
• Colors: Black, white

Polymaker PolyMax PC

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Coming from the same manufacturing line as the beloved printers, Prusament PC is a high-quality blend with stringent tolerances. Being a Prusa filament, it’s still subjected to all the usual quality controls: you can even check your spool’s evenness online. Furthermore, when it comes to printing, there are pre-made profiles in PrusaSlicer to facilitate the tuning process.

In terms of properties, it offers good temperature resistance for its price range, topping out at 113 °C. A carbon fiber option is available for increased strength.

• Nozzle temperature: 265-275 °C
• Bed temperature: 110-120 °C (some users have had to go as high as 140 °C)
• Diameters: 1.75 mm
• Price per kg: ~$51
• Color: Natural, black, orange, gray

Prusament PC Blend

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With CarbonX PC+CF, 3DXTech has achieved the same extreme heat resistance as the 3DXMAX, but now with carbon fiber. By incorporating carbon fiber, CarbonX takes PC’s already incredible mechanical properties and increases its stiffness, which is desirable in many applications.

This high-temperature, high-stiffness material is only available in black. Just note that carbon fiber is abrasive, so you’ll want a hardened nozzle to print with.

• Nozzle temperature: 280-310 °C
• Bed temperature: 110-120 °C (some users have had to go as high as 140 °C)
• Diameters: 1.75 mm, 2.85 mm
• Price per kg: ~$120
• Color: Black

3DXTech CarbonX PC+CF

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Raise3D is a developer of professional-grade 3D printers, like the Raise3D E2 and Pro2, and also makes their own line of filament. Available in three colors, Raise3D’s Premium PC filament is a high-quality polycarbonate option that boasts high strength and impact resistance.

According to the manufacturer, this filament is also heat resistant up to 110 °C and flame retardant. Due to its industrial properties, Raise3D recommends using this PC material for industrial applications, end-use parts, and electronic cases.

• Nozzle temperature: 250-270 °C
• Bed temperature: 90-110 °C
• Diameters: 1.75 mm
• Price per kg: ~$50
• Colors: Black, white, transparent

Raise3D PC Filament

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PolyLite PC (formerly known as PC-Plus) is another PC offering from Polymaker. Compared to PolyMax PC, it’s stiffer and stronger, but not as durable due to its lower impact resistance. For what it loses in toughness, however, PolyLite PC makes up for with its relatively low price tag of ∼$30 per spool.

PolyLite PC only comes in a transparent variant, but unless your application specifically requires toughness, PolyLite PC is a well-rounded and inexpensive filament, making it perfect for those looking to try PC on a budget.

• Nozzle temperature: 250-270 °C
• Bed temperature: 90-105 °C
• Diameters: 1.75 mm, 2.85 mm
• Price per kg: ~$30
• Color: Transparent

Polymaker PolyLite PC

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Priline’s PC filament is another great option that offers a lot of strength at an affordable cost. Similar to 3DXTech CarbonX, Priline’s filament is a blend of PC and carbon fiber, meaning it was made from a mixture containing both PC and carbon fiber polymer grinds.

According to the manufacturer, this filament has an impressive diameter tolerance of just ±0.03 mm and doesn’t warp or crack, meaning it should be easier to print. Customers have noted that this filament can yield great results, but tuning your slicer profile for this material is very important. Lastly, while it only comes in black, Priline offers both 1-kg and 2.5-kg spools, although the larger spool might be hard to track down.

• Nozzle temperature: 240-260 °C
• Bed temperature: 80-100 °C
• Diameters: 1.75 mm
• Price per kg: ~$40
• Color: Black

PRILINE Carbon Fiber PC Filament

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UltiMaker is usually known for high-performance printers, but their filament is no less praiseworthy. With improved interlayer adhesion and well-tuned material profiles, UltiMaker PC is an exceptional, easy-to-print choice.

Being part of the UltiMaker ecosystem also brings additional benefits: UltiMaker 3, S3, and S5 users will benefit from the included NFC tag that encodes all of its print settings, streamlining operation. Additionally, for those with the S5 Pro Bundle, the built-in filament storage system keeps your PC fresh and dry at all times.

Available in 2.85 mm black, white, and transparent variants, UltiMaker PC should provide good printability and smooth integration.

• Nozzle temperature: 260-280 °C
• Bed temperature: ~110 °C
• Diameters: 2.85 mm
• Price per kg: ~$80
• Colors: Black, white, transparent

Ultimaker PC

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Gizmo Dorks is a company that specializes in 3D printable filaments and bed adhesives. Gizmo Dorks’ PC filament is available in two visually appealing translucent colors: blue and clear. This filament is also on the more affordable side, costing only about $30 per kilogram spool.

According to the manufacturer, this filament can be printed at speeds up to 80 mm/s, but the best results come from slower speeds and keeping the filament dry. Gizmo Dork’s PC filament is also fairly well-liked by the community. Numerous users stated that they produced great prints when they dried the filament, used an enclosure, and dialed in their print settings.

• Nozzle temperature: 225-300 °C
• Bed temperature: 120-130 °C
• Diameters: 1.75 mm, 2.85 mm
• Price per kg: ~$30
• Colors: Transparent, blue, black

Gizmo Dorks PC Filament

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Fillamentum is a popular manufacturer of a wide range of filaments, from PLA and PETG to vinyl and CPE. Fillamentum’s PC/ABS filament is a unique blend of ABS and PC, meaning it was made by mixing ABS and PC polymer pellets.

Blending the materials yields a product that proportionally captures the characteristics, good and bad, of both component materials. As such, you can expect Fillamentum’s PC/ABS filament to be slightly more difficult to print, but also more durable than pure ABS.

Other properties of this filament include thermal resistance up to 115 °C, high impact resistance, and ESD safety. According to Fillamentum’s comparison chart, this filament is very rigid and harder than their ASA, ABS, and HIPS filaments.

Fillamentum suggests that this blend is great for automobile applications and electronic casings. Unfortunately, this material is only available in a natural color and a 1.75-mm diameter, but a 2.85-mm option may be available in the future.

• Nozzle temperature: 260-280 °C
• Bed temperature: 90-105 °C
• Diameters: 1.75 mm
• Price per kg: ~$65
• Colors: Natural

Fillamentum PC/ABS

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PC’s heat resistance is already quite impressive, but what if you need more? Enter 3DXTech’s 3DXMax PC. This well-rounded PC filament features an eye-popping glass transition temperature of 147 °C for the most demanding applications. Just note that such a high heat resistance calls for equally high printing temperatures, making an enclosure highly recommended (although you can still print without one).

3DXTech also offers another version of this filament, known as 3DXStat, that’s safe from electrostatic discharge (ESD). This means that parts won’t pass on any discharged electricity, so it’s useful for prints that touch or interact with electronics, such as hard drive cases or motherboard covers. Besides ESD safety, 3DXStat is very similar to 3DXMax in price and printing temperatures.

• Nozzle temperature: 280-310 °C
• Bed temperature: 110-120 °C
• Diameters: 1.75 mm, 2.85 mm
• Price per kg: ~$90
• Colors: Black, white, transparent (natural)

3DXTech 3DXMAX PC

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Treed P51 is an engineering-oriented PC blend optimized for easier printing. Thanks to its low moisture absorption rates, it won’t need a long drying session. The good impact resistance and low printing temperature make it a perfect choice for beginners with tough applications. And, similarly to Polylite, it can be post-processed with acetone to reach an 89% light permeability.

The printing phase shouldn’t be particularly challenging. The manufacturer recommends using a nozzle over 0.35 mm in diameter and very little to no cooling on the part.

• Nozzle temperature: 235-255 °C
• Bed temperature: 90-110 °C
• Diameters: 1.75 mm
• Price per kg: ~$70
• Color: Black, white, see-through

Like other PC/ABS entries on the list, Filoalfa’s PC/ABS aims at mixing the best of two worlds. The blend further improves the mechanical properties of ABS, while being easier to print and warping minimally. The great resistance to friction is also another great property that has been inherited, making this great for high-wear applications.

• Nozzle temperature: 240-260 °C
• Bed temperature: 80-100 °C
• Diameters: 1.75 mm, 2.85 mm
• Price per kg: ~$40
• Color: Black, white, neutral, with additional options available in other spool sizes

If you don’t think any of the above products are for you, next up are a few additional options that are a little more professionally focused:

• Airwolf: This PC filament is on the higher end of PC options regarding price. However, according to the manufacturer, it’s great for printing automobile and electrical components. Unfortunately, you’re going to need a pretty powerful printer to use this material as it requires nozzle and bed temperatures of 300 °C and 140-145 °C, respectively.
• Lexan: EXL filament from Lexan is a PC material that’s heavily tested and proven to be a high-strength option. According to the manufacturer, the material is meant for more professional applications rather than consumer use, and it also has lower temperature requirements.
• Ultrafuse: As the name suggests, this PC/ABS filament from BASF Ultrafuse is another blend of PC and ABS polymers, with similar temperature requirements to most PC materials. Like Lexan’s EXL filament, Ultrafuse’s PC/ABS filament has been tested for strength and has excellent layer-to-layer adhesion.
• Stratasys: From one of the leading companies in the 3D printing industry, Stratasys’ PC filament is a great option for those looking to make robust prototypes and tooling equipment (e.g. jigs, manufacturing aids). Based on their tests, this filament is extremely strong, with a high tensile yield strength of 60 MPa, about 20% stronger than Stratays’ Nylon 12 filament.
• Intamsys: Lastly, as a manufacturer of engineering-grade filaments, the PC filament from Intamsys can be used to make a wide variety of durable parts, like medical device components and other fixtures. The manufacturer also points out that their PC filament is very resistant to temperature (up to 110 °C) and impact resistant.