Nozzle Size & Layer Height Guide
Your nozzle diameter determines the minimum detail you can print and the range of layer heights you can use. A smaller nozzle gives finer detail but prints much more slowly. This guide covers all common nozzle sizes from 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm with the recommended settings for each.
Nozzle Size & Layer Height Reference
| Nozzle (mm) | Min Layer Height | Max Layer Height | Line Width | Speed Range (mm/s) | Detail Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | 0.04 mm | 0.16 mm | 0.2–0.24 mm | 15–30 | Ultra-fine detail, miniatures |
| 0.25 | 0.05 mm | 0.20 mm | 0.25–0.30 mm | 20–35 | Very fine detail |
| 0.3 | 0.06 mm | 0.24 mm | 0.3–0.36 mm | 25–45 | Fine detail, good quality |
| 0.4 | 0.08 mm | 0.32 mm | 0.4–0.48 mm | 30–60 | Standard (most common nozzle) |
| 0.5 | 0.10 mm | 0.40 mm | 0.5–0.60 mm | 35–70 | Moderate detail, faster prints |
| 0.6 | 0.12 mm | 0.48 mm | 0.6–0.72 mm | 40–80 | Good for functional parts |
| 0.8 | 0.16 mm | 0.64 mm | 0.8–0.96 mm | 30–60 | Fast draft prints, vases |
| 1.0 | 0.20 mm | 0.80 mm | 1.0–1.20 mm | 25–50 | Very fast, rough finish, large parts |
Layer height rule of thumb: minimum = 25% of nozzle diameter; maximum = 75–80% of nozzle diameter. Line width is typically 100–120% of nozzle diameter.
Print Time vs Quality Trade-off
| Layer Height | Quality | Relative Print Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.06–0.10 mm | Ultra-fine | 3–5× longer | Miniatures, jewellery models, display pieces |
| 0.12–0.16 mm | Fine | 1.5–2× longer | Detailed models, visible surfaces, cosplay props |
| 0.20 mm | Standard | 1× (baseline) | General purpose, good balance of speed and quality |
| 0.24–0.32 mm | Draft | 0.6–0.8× | Functional parts, prototypes, hidden components |
| 0.40+ mm | Speed | 0.3–0.5× | Rough prototypes, structural parts, large builds |
Choosing the Right Nozzle
The 0.4 mm nozzle is the default on nearly all consumer printers and handles 90% of use cases. Switch to a 0.2–0.3 mm nozzle when you need fine surface detail (miniatures, text, thin walls). Switch to a 0.6–0.8 mm nozzle when speed matters more than surface finish, or when printing large functional parts where strength is improved by wider extrusions.
For abrasive filaments (carbon fibre, glow-in-the-dark, wood-fill), use a hardened steel or ruby-tipped nozzle to avoid rapid wear. Brass nozzles are fine for PLA, PETG, ABS, and TPU.
Calculate Your Print Settings
Use our print settings calculators for optimised results:
- Print Settings Calculators — flow rate, retraction, speed, and temperature tuning tools
Speed ranges depend on printer capability, filament type, and part geometry. Very fast speeds may require a high-flow hotend. Layer height limits are guidelines — some slicers allow values outside these ranges, but print quality may suffer.