PLA vs PETG vs ABS: Which Filament Should You Use?

The three most common filament types serve different purposes. Choosing correctly saves frustration and failed prints.

**PLA: The Beginner Standard** Polylactic acid is where everyone should start. It prints at low temperatures (190-220°C nozzle, 50-60°C bed), doesn't warp, doesn't smell, and works on any printer. The Amazon Basics PLA (around £13/kg) is excellent value with nearly 19,000 reviews.

Strength: Rigid but brittle. Fine for display pieces, prototypes, and light-duty parts. Snaps under impact rather than bending.

Temperature resistance: Poor. Deforms above 50-60°C. Don't leave PLA prints in a hot car or near heat sources.

Best for: Learning, prototyping, display pieces, indoor decorations, anything that won't see heat or heavy use.

PETG: The Practical Upgrade Polyethylene terephthalate glycol prints almost as easily as PLA with significantly better properties. The OVERTURE PETG (around £15/kg) offers good value for learning.

Print settings: 230-250°C nozzle, 70-80°C bed. Slightly more stringing than PLA. Requires slower print speeds.

Strength: Excellent. More flexible than PLA, absorbs impact instead of shattering. Good layer adhesion makes strong functional parts.

Temperature resistance: Better than PLA, handles 70-80°C before softening. Survives British summers in most situations.

Best for: Functional parts, outdoor items, anything needing durability, water-contact items (PETG doesn't absorb water).

ABS: The Original (But Difficult) Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene was the standard before PLA became popular. It's capable but demanding.

Print settings: 230-260°C nozzle, 90-110°C bed. Requires enclosed printing chamber to prevent warping. Produces fumes requiring ventilation.

Strength: Tough and heat-resistant. Handles higher temperatures than PETG (around 100°C). Standard for injection-moulded parts.

Difficulty: High. Warping, layer adhesion issues, and toxic fumes make ABS unsuitable for beginners or open printers.

Best for: Heat-resistant parts, automotive applications, parts matching commercial plastic properties. Only print if you have an enclosure and ventilation.

Head-to-Head Summary Ease of printing: PLA > PETG > ABS Strength: PETG > ABS > PLA Heat resistance: ABS > PETG > PLA Safety: PLA > PETG > ABS Cost: Similar (£15-25/kg for quality brands)

Our Recommendation Start with PLA. Learn your printer, dial in settings, understand the basics. SUNLU PLA Plus (around £18/kg, often discounted) offers enhanced toughness over standard PLA.

Graduate to PETG for functional parts. It's almost as easy to print with much better properties.

Only use ABS if you specifically need its heat resistance AND have proper ventilation and enclosure. For most makers, PETG does everything ABS does with less hassle.

Quality Matters Cheap filament causes problems regardless of material type. Budget £18-25 per kg for reliable results. For critical prints, Prusament PLA (around £32/kg) offers guaranteed ±0.02mm precision. Store filament properly to prevent moisture absorption.