Bambu Lab Repair Help › First Layer Not Sticking

Bambu Lab First Layer Not Sticking: Stop Buying New Build Plates

By Grayson Bryan, Third Party Services LLC · Published October 27, 2026

Disclosure: This article contains Amazon affiliate links. If you buy through them, Third Party Services LLC earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change what we recommend. Full details in our affiliate disclosure.

The short version

Four things cause adhesion failures: a contaminated plate, a wrong Z offset, a wrong bed temperature, or a wrong plate and filament combination.
Wash textured PEI with hot water and dish soap. Isopropyl alcohol alone can spread oils.
Never use acetone on PEI, and do not touch the print surface.
Slow the first layer to 20-30 mm/s and keep cooling off for the first 3 layers.

Why people buy plates they do not need

A print that will not stick affects nearly every Bambu Lab owner at some point, especially in the first weeks. The common reaction is to buy a new build plate. In most cases the plate is fine and the surface is dirty. The "IPA is enough" advice is everywhere, and Bambu's own wiki does not lead with the soap and water method. The steps below put the free fixes first.

The fix, step by step

Step 1 Clean the plate the right way

Start here. Contamination is the first thing to rule out, and it costs nothing.

1ATextured PEI: hot water and dish soap

Wash the plate with hot water and dish soap. Isopropyl alcohol alone can spread oils across the surface instead of lifting them.

Fix Wash, rinse, let it dry, and do not touch the print surface afterward. Finger oils ruin adhesion.

1BSmooth PEI: an IPA wipe is fine

Smooth PEI does not have the texture that traps oils, so an isopropyl alcohol wipe works.

Fix Wipe it down before the print and handle it by the edges.

1CCool Plate: glue stick every time

The Cool Plate needs a glue stick applied before every print.

Fix Apply a thin, even layer of glue stick before each print.

1DRefresh a tired surface

If washing is not enough, a Scotch-Brite green pad can refresh the PEI surface.

Fix Use the pad gently, then wash the plate with soap and water again.

Never use acetone on PEI. It damages the surface, and then you really do need a new plate.

Step 2 Check the first layer settings

If a clean plate still does not hold the print, move on to the settings.

2ASlow the first layer down

A fast first layer does not get time to bond to the plate.

Fix Set the first layer speed to 20-30 mm/s.

2BTurn off cooling for the first 3 layers

The no-cooling-for-the-first-3-layers setting is critical for adhesion.

Fix Confirm it is enabled in your filament settings.

2CZ offset and bed temperature

A wrong Z offset or a wrong bed temperature produces the same symptoms: corners lifting and a first layer that peels. They are two of the four root causes.

Fix Re-run the first layer calibration and check the recommended bed temperature for your filament and plate.

Step 3 Make sure the plate and filament match

The fourth root cause is the plate and filament combination.

3AWrong plate for the material

Each plate type has its own cleaning rules and its own needs, as Step 1 shows. A plate that is a poor match for your filament will keep lifting prints even when it is perfectly clean.

Fix Check Bambu Lab's guidance for your plate and filament pairing before you buy a replacement.

3BOnly then, replace the plate

Replacement PEI plates run about $20-40 from the Bambu store, and are also sold on Amazon. Most people who buy one only needed soap and water.

Fix Replace the plate only after cleaning, settings, and the plate and filament match have all been ruled out.

Official guide: wiki.bambulab.com/en/knowledge-sharing/first-layer-not-sticking

Parts and supplies

You may not need any of these. If you do, here are the searches.

Item	When you need it	Buy
Glue stick	Cool Plate, before every print	Amazon search
Scotch-Brite green pads	Refreshing the PEI surface	Amazon search
Replacement PEI build plate	Only after cleaning and settings fail	Amazon search

Amazon search links. Check that the plate size matches your printer model before you buy.

Avoid it next time

Wash textured PEI with soap and water on a regular basis, not only when prints fail.
Handle plates by the edges so finger oils never reach the print surface.
Keep the glue stick on hand if you print on the Cool Plate.

Prints still lifting?

Tell us the model, the plate, the filament, and what the first layer looks like and we will point you to the likely cause.

Get a Free Diagnosis

Quick answers

Why is my Bambu Lab print not sticking to the bed?

Four causes account for it: a contaminated build plate, a wrong Z offset, a wrong bed temperature, or a wrong plate and filament combination. Contamination is the most common and the cheapest to fix. Wash the plate with hot water and dish soap before you change anything else.

How do I clean a Bambu Lab textured PEI plate?

Wash it with hot water and dish soap. Isopropyl alcohol alone can spread oils across a textured surface instead of removing them. Avoid touching the print surface afterward, because finger oils ruin adhesion.

Can I use acetone on my Bambu Lab PEI plate?

No. Acetone damages the PEI surface. Use hot water and dish soap on textured PEI, and an isopropyl alcohol wipe on smooth PEI.

Do I need glue stick on a Bambu Lab Cool Plate?

Yes. The Cool Plate needs a glue stick applied before every print.

Which first layer settings help most?

Slow the first layer to 20-30 mm/s and make sure the setting that turns off cooling for the first 3 layers is enabled. Both help the first layer bond to the plate.

Where is the official first layer guide?

Bambu Lab documents it on its wiki at wiki.bambulab.com/en/knowledge-sharing/first-layer-not-sticking.