Materials Guide
PLA vs PETG vs ABS
The three workhorses of FDM 3D printing. Each is great at different jobs — here's how to pick the right one for your part.
At a glance
| PLA | PETG | ABS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glass transition (sags around) | ~60°C | ~80°C | ~105°C |
| Strength (tensile) | High but brittle | Medium, ductile | Medium |
| Impact resistance | Low (cracks) | High | High |
| UV / outdoor durability | Poor | Good | Fair |
| Chemical resistance | Poor | Good (water, weak acids) | Good (oils, alkalis) |
| Print difficulty | Easy | Easy–medium | Hard |
| Needs heated enclosure | No | No | Yes |
| Fumes / ventilation | Minimal | Minimal | Yes — needs ventilation |
| Smoothing options | Hard | Hard | Acetone vapor smooth |
| Relative cost | $ | $$ | $$ |
When to pick each
PLA
The fast, easy, high-detail material for indoor parts.
- Prototypes, fixtures, jigs, or decorative parts
- You need fine detail and crisp edges
- The part stays indoors at room temperature
- Tolerances matter and warping is unacceptable
PETG
The strongest all-purpose pick for real-world use.
- The part lives outdoors or in sunlight
- It needs to flex without snapping (clips, brackets, hinges)
- Water or weak chemicals are involved
- You want a tougher PLA replacement without the ABS hassle
ABS
The specialty pick for heat, impact, and acetone smoothing.
- The part will live in heat (under a hood, near exhaust, in a hot car)
- It needs to survive repeated impacts (LEGO is ABS)
- You want acetone-vapor smoothing for an injection-molded look
- Chemical exposure to oils or alkalis
Quick rules of thumb
- Will it sit in a hot car? Skip PLA. Choose PETG (good) or ABS (better).
- Will it live outdoors? PETG is the safest default. PLA degrades in UV; ABS is okay but yellows.
- Mechanical part with stress, impact, or vibration? PETG or ABS — both ductile. PLA cracks.
- Need a smooth, glossy finish? ABS, then acetone vapor smooth. The other two need post-processing or coating.
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