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Technical Guide • 5 min read

STL vs OBJ vs GLB: Which 3D Format Should You Choose?

Stop guessing. Here's the definitive guide to picking the right file format for printing, web design, and game development.

Vextrude Team

Updated Jan 05, 2026

STL vs OBJ vs GLB Comparison Chart

When you're done creating a 3D model, hitting "Export" presents you with a confusing alphabet soup of extensions. STL? OBJ? GLB? Choosing the wrong one can mean losing your colors, breaking your mesh, or getting a file your printer can't read.

Here is the definitive guide to understanding the three most popular 3D file formats and when to use them.

1. STL (Stereolithography)

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Best For: 3D Printing

The "Grandfather" of 3D formats. Simple, raw geometry.

If your goal is to physically print your model, STL is the industry standard. Every slicer software (Cura, PrusaSlicer) accepts it. However, it's "dumb" geometry—it knows nothing about color, texture, or materials. It simply lists triangles in 3D space.

  • Pros: Universally supported by every 3D printer on the planet.
  • Cons: No color, texture, or material support. Files can become huge.

2. OBJ (Wavefront Object)

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Best For: Design & Editing

The versatile middle-ground. Supports textures.

OBJ is widely used when moving models between software like Blender, Maya, or Vextrude. Unlike STL, it can store UV maps (texture coordinates) and material groups. However, it usually requires a separate .mtl (material) file to define colors, which makes file management slightly annoying.

  • Pros: Supports multi-color meshes and textures. Widely editable.
  • Cons: Often requires two files (.obj + .mtl). Text format (slow to parse).

3. GLB / glTF

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Best For: Web, AR, & VR

The "JPEG of 3D". Modern, compressed, and fast.

GLB is the future of 3D on the web. It packs geometry, textures, and even animations into a single, small binary file. If you want to show your 3D logo on a website (using Three.js or React Fiber) or in an AR app, this is the one you want.

  • Pros: Tiny file size. Supports PBR (Physically Based Rendering) materials. Single file convenience.
  • Cons: Harder to edit directly. Not supported by older legacy 3D printers.

Summary: Which one to pick?

Goal Format Why?
3D Printing .STL Printers understand it perfectly.
Web / AR / Games .GLB Fast loading & looks great.
Editing / Software .OBJ Easy to import into other tools.

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