PLA, PETG, ABS or resin: which 3D printing material should you pick?

Most of what we sell is printed in PLA, but it isn't always the best choice. Here's how the four materials compare for everyday objects, gifts and functional parts.

PLA: the everyday default

PLA is made from plant starch, prints with crisp detail and comes in the widest range of colours, including silk and matte finishes. It's stiff and strong enough for decor, lamps, planters, desk organisers and gifts.

Its weak point is heat: PLA starts to soften around 55–60 °C. Don't leave PLA parts on a car dashboard in summer or put them in a dishwasher.

PETG: tougher, and fine outdoors

PETG is the same family of plastic as water bottles. It flexes a little instead of snapping, shrugs off moisture and UV better than PLA, and handles about 75 °C.

Pick it for outdoor planters, bike and car accessories, clips, hooks and anything that gets knocked around.

ABS: when heat is the problem

ABS (the plastic LEGO bricks are made from) survives roughly 95 °C and can be smoothed to a glossy finish. It's a good fit for parts near engines, electronics enclosures and replacement parts for appliances.

Resin: for fine detail

Resin printers cure liquid layers only 0.05 mm thick, so they capture tiny details like faces, text and jewellery-scale features that filament can't. Resin is more brittle and costs more per gram, so we use it for figurines, miniatures and display pieces.

Quick guide

• Decor, lamps, gifts → PLA
• Outdoors, clips, things that bend → PETG
• Hot places, enclosures → ABS
• Tiny details, figurines → resin

Not sure? Leave the material as “recommend one” on a custom print request and we'll suggest the right one with your quote.