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PLA vs PETG vs ASA: which plastic for your part?
Side by side
| PLA | PETG | ASA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Softens at (about) | 55 °C / 130 °F | 70 °C / 158 °F | 95 °C / 203 °F |
| Outdoors, in the sun | Not recommended | Some sun is fine | Made for it: won't fade or yellow |
| Toughness | Stiff but brittle: can crack if dropped | Tough: bends before it breaks | Good |
| Water | OK for splashes | Excellent | Good |
| Surface and detail | Crispest detail, best finish | Good, slight gloss | Matte, good |
| Cost | Lowest | Low | Moderate |
How to choose
- Indoors, no heat, no knocks (models, prototypes, organizers, display pieces): PLA. Lowest cost and the crispest detail.
- A working part (brackets, mounts, clips, enclosures, anything that gets wet): PETG. Its slight give makes it good for clips and snap-fits.
- Outdoors or warm (garden and car-exterior parts, signs, parts near warm electronics): ASA.
- Checking fit first? Print it in PLA, then order the final part in the tougher plastic: same shape, lower price for the test.
When none of the three is enough
- Must stay stiff under a steady load or stay flat when large: PET-CF (carbon fiber).
- Takes hard hits or real heat: polycarbonate (softens around 110 °C).
- Near engines, hot oil or coolant: PPA-GF.
- Flexible: TPU.
Not sure? Upload your part on the price page, press Help me choose and describe what it does: ply suggests a plastic and a strength.
Common questions
Which is better for outdoor parts, PETG or ASA?
ASA. It's made for years of sun and rain without fading or yellowing, and handles more heat (about 95 °C versus 70 °C). PETG is fine with some sun and costs less.
Can PLA go in a car?
Not usually. PLA softens around 55 °C, and a closed car in summer gets hotter than that. Use ASA, ABS or PETG away from the windshield, or polycarbonate near heat.
Is PETG stronger than PLA?
Tougher, yes: PETG bends before it breaks, while PLA is stiffer but can crack from a knock. For a part under a steady load that must not sag, carbon fiber PET (PET-CF) is stiffer than both.
Which plastic is food safe?
No 3D-printed part should be treated as food safe without a food-grade coating: tiny gaps between printed layers can trap bacteria, whatever the plastic.
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