PLA vs ABS: which should I use?

Use PLA when the part stays under PolyLite PLA's heat-deflection temperatures. Step to ABS when the part has to stay stiff at the higher PolyLite ABS temperatures, and accept the hotter nozzle and bed. PLA versus PETG, PETG versus ABS and ASA, ABS printing, and heat are the neighboring pages. MPa is the pressure of the load on the test bar. The heavier load, 1.8 MPa, is where both plastics deflect at the lower temperature.

Same brand, both loads

PolyLite PLA lists 190–230 °C (374–446 °F), a bed of 25–60 °C (77–140 °F), and drying at 55 °C (131 °F) for 6 h. The heat dataset, checked 21 October 2026, lists heat-deflection temperature 60 °C (140 °F) at 0.45 MPa and 58 °C (136 °F) at 1.8 MPa, ISO 75. Vicat softening is 63 °C (145 °F), ISO 306, and the Vicat load cell is blank. Glass transition is 61 °C (142 °F). PolyLite ABS lists 230–260 °C (446–500 °F), a bed of 90–110 °C (194–230 °F), and drying at 70 °C (158 °F) for 6 h. Heat-deflection temperature is 100 °C (212 °F) at 0.45 MPa and 98 °C (208 °F) at 1.8 MPa. Vicat is 104 °C (219 °F) with the load blank. Glass transition is 101 °C (214 °F).

Tensile strength, impact, and UV hours are not fields on these heat-dataset rows. A higher heat-deflection temperature is the comparison these sheets support. Prusament PLA lists 205–225 °C (401–437 °F) and a bed of 40–60 °C (104–140 °F). The heat dataset has no row for it, so it is not given a heat-deflection number here. The order is PLA, then ABS, then a second PLA print setting. It is not a strength ranking.

What the community says

a Reddit thread in r/BambuLab uses PLA, names ABS for something that might see sunlight, calls ABS nasty, and stays with PLA and PETG.

a Reddit thread in r/BambuLab: prefers PETG-CF.

a Reddit thread in r/3Dprinting says PLA softens around 60–65 °C (140–149 °F) and ABS around 105 °C (221 °F).

Questions