What is the best way to store filament?

Filaments used in FDM printers, PLA or otherwise, can absorb water molecules from the air that later expand when heated, causing small "pops" that greatly reduce the strength and quality of the finished print.

To avoid this and keep your filament in prime condition, there are a few accepted options for storage and handling.

The simplest form of storage is a large freezer bag with as much air squeezed out as possible before sealing, ideally along with a silica gel packet to capture any moisture already in the filament/bag.

A vacuum bag, such as the eSun eVacuum kit, performs even better for medium or long-term storage.

Another option is to use tailor-made containers for keeping filament in ideal conditions, often called filament dryers.

InkSmith offers the eSun eBox Lite filament dryer, a tried-and-true design that maintains the proper temperature and humidity for maximum filament quality and lifetime.

One advantage to specialized dryers over bags or other filament storage solutions is that the filament can remain in the dryer while printing, functioning as a filament holder for convenience - storage boxes also cut down on single-use plastic waste when compared to vacuum bags.

Remember not to store your filament in direct sunlight, even inside bags or a filament dryer - UV exposure weakens filament over time.

Even the best-stored filament has an expiration date, and filament at or over a year old tends to become brittle, leading to failed prints when the filament snaps, or poor strength on finished parts.