ABS vs PETG: which is better and how they differ
Choose a printer
What to choose
Pick ABS if:
- Strong functional parts, heat-resistant enclosures, items finished with acetone smoothing.
Pick PETG if:
- a plain bed is enough — it only needs 70 °C
- you have no enclosure (unlike ABS)
Parameters
Printing
Nozzle temperature
230–250 °C
230–250 °C
Bed temperature
90–110 °C
70–90 °C
Drying before printing
No
No
Requirements
Enclosure
Recommended
No
Hardened nozzle
No
No
All-metal hotend
Required
No
Properties
Density
1.04 g/cm³
1.27 g/cm³
Applications
Typical uses
Strong functional parts, heat-resistant enclosures, items finished with acetone smoothing.
Functional parts, water- and chemical-resistant items, transparent models. The sweet spot between PLA and ABS.
Pick a type