Choosing a 3D printing material comes down to one question: where will the part live? Indoors on a desk, in a hot car, in the sun, next to an engine, or somewhere it has to flex. Answer that and the choice is usually obvious. This guide covers the plastics we print every day and when to use each.

The short answer

Indoors, general use: PETG.
Outdoors or in a vehicle: ASA.
Indoor heat, or a part you will sand and paint: ABS.
Has to bend, grip or absorb impact: TPU.
Stiff and light on a budget: carbon-fiber PETG.
Load-bearing, hot, or replacing light metal parts: carbon-fiber nylon.

PETG: the everyday choice

PETG is tough, slightly flexible and resistant to most chemicals, and it is the lowest-priced material we offer. It softens at about 70–80 °C, so it suits indoor parts, enclosures, mounts, brackets and fixtures. If you are not sure what to choose, start here. See PETG 3D printing.

ASA: built for sun and weather

ASA has the strength and heat tolerance of ABS, softening at about 95–100 °C, but it does not yellow or turn brittle in the sun. That makes it the standard for vehicle trim, outdoor housings, antenna and sensor mounts, and anything in the desert Southwest. See ASA 3D printing.

ABS: heat-tolerant and easy to finish

ABS is the classic engineering plastic used in tool housings and car interiors. It is rigid, takes impacts, holds its shape to about 95–100 °C and sands, glues and paints very well. Choose it for indoor parts that see heat and for anything you plan to finish. See ABS 3D printing.

PETG vs ABS vs ASA at a glance

Heat: ABS and ASA handle about 20 °C more than PETG.
Sun: ASA is excellent, PETG is acceptable, ABS is best indoors or painted.
Toughness: PETG bends before it breaks; ABS and ASA are more rigid.
Finish: ABS and ASA sand and paint well; PETG is used as printed.
Price: PETG and ABS are the lowest; ASA is mid-range.

TPU: flexible and nearly unbreakable

TPU is a rubber-like plastic for gaskets, bumpers, grips, feet and mounts that must survive a crash. We print 95A, which is firm, and 90A, which is softer. Wall thickness and infill change the feel as much as the hardness does. See TPU 3D printing.

Carbon-fiber PETG: stiff on a budget

Adding chopped carbon fiber to PETG makes the part noticeably stiffer and gives it an even matte black finish that hides layer lines. It is the affordable step up for brackets, fixtures and mounts. See carbon-fiber PETG.

Carbon-fiber nylon: the strongest option

PA6-CF and PAHT-CF are nylons reinforced with carbon fiber. They are the stiffest, strongest and most heat-resistant materials we print, holding their shape well above 150 °C. Use them for load-bearing brackets, production jigs and parts near engines and motors. See carbon-fiber nylon.

How to choose in three questions

Will it get hot or sit in the sun? If yes, ASA; near an engine, carbon-fiber nylon.
Does it need to flex? If yes, TPU.
Does it need to be very stiff? If yes, carbon-fiber PETG or nylon. Otherwise, PETG.

The fastest way to compare is to try them: upload your file on the instant quote page and switch materials to see the price of each. The materials page shows every plastic side by side with today's prices and colors.

Frequently asked questions

Is PETG or ABS stronger?

They are close. PETG is tougher and bends before it breaks; ABS is more rigid and handles more heat. For a part that takes knocks, choose PETG. For a part near heat, choose ABS.

What is the best 3D printing material for outdoor use?

ASA. It is UV-stable and weatherproof, and it is used for exterior vehicle parts for that reason.

What is the strongest 3D printing material?

Of the plastics we stock, carbon-fiber nylon. It is the stiffest and strongest, and it keeps its strength at high temperatures.

PETG vs ABS vs ASA vs carbon-fiber nylon: how to choose a 3D printing material