Which material should a beginner start with?

PLA. It's forgiving, prints at low temperatures, doesn't warp badly, and works on almost any printer without an enclosure. Start here, master the basics, then branch out to PETG or TPU when you hit its limits.

When should I switch from PLA to PETG?

When a part needs more heat headroom or takes knocks. Bambu Lab's data sheets list a heat deflection temperature of 57 °C for PLA Basic and 71 °C for PETG Basic (at 0.45 MPa), and in both Bambu's and Prusament's impact tests PETG absorbed more than PLA. PETG is a natural second material for most hobbyists. For a hot car or attic, compare the product's data sheet with how hot the part will actually get.

Is ABS still worth using?

Mainly if you want acetone vapor smoothing or already have it dialed in. ASA has similar printing needs, and Bambu Lab and Prusament both describe their ASA as made for outdoor and UV exposure, so it is usually the better choice for parts that live outside. Both print best in an enclosed printer with good ventilation.

What makes TPU different?

It's flexible. Prints bend, stretch, and bounce back. Good for phone cases, gaskets, wheels, and shock absorbers. Hard to print on Bowden extruders (the tubing flexes during retractions), easy on direct-drive.

Is polycarbonate for hobbyists?

It can be, on the right printer. Bambu Lab lists 260 to 280 °C nozzle and 90 to 110 °C bed for its PC, and Prusament lists about 275 °C nozzle and 110 °C bed for PC Blend, so check that your printer reaches those and has an enclosure. PC is a strong candidate when a part needs more heat resistance than PETG, but read the specific product's data sheet rather than assuming the family is strongest at everything.

What about food contact?

A generic filament type does not establish food-contact suitability. Check the exact product's certification and its stated conditions, including whether it covers your finished printing process and intended use. This comparison does not certify printed items or recommend a coating as proof of suitability.

Material Comparison

Side-by-side specs for common 3D printing filaments. Pick up to four to compare. Typical print temperatures, measured heat and strength values for a named product of each type (with the test behind each number), outdoor and food-contact notes, and use-case guidance.

How to use this

The goal is quick sanity checks, not a comprehensive materials database. Print temperatures, flexibility and use cases are broad tendencies for each family. Measured values are shown only for a named product, with the test that produced them, because two filaments sold under the same family name can perform very differently.

When you've decided on a material, the Filament Cost Calculator will estimate what the print will cost. The Print Time Estimator covers how long it'll take.

The decision tree (skip the table, just answer these)

For most prints, four questions resolve the material choice faster than reading specs:

Will it live outdoors or somewhere hot? If yes, skip PLA. Its heat deflection temperature is about 55 to 57 °C in Prusament's and Bambu Lab's data sheets, and Prusament calls PLA not ideal for outdoor use. ASA is made for UV exposure; PETG is a common middle ground. For a hot car, compare the product's data sheet with the conditions.
Does it need to flex or absorb impact? If yes, TPU. Phone cases, gaskets, watch bands, bumpers. PLA and PETG snap; TPU bends.
Does it need to handle high temperature (above 80°C)? Look at ABS, ASA, PC or a fiber-filled nylon, and check the product's data sheet. Unfilled nylon can be much lower: Prusament PA11 lists 58.7 °C at 0.45 MPa. These materials print best in an enclosed printer with good ventilation.
None of the above? Use PLA. It's cheap, easy, prints clean, doesn't need an enclosure, doesn't need a fancy hotend. The only reason most people leave PLA is one of the constraints above.

Quick reference: typical print temperatures

Material	Nozzle	Bed	Enclosure?
PLA	200-220°C	50-60°C	No
PETG	230-250°C	70-85°C	Helpful
ABS	240-260°C	100-110°C	Required
ASA	240-260°C	100-110°C	Required
TPU	220-240°C	50-60°C	No
Nylon (PA)	240-280°C	70-100°C	Required
Polycarbonate (PC)	260-285°C	90-120°C	Required

Heat and strength: data sheet values for named products

One product per family, copied from the maker's technical data sheet. The Bambu Lab rows come from one lab using the same test standards, so they are mostly comparable: the PETG sheet states no annealing step, PC was tested dry, and TPU has no heat deflection value. The nylon row is Prusament's, tested differently, so it does not compare directly.

Product	Heat deflection, 0.45 / 1.8 MPa	Tensile strength	Impact (Charpy)
Bambu Lab PLA Basic (TDS V3.0)	57 / 54 °C	35 ± 4 MPa	26.6 ± 2.8 kJ/m²
Bambu Lab PETG Basic (TDS V3.0)	71 / 68 °C	51 ± 1 MPa	34.2 ± 4.1 kJ/m²
Bambu Lab ABS (TDS V3.0)	87 / 84 °C	33 ± 3 MPa	39.3 ± 3.6 kJ/m²
Bambu Lab ASA (TDS V3.0)	100 / 92 °C	37 ± 3 MPa	41.0 ± 2.3 kJ/m²
Bambu Lab TPU 95A HF (TDS V1.0)	Not published	27.3 ± 0.8 MPa	123.2 kJ/m²
Bambu Lab PC (TDS V2.0)	112 / 117 °C	62 ± 2 MPa	34.8 ± 2.1 kJ/m²
Prusament PA11, unfilled (TDS v1.0, July 2026)	58.7 / 49.9 °C	38.3 ± 0.8 MPa	12.9 ± 2.1 kJ/m²

Tests. Bambu Lab: heat deflection per ISO 75; tensile per ISO 527 and Charpy impact per ISO 179 on printed X-Y specimens, mostly annealed and dried before testing. Prusament PA11: tensile is yield strength and impact is notched; the sheet does not state annealing. Each material's card above lists its exact test.
Heat deflection is the temperature at which a standard test bar bends a set amount under load. A real part with less load may survive warmer conditions, and a heavily loaded one may not. Use it to compare materials, not as a guarantee.
No family wins everywhere. In Bambu Lab's sheets PETG Basic's tensile strength (51 MPa) beats PLA Basic's (35 MPa); in Prusament's, PLA's yield strength (51 MPa) edges PETG's (47 MPa). In both makers' impact tests PETG absorbed more than PLA. Bambu's PC has the highest tensile strength here, but not the highest impact value.

General tendencies (not measurements)

Material	Flex	Outdoor (UV)
PLA	None	Poor
PETG	Slight	Fair
ABS	Slight	Varies; protect from UV unless the maker says otherwise
ASA	Slight	Good: made for outdoor use
TPU	High	Fair
Nylon	Slight	Fair
PC	None	Fair

Correction note: October 10, 2026: removed one-number “heat resistance” figures per family (for example PETG ~75 °C and nylon ~150 °C) and strength star ratings that had no product or test behind them, and added named-product data sheet values. The old nylon figure matched fiber-filled grades, not unfilled nylon.

When to pick each material (real use cases)

PLA: display models, cosplay accents, quick prototypes, tabletop minis, indoor functional parts that don't see heat. Default choice.
PETG: outdoor parts (planters, garden brackets), replacement clips on appliances, parts that get bumped or see moderate warmth. For a car interior or attic, check the product's heat deflection temperature against the conditions first.
ASA: outdoor parts that PETG isn't tough enough for. License plate frames, exterior automotive trim, mailbox parts. Needs an enclosed printer.
ABS: mostly legacy choice now. Use ASA instead unless you specifically need acetone vapor smoothing.
TPU: phone cases, watch bands, gaskets, soft wheels, drone landing gear, anti-vibration mounts.
Nylon (PA): functional engineering parts. Gears, hinges, snap fits that need to flex without breaking. Hygroscopic, needs drying.
Polycarbonate: stiff mechanical parts that need more heat resistance than PETG, and transparent pieces. Demanding to print.

None of these are safety ratings. For a part whose failure could hurt someone, use a part that has been engineered and tested for the job, not a filament family's reputation.

Pricing reality (typical US list prices per kg, 2026; not live quotes)

PLA basic: $18 to $25/kg
PLA premium (Polymaker, Prusament): $28 to $38/kg
PETG: $22 to $30/kg
ABS: $20 to $28/kg
ASA: $30 to $40/kg
TPU 95A: $30 to $45/kg
Nylon (basic): $35 to $55/kg
Polycarbonate: $50 to $80/kg
Carbon-fiber-filled (PA-CF, PETG-CF): $60 to $120/kg

Sale prices on Bambu, Polymaker, eSun, and Sunlu can drop these by 20 to 35% during major events (Black Friday, mid-year clearance). Stock up when basic PLA hits $15/kg.

Frequently asked

Which material should a beginner start with?: PLA. It's forgiving, prints at low temperatures, doesn't warp badly, and works on almost any printer without an enclosure. Start here, master the basics, then branch out to PETG or TPU when you hit its limits.
When should I switch from PLA to PETG?: When a part needs more heat headroom or takes knocks. Bambu Lab's data sheets list a heat deflection temperature of 57 °C for PLA Basic and 71 °C for PETG Basic (at 0.45 MPa), and in both Bambu's and Prusament's impact tests PETG absorbed more than PLA. PETG is a natural second material for most hobbyists. For a hot car or attic, compare the product's data sheet with how hot the part will actually get.
Is ABS still worth using?: Mainly if you want acetone vapor smoothing or already have it dialed in. ASA has similar printing needs, and Bambu Lab and Prusament both describe their ASA as made for outdoor and UV exposure, so it is usually the better choice for parts that live outside. Both print best in an enclosed printer with good ventilation.
What makes TPU different?: It's flexible. Prints bend, stretch, and bounce back. Good for phone cases, gaskets, wheels, and shock absorbers. Hard to print on Bowden extruders (the tubing flexes during retractions), easy on direct-drive.
Is polycarbonate for hobbyists?: It can be, on the right printer. Bambu Lab lists 260 to 280 °C nozzle and 90 to 110 °C bed for its PC, and Prusament lists about 275 °C nozzle and 110 °C bed for PC Blend, so check that your printer reaches those and has an enclosure. PC is a strong candidate when a part needs more heat resistance than PETG, but read the specific product's data sheet rather than assuming the family is strongest at everything.
What about food contact?: A generic filament type does not establish food-contact suitability. Check the exact product's certification and its stated conditions, including whether it covers your finished printing process and intended use. This comparison does not certify printed items or recommend a coating as proof of suitability.

Sources

Data sheets and maker pages behind the figures above, checked October 10, 2026.