Material Comparison
Which Filament Should I Use?
Side-by-side comparison of every FDM material we track. Print temps, bed temps, heat deflection, enclosure requirements, emissions, and what each is actually good for.
| Property | PLA | PETG | ABS | ASA | TPU | Nylon | PC | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nozzle Temp | 190-220°C | 230-250°C | 230-250°C | 240-260°C | 220-240°C | 240-270°C | 270-310°C | 220-250°C |
| Bed Temp | 0-60°C | 70-85°C | 100-110°C | 100-110°C | 30-60°C | 70-90°C | 110-120°C | 80-100°C |
| Heat Resistance | ~60°C | ~80°C | ~100°C | ~100°C | ~80°C | ~180°C | ~145°C | ~100°C |
| Strength | Rigid, brittle | Strong, some flex | Strong, moderate | Strong, moderate | Flexible, elastic | Very strong, tough | Very strong, clear | Flexible, fatigue-resistant |
| UV / Outdoor | Poor | Moderate | Poor | Excellent | Moderate | Good | Moderate | Good |
| Ease of Printing | Easiest | Easy-moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Hard | Hard | Hard |
| Enclosure Needed | Recommended | Recommended | Required | Required | Recommended | Required | Required | Required |
| Emissions * | High UFPs | Moderate | High UFPs + VOCs | High UFPs + VOCs | Moderate | High (caprolactam) | High UFPs + VOCs | Moderate |
| Moisture Sensitive | Low | Moderate | Low | Low | Moderate | Very high | Moderate | Low |
| Best For | Prototypes, models, display | Functional parts, outdoor | Indoor mechanical parts | Outdoor, UV-exposed | Gaskets, cases, flex parts | Gears, bearings, hinges | High-temp, optical | Chemical containers, living hinges |
* Emissions note: ALL FDM filaments emit ultrafine particles (UFPs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during printing. PLA emits ~20 billion UFPs/minute; ABS emits ~10x more plus styrene (IARC Group 2B carcinogen). NIOSH recommends ventilation for all materials, not just ABS. Use an enclosure with HEPA+carbon filtration, or print in a well-ventilated room. Do not print in bedrooms or unventilated spaces with any material. See our ventilation guide for details.
Material Compatibility as Supports
Which materials work together for support structures - and which release cleanly.
On dual-extruder printers, you can print supports in a different material than your model - dramatically improving release quality. Some material pairs bond poorly by design, making them ideal for easy support removal. Others use chemical solubility to dissolve supports entirely.
PLA + PETG (Gold Standard)
PLA and PETG don't bond to each other. Print supports in PLA, model in PETG (or vice versa) for near-perfect release. Works on single-extruder printers with a mid-print spool swap at the support interface layer - tedious but effective for flat-bottomed supports.
ABS + HIPS (Soluble Supports)
HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene) dissolves in d-limonene (citrus solvent). Prints at similar temps to ABS. The classic soluble support solution for ABS - submerge the finished print in d-limonene for a few hours and supports disappear entirely. Requires dual extrusion.
PLA / PETG + PVA (Water-Soluble)
PVA (Polyvinyl Alcohol) is water-soluble and bonds adequately to PLA and PETG at low interface temps. Dissolve supports in warm water after printing. PVA is extremely hygroscopic - store in a sealed drybox and dry before use. Nozzle purging is essential between materials.
TPU + PLA or PETG
TPU barely bonds to rigid filaments. Supports printed in PLA or PETG under a TPU model release cleanly. Useful for flexible prints that need temporary scaffolding without leaving residue.
Nylon (PA) + PVA
Nylon bonds aggressively to itself, making self-supports nearly impossible to remove cleanly. PVA supports are the preferred solution. Interface layer temp and Z-gap tuning are critical. Ensure PVA is bone-dry before printing - it's even more hygroscopic than Nylon.
PC + HIPS or PC Blend Supports
PC bonds strongly to most materials at 270-310°C. HIPS at a lowered interface temp is the most practical soluble support approach. PC/ABS blends are easier to support with ABS and d-limonene-soluble HIPS. Avoid PVA with PC - moisture sensitivity conflicts.
Single-Extruder Trick
PLA+PETG spool swap
For a flat-bottomed support interface, pause at the exact layer where supports end, swap spools (e.g. from PLA to PETG for the model), purge thoroughly, then resume. The PLA supports peel off cleanly after printing. Takes 5 minutes to set up in your slicer using filament change at layer.
Beginner-Friendly
PETG
Beginner
The practical workhorse. Tougher and more durable than PLA.
PLA vs PETG
Comparison
Not sure which to choose? Our side-by-side comparison covers strength, ease of printing, heat resistance, and cost.
Engineering & Industrial
PA (Nylon)
Advanced
The engineering choice. Extremely tough, slippery, and fatigue-resistant.
PP
Advanced
Living hinges and chemical tanks. Incredible material, terrible to print.
Specialty
HIPS
Intermediate
The dissolvable sidekick for ABS. Also a decent standalone material.
PVA
Intermediate
Water-soluble supports. Incredible results if you can keep it dry.
Performance Grades
The grade codes you see on our deals cards (HS-PLA, HT-PLA, LW-PLA...) are upgraded formulations of a base material. Each one below links to a page explaining what the grade actually changes.
HS-PLA / HS-PETG
Beginner
High-speed grades: tuned to hold quality at 250 mm/s and up.
HT-PLA
Intermediate
Heat-treatable PLA. Anneal it and parts survive 120-150°C.
PLA Meta
Beginner
SUNLU's high-speed toughened PLA. About 2x the impact strength of PLA+.
LW-PLA
Advanced
Foaming PLA at roughly half the weight. The RC-plane material.
Composites
Carbon Fiber
Intermediate
Chopped carbon fiber in any base material. Stiffer, lighter, harder to print.
Glass Fiber
Intermediate
Stiffness and stability without the carbon fiber price tag.
Temperature Quick Reference
Typical nozzle and bed temperatures for each material. Always check the manufacturer's recommended settings on the spool or datasheet, since these vary by brand and formulation.
Nozzle
Bed