First layer adhesion is whether the first layer of filament bonds to the bed and stays put. When it fails, the first layer peels up at the corners, goes patchy, or drags around under the nozzle. Per Bambu’s first-layer guide, the cause is almost always bed level, bed temperature, or the gap between the nozzle and the sheet.
The first layer sets the whole print, so a bad one fails later even if it looks fine at first. Work the causes in order and reprint the same first-layer test after each fix.
Your material sets the bed temperature. PLA sticks at about 60 C, while PETG and ABS want a warmer bed to hold.
What causes it
| Likely cause | Fix | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Bed not level | Level for a light paper drag at all four corners and the center. | hi |
| Bed too cold or dirty | Raise the bed temp and wipe the sheet with isopropyl alcohol. | hi |
| No adhesion aid | Add a brim, a glue stick, or an adhesion sheet for hard materials. | hi |
| Nozzle too far, Z-offset too high | Lower the Z-offset a touch so the first layer presses into the sheet. | md |
| First layer too fast | Slow the first layer to about 20 mm/s. | md |
Try these first
Print a flat one-layer square and lift a corner to test the grip, then work top to bottom and reprint after each step.
Level the bed
Heat the bed, then set a light paper drag at all four corners and the center.
Raise and clean the bed
Set the bed to the top of the material range and wipe the sheet with isopropyl alcohol.
Add a brim
Turn on a brim so the first layer has a wider footprint that grips the sheet.
Lower the Z-offset
Drop the Z-offset a small step so the first layer presses into the sheet, not floats on it.
Slow the first layer
Set the first layer to about 20 mm/s so the filament has time to bond.
Deeper fixes to try next
When level and temp do not hold the layer, the sheet surface is the next place to look.
Try a different sheet
Textured PEI grips most materials, while glass gives a smooth bottom; match the sheet to the filament.
Use an adhesion aid
A glue stick, hairspray, or a dedicated adhesion sheet can hold a stubborn material.
Check the nozzle
A worn or dirty nozzle lays a rough bead that does not bond. Clean or replace it.
How the material differs
PLA sticks the easiest at about 60 C on a clean sheet. PETG wants a warmer bed, near 70 to 80 C, and can bond so hard to smooth PEI that it chips the sheet, so a glue stick helps as a release agent. ABS and ASA need a hot bed, around 90 to 100 C, and an enclosure to hold the heat.
Pitfalls to avoid
A few common choices trade one problem for another.
Avoiddo not
- Lowering the Z-offset so far the first layer ripples and elephants foot.
- Running the first layer at full speed.
- Using a glue stick on PETG without knowing it also works as a release agent.
- Changing level, temp, and Z-offset in one pass, so the real cause stays hidden.
Key takeaways
- First layer adhesion fails from bed level, temp, or the nozzle gap.
- Level the bed, raise and clean it, and add a brim first.
- Lower the Z-offset a touch and slow the first layer.
- PLA sticks at 60 C; PETG and ABS want a warmer bed.
For the lift-at-the-corners version, the warping guide covers prints that pull off the sheet, and the filament storage guide covers keeping spools dry.
Related guides
Related
More in this area
Cross-reference
Sources & methodology
3 citations · reviewed 2026-07-10- 01Bambu Lab Wiki: First layer not sticking (plate, level, Z-offset)accessed 2026-07-09Tier 1
- 02Prusa Knowledge Base: First layer issuesaccessed 2026-07-09Tier 1
- 03All3DP: First layer problems and how to make it perfectaccessed 2026-07-09Tier 2