my advice go to lowest buy two pieces of glass 8.25 by 8.25 inches cause merica and blue painters tape its not worth risking you part poping off the glass the tape makes a world of a difference and i dont think is too much of a pain in the a$$ and if you get at least 2.5 mm glass u should be closer to the nozzle imo the mat is not good for begginers you can deform it too easily and sometime its seems to trap air under it causing a bubble u cant see until its too late also if you print your first layer to close the brim will stick and come off on the next print and looks terrible definitely glass and tape for a begginer