The base of the part comes out wider (elephant's foot)

Symptom

The first layers bulge outwards and form a lip at the base: at the bottom the part measures more than it should and parts that are meant to fit together don't go in.

Likely causes, from most to least likely

1. The first layer is squished against the heated bed and ends up slightly wider than designed.
2. Nozzle too low on the first layer: the plastic is over-squished and spills outwards.
3. Elephant foot compensation disabled or too low in the slicer.

Checks to tell which one it is

• Measure the part with calipers at the base and a little higher up: if the extra is only on the first layers, it is elephant's foot.
• Look at the underside: if the first layer is very flat, almost see-through or ridged, the nozzle is too low.
• Find the elephant foot compensation setting in the slicer and check its value.

Before you start

Before taking anything apart, cleaning or adjusting it, switch the printer off and unplug it, unless a step says otherwise, and do not touch the nozzle, the heater block or the bed until they have cooled down. If in any doubt about electricity, heat or moving parts, stop and ask a professional.

Step-by-step fix

1. Check the first-layer height

   Recalibrate the first layer and raise the nozzle slightly if it is over-squishing, without losing adhesion.

   Check: First-layer lines are flat and joined, with no ridges.

   If that does not fix it: Enable compensation in the slicer.

2. Enable elephant foot compensation

   In the slicer, enable elephant foot compensation, which slightly shrinks the first layer. As a starting point, Prusa says values around 0.2 mm usually work well with a 0.4 mm nozzle.

   Check: The base measures the same as the rest of the part.

   If that does not fix it: If the brim no longer joins the part, the value is too high: lower it.

3. Touch up the base if it is already printed

   If it is only a slight lip, you can remove it with a file or fine sandpaper.

   Check: The part fits.

   If that does not fix it: If the lip is large, adjust the first-layer height and the compensation before reprinting.

Prevention

• Keep elephant foot compensation enabled in your profiles (official Prusa profiles have it on by default).
• Calibrate the first layer when changing the sheet or nozzle.

Still not fixed?

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Printers it applies to

Any FDM (filament) 3D printer, from any brand.

Official sources

This guide summarises the official documentation linked here:

• Elephant foot compensation · Prusa Research
• First Layer Calibration (i3) · Prusa Research