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Filament comparison: PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU

Pick two plastics. The table sets their strength, heat resistance, print settings and price side by side, every figure from the same lab, so the numbers can be compared.

PLAPETG
Heat deflection57 °C71 °C
Tensile strength, along layers35 MPa51 MPa
Tensile strength, across layers31 MPa35 MPa
Impact strength, along layers26.6 kJ/m²34.2 kJ/m²
Impact strength, across layers13.8 kJ/m²10.5 kJ/m²
Water absorption0.43%0.45%
Price per gram$0.015$0.014
Length per kilogram335 m333 m
Nozzle190–230 °C230–260 °C
Bed35–45 °C65–75 °C
Chamber25–45 °C35–50 °C
Drying50 °C, 8 h65 °C, 8 h

Every figure is from Bambu Lab’s datasheets and US store, so the plastics are tested the same way. Bold is the side ahead on that row. Your brand will differ.

How it is worked out

Every figure for a plastic comes from Bambu Lab’s datasheet for it. That is deliberate: strength depends on how the specimen was printed and tested, so the figures of one lab compare with each other and the figures of two labs may not.

XY is the strength along the printed layers and Z the strength across them, which is where a print usually breaks. Bold marks the side ahead on a row. Price per gram is the maker’s US list price over the net filament on the spool, and metres per kilogram is worked out from the density at 1.75 mm.

Materials, by the makers' datasheets

Popular comparisons

Questions

Which is stronger, PLA or PETG?

On Bambu Lab's tests PETG Basic reaches 51 MPa in tension along the layers against 35 MPa for PLA Basic. Across the layers the gap narrows to 35 against 31 MPa, and PLA takes an impact there better, 13.8 against 10.5 kJ/m².Bambu Lab TDSBambu Lab TDS

Which filament handles the most heat?

Of these five, ASA: Bambu Lab rates it at 100 °C of heat deflection at 0.45 MPa, against 57 °C for its PLA Basic. A part in a hot car or near a motor needs more than PLA gives.Bambu Lab TDSBambu Lab TDS

Why are the figures from one maker?

Because strength and heat figures depend on how a specimen was printed and tested. Even the same plastic differs by maker: PLA starts to bend under load at 57 °C on Bambu Lab's sheet and 60 °C on Polymaker's. One lab's figures compare with each other, so the table uses one lab.Bambu Lab TDSPolymaker

Is the cheapest filament per gram the cheapest print?

Not always. A hotter plastic often draws more power, and a print that warps and fails is paid for twice. The cost calculator prices those too.

Other calculators

Keep these numbers for every print

Printyard runs this arithmetic on your phone at the machine and on the web: every quote itemised, every roll to the gram, and a month with the fees and the failed prints already taken out.

Price your shopDownload on the App Store

Sources