STL vs 3MF – Which Format Should You Use?

STL and 3MF are the two most important file formats for 3D printing. This article compares their features, file sizes, compatibility and helps you decide which one to use.

STL: The Industry Standard

STL (Stereolithography) has been the de-facto standard for 3D printing since the 1980s. It stores geometry as a simple triangle mesh without color, material or metadata. Every slicer and 3D printer supports STL.

3MF: The Modern Alternative

3MF was developed by the 3MF Consortium (Microsoft, HP, Autodesk) as a modern replacement for STL. It supports colors, materials, textures, print settings and metadata in a compact ZIP-based format.

Key Differences

• Color: 3MF supports per-vertex and per-face color. STL does not.
• File Size: 3MF files are typically 50-75% smaller than binary STL.
• Metadata: 3MF can store print settings, thumbnails and author info. STL cannot.
• Compatibility: STL is universally supported. 3MF support is growing but not yet universal.

Need to convert? Convert STL to 3MF or Convert 3MF to STL for free.