The manufacturing method affects the properties of the produced components. This work explores the influence of manufacturing methods such as 3D printing and injection molding on water absorption, mechanical and thermal properties of the specimens produced from neat biobased poly(lactic acid) (PLA) polymer and poly(lactic acid)/wood composites. The printing layer height is one of the factors that affects the properties of a 3D printed specimen. The investigation includes two different layer heights while maintaining uniform overall thickness of the specimens across two manufacturing methods. 3D printed specimens absorb significantly higher amounts of water than the injection molded specimens, and the increase in the layer height of the 3D printed specimens contributes to further increased water absorption. However, the swelling due to water absorption in 3D printed specimens decreases on increased layer height. Tensile, flexural and impact properties of all the specimens decrease after water absorption while the properties improve on decreasing the layer height. Higher porosity on increasing the layer height is the predominant factor. The images from microscopy confirm the outcomes.