Guide
PLA vs PETG vs ABS vs TPU: Choosing a 3D Printing Material
The material decides how a printed part looks, how strong it is, how it handles heat and sunlight, and whether it flexes. Most custom parts are fine in PLA or PETG; the others solve specific problems. Here is how to choose.
PLA: the default for display and prototypes
PLA is stiff, prints with crisp detail and comes in the widest range of colors. It is the right choice for models, prototypes, desk accessories, signs, and anything that will live indoors at room temperature.
Its weakness is heat. A PLA part left in a hot car or in direct summer sun can soften and warp, and it is more brittle than PETG when it is bent or dropped.
PETG: tougher, and better for the outdoors and water
PETG is a step up in toughness and holds up better to moisture, many household chemicals and moderate heat. It flexes slightly before it breaks instead of snapping, which makes it a good all-round choice for functional parts, brackets, covers and enclosures.
It is a little less crisp on fine detail than PLA and can show tiny strings on some geometries.
ABS and ASA: heat and outdoor durability
ABS handles higher temperatures than PLA or PETG and can be sanded and smoothed. ASA is similar but is formulated to resist UV light, so it is the better pick for parts that will sit in the sun for years, such as outdoor housings and automotive trim.
Both shrink as they cool, so very large flat parts need care. They also need an enclosed printer to print well; see the note on printers below.
TPU: flexible parts
TPU is a rubber-like filament for gaskets, grips, bumpers, phone cases and anything that has to bend and spring back. Softer and thicker parts flex more. It is not the right material for rigid parts that must hold a precise shape under load.
Carbon fiber filled materials
Carbon fiber filled filaments are stiffer and hold dimensions well, which suits jigs, fixtures and rigid brackets. They are abrasive and cost more, and the finish is matte.
Which printer runs which material
BluePeak prints on a Bambu Lab X1C and a Creality CR-6 SE. The X1C is enclosed and runs the full range, including ABS, ASA and carbon fiber filled materials. The CR-6 SE is an open-frame printer, so it is used for PLA, PETG and TPU. When you pick a material in the quote tool, it tells you if the selected printer cannot run it.
Quick picker
- Display piece, model or prototype: PLA
- Functional part, some moisture or outdoors in the shade: PETG
- Hot environments or sanding and finishing: ABS
- Years of direct sunlight: ASA
- Needs to flex: TPU
- Needs to be stiff and dimensionally stable: carbon fiber filled