PLA vs PETG: which one for this part
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Use PLA unless the part will sit in a hot car, live outdoors, or need to flex without snapping. PLA prints better, measures more accurately and looks nicer. PETG survives conditions that turn PLA into a puddle.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Nozzle temperature | PLA 200-220 degC, PETG 230-250 degC |
| Bed temperature | PLA 55-60 degC, PETG 75-85 degC |
| Heat resistance | PLA about 55 degC, PETG about 75 degC |
| Impact resistance | PLA brittle, PETG tough |
| UV and outdoor | PLA poor, PETG moderate |
| Printability | PLA easy, PETG moderate |
| Stringing | PLA low, PETG high |
| Dimensional accuracy | PLA excellent, PETG good |
| Needs drying | PLA occasionally, PETG usually |
Where to buy
Official CREALITY PETG Filament, 3D Printer Filament 1.75mm 1KG Black
Where PLA loses
PLA softens around 55 degC. A car interior on a summer day exceeds that easily, which is why phone mounts printed in PLA sag. It also has poor impact resistance — it does not bend, it snaps — and it degrades in sunlight over months.
Where PETG loses
PETG strings more, bonds so hard to smooth PEI that it can pull chunks out of the sheet, and needs more support gap because it welds to itself. Overhangs come out rougher because you cannot cool it as aggressively.
Choosing by the part
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Display model or figurine | PLA |
| Prototype for fit checking | PLA |
| Bracket in a car | PETG |
| Outdoor fixture | PETG or ASA |
| Part that clips or flexes | PETG |
| Part needing tight tolerances | PLA |
| Anything near a heat source | neither, use ABS or ASA |
PLA+ is not a different material
PLA+ is PLA with impact modifiers. It is tougher than plain PLA and slightly less brittle, but the heat resistance is essentially unchanged. It does not solve the hot car problem.
LayerWalker
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