Print settings
Layer height
How thick each printed slice is. It changes how smooth the part looks, how long it takes to print, and how much it costs, but almost never how strong it is.
What layer height actually means
FDM prints one horizontal slice at a time. Layer height is how thick each of those slices is, typically between 0.08 mm and 0.28 mm on our Bambu printers. Thinner layers mean more slices to print the same part, so more time and more money. Thicker layers finish faster but the stair-steps between them are more visible on curved and sloped surfaces.
Same block, six layer heights. The 0.20 mm option is our standard, smooth enough for most parts, fast enough to keep price sensible.
How to choose
Start at 0.20 mm. It's the pre-selected default in our quote engine because it's the right answer for most parts, clean enough to look good, quick enough to keep the price down. Only step away from it when you have a specific reason.
| Layer height | Detail | Strength | Speed vs 0.20 | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.08 mm | Extra fine | Same | Slowest, ~2.5× vs 0.20 | Miniatures, jewellery masters, threaded features on small parts |
| 0.12 mm | Fine | Same | Slow, ~1.7× vs 0.20 | Cosmetic parts, visible A-surfaces, fine text |
| 0.16 mm | Detailed | Same | Slight slowdown | Curved surfaces that need less sanding |
| 0.20 mm | Standard | Same | Baseline | The default for almost every part |
| 0.24 mm | Draft | Same | ~15% faster | Bulky prototypes, jigs, fit-check parts |
| 0.28 mm | Coarse | Same | ~25% faster | Tall, chunky prints where speed matters most |
Strength barely changes with layer height on FDM, layer bonding is what matters, and every option we offer bonds well.
Smoothness is almost always cosmetic
Going below 0.20 mm rarely makes a part stronger or more accurate. It just makes the layer lines harder to see and easier to sand smooth. If your part hides inside an assembly, save the money and stick with 0.20 mm, or step up to 0.24 mm.
Stair-stepping on curves and slopes
The steeper the slope on your part, the more visible each layer becomes as a horizontal ridge. Vertical walls hide layer lines well. Nearly-horizontal surfaces, a shallow dome, a low-angle ramp, are where fine layers earn their keep.
Same curve, printed at 0.20 mm and 0.08 mm. Both are equally strong. Only the aesthetics differ.
If the finished surface is going to be painted or vapour-smoothed, a coarser layer height is fine, the finish process eats the ridges. If the part goes straight from the printer to the customer, and it's on show, drop to 0.12 mm.
Threads and other fine features
There's one area where layer height does help function: small threaded features. On an M4 or M5 external thread printed at 0.20 mm, each thread crest is only a couple of layers tall, so the profile ends up blocky and the mating nut struggles to bite. Drop to 0.12 mm or 0.08 mm and the crests resolve properly.
Small printed threads benefit from finer layers. Larger threads (M8+) don't need it.
For anything below M6 with printed-in threads, we recommend 0.12 mm. For M6 and above, 0.20 mm is fine. If the thread carries load, use a heat-set brass insert instead, see the holes, bosses & threads guide.
What it costs you
Layer height is the biggest lever you have on print time, and print time is what our pricing is built on. As a rough rule, halving the layer height roughly doubles the print time and the price. Doubling it cuts price by around 30%. Our quote engine shows the exact number for your part when you switch layer height.
- 0.08 mm, expect a 2 to 3× price uplift over 0.20 mm.
- 0.12 mm, expect around 1.7× the price of 0.20 mm.
- 0.24 mm, 10 to 15% cheaper than 0.20 mm.
- 0.28 mm, 20 to 25% cheaper than 0.20 mm.
Common pitfalls
- Choosing 0.08 mm for a bracket. If nobody's going to look at the surface, the extra detail is invisible. Stick with 0.20 mm and put the money into a better material.
- Choosing 0.28 mm for a display piece. Layer lines will be very visible on any sloped surface. Unless you plan to sand or paint, use 0.20 mm.
- Mixing very fine layers with tall parts. A 200 mm tall print at 0.08 mm can take 30+ hours. Consider whether the whole part needs fine layers, or only a small feature, if it's just one face, we can often orient the part so the important surface is vertical (see orientation & strength).
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Last reviewed May 2026 · Rigid Prints engineering team