Two materials, one table.
Pick up to three. Every row sets the numbers next to each other with the method that produced them — and when the methods differ, the table says plainly that they do not compare directly.
Pick materials
3 picked — remove one to choose another.
| Pick materials | PLAPLA High Speed | PETGPETG Core | ABS & ASAABS Core |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | |||
| In one line | Fast, accurate, easy. Loses stiffness above roughly 55 °C. | Impact tolerant and water resistant. Stringy if you print it wet or fast. | Heat resistant and UV stable (ASA). Warps without an enclosure. |
| Process | FDM (filament) | FDM (filament) | FDM (filament) |
| Best for |
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| Watch out | Fast printing needs cooling to match. Below 100 % fan, overhangs droop. | Sticks to smooth PEI hard enough to pull chips out. Use a textured plate or glue as a release layer. | Warps hard without chamber heat, and needs ventilation while printing. |
| The printer needs | Dry storage · High-flow hot end for full speed | Dry storage | Enclosure 45–55 °C · Ventilation |
| Print settings — starting points | |||
| Nozzle | 215–235 °C | 235–250 °C | 245–265 °C |
| Bed | 55–65 °C | 75–85 °C | 95–110 °C |
| Chamber | Not required | Optional | 45–55 °C |
| Speed | up to 300 mm/s | 40–90 mm/s | 40–90 mm/s |
| Cooling | 100 % | 40–60 % | 0–20 % |
| Drying | 45 °C / 4 h | 65 °C / 6 h | 70 °C / 4 h |
| Diameter | 1,75 mm | 1,75 mm | 1,75 mm |
| Published properties | |||
| Density | 1,23 g/cm³ISO 1183Measured on PolySonic™ PLAPolymaker · 27/08/2026 | 1,24–1,25 g/cm³ISO 1183Measured on PolyMax™ – PolyLite™ PETGPolymaker · 27/08/2026 | 1,04 g/cm³ISO 1183Measured on PolyLite™ ABSPolymaker · 27/08/2026 |
| Tensile strength | 46,0 MPaISO 527 · XYMeasured on PolySonic™ PLAPolymaker · 27/08/2026 | 37,9–50,8 MPaISO 527 · XYMeasured on PolyMax™ – PolyLite™ PETGPolymaker · 27/08/2026 | 33,4–34,9 MPaISO 527 · XYMeasured on PolyLite™ ABS – ABS ProPolymaker · 27/08/2026 |
| Tensile modulus | Not published | 2 117 MPaISO 527 · XYMeasured on PolyLite™ PETGPolymaker · 27/08/2026 | 2 247 MPaISO 527 · XYMeasured on PolyLite™ ABSPolymaker · 27/08/2026 |
| Elongation at break | Not published | 8,4 %ISO 527 · XYMeasured on PolyLite™ PETGPolymaker · 27/08/2026 | 17,9 %ISO 527 · XYMeasured on PolyLite™ ABSPolymaker · 27/08/2026 |
| Bending strength | Not published | 69,6 MPaISO 178 · XYMeasured on PolyLite™ PETGPolymaker · 27/08/2026 | 56,2 MPaISO 178 · XYMeasured on PolyLite™ ABSPolymaker · 27/08/2026 |
| Heat deflection (HDT) | 53 °CHDT 0,45 MPaMeasured on PolySonic™ PLAPolymaker · 27/08/2026 | 76–78 °CHDT 0,45 MPaMeasured on PolyMax™ – PolyLite™ PETGPolymaker · 27/08/2026 | 100–106 °CHDT 0,45 MPaMeasured on PolyLite™ ABS – ABS ProPolymaker · 27/08/2026 |
| Vicat softening | 61 °CMeasured on PolySonic™ PLAPolymaker · 27/08/2026 | 82–84 °CMeasured on PolyMax™ – PolyLite™ PETGPolymaker · 27/08/2026 | 104–116 °CMeasured on PolyLite™ ABS – ABS ProPolymaker · 27/08/2026 |
| Impact strength | 5,0 kJ/m²ISO 179 · notched, XYMeasured on PolySonic™ PLAPolymaker · 27/08/2026 | 2,6–11,6 kJ/m²ISO 179 · notched, XYMeasured on PolyLite™ – PolyMax™ PETGPolymaker · 27/08/2026 | 17,3–18,0 kJ/m²ISO 179 · notched, XYMeasured on PolyLite™ ABS – ABS ProPolymaker · 27/08/2026 |
| See spools | See PLA spools → | See PETG spools → | See ABS & ASA spools → |
How to read this
Two numbers side by side do not always compare.
Every mechanical number here is one a manufacturer published for a named grade, measured to a stated standard. Notched Charpy and notched Izod on the same polymer can differ several-fold, so when two columns use different standards the row is flagged rather than left for you to draw a conclusion from.
The table scores nothing and bolds no “winner”. The best material is the one that does the part's job — a higher tensile figure does nothing for a part in a car if it softens at 55 °C.
Print settings are the common starting window for each class, not measurements. Use them to see whether your printer runs hot enough and needs an enclosure, then calibrate on that printer.
Is PLA or PETG stronger?
It depends which “strong” you mean. PLA is usually stiffer with higher tensile strength; PETG is tougher under impact and handles heat better. Pick PLA and PETG in this tool to see each figure with its test method.
Why do some cells say “not published”?
Because no manufacturer we reference publishes that figure for this grade. An empty cell is information; an estimated number is not.
Can I save a comparison to send to someone?
Yes. The page address follows your selection, so copy the link — whoever opens it sees exactly the materials you picked.