PLA
PLA vs PETG: which should I use for functional parts?
By SSS
Published . Updated .
- Nozzle190–230 °C(374–446 °F)
- Bed25–60 °C(77–140 °F)
- Speed40–60 mm/s
- Dry55 °C · 6 h(131 °F)
- Density1.17 g/cm³
Heat resistance: HDT 60 °C (140 °F) (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa) · Vicat 63 °C (145 °F) (ISO 306) · Tg 61 °C (142 °F) · source →
Heat resistance: HDT 58 °C (136 °F) (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa) · Vicat 63 °C (145 °F) (ISO 306) · Tg 61 °C (142 °F) · source →
Bed, Speed, Drying, Density. Source: Polymaker product page · Last checked 14 October 2026
Ranked filaments
| Rank | Filament | Material | Nozzle | Bed | Datasheet | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Polymaker · Polylite PLA | PLA | 190–230 °C374–446 °F | 25–60 °C77–140 °F | Datasheet | |
PolyLite PLA, US product page checked 14 October 2026. Nozzle 190–230 °C (374–446 °F), bed 25–60 °C (77–140 °F), drying at 55 °C (131 °F) for 6 h. The decorative-PLA comments do not add a new setpoint. | ||||||
| 2 | PrimaCreator · Primaselect PLA | PLA | 190–220 °C374–428 °F | 30–60 °C86–140 °F | — | |
PrimaSelect PLA product page checked 20 October 2026. Nozzle 190–220 °C (374–428 °F) and bed 30–60 °C (86–140 °F). The heat-resistance dataset records HDT 57 °C (135 °F), ISO 75, and the page does not state the load. | ||||||
| 3 | Bambu Lab · PETG HF | PETG | 230–260 °C446–500 °F | 65–75 °C149–167 °F | Datasheet | |
Bambu PETG HF technical data sheet, checked 15 October 2026. Nozzle 230–260 °C (446–500 °F), bed 65–75 °C (149–167 °F), drying at 65 °C (149 °F) for 8 h. This is the functional PETG row, not a figurine profile. | ||||||
| 4 | PrimaCreator · Primaselect PETG | PETG | 225–245 °C437–473 °F | 70–80 °C158–176 °F | — | |
PrimaSelect PETG product page checked 20 October 2026. Nozzle 225–245 °C (437–473 °F) and bed 70–80 °C (158–176 °F). HDT on the heat-resistance dataset is 69 °C (156 °F), ISO 75, load not stated. | ||||||
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Functional parts go to PETG in the comment that actually makes the split. Decorative parts stay on PLA. Temperatures are the spool you loaded, not a single PLA-versus-PETG setpoint. Heat, outdoor sun, and a part that creeps are heat, outdoor PLA, and PLA creep. The print process stays on good PLA prints and good PETG prints.
What the comments say
a Reddit thread in r/BambuLab: "I think PLA tends to have a much nicer finish so it better for figurines. PETG tends to be shinier even in matte. I reach for PETG for functional prints and PLA for decorative prints."
a Reddit thread in r/BambuLab: "PLA is easier to print, but if you have PETG, try that before buying PLA".
Rows
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. PrimaSelect PLA lists 190–220 °C (374–428 °F) and 30–60 °C (86–140 °F). Its HDT in the heat-resistance dataset is 57 °C (135 °F), ISO 75, load not stated. PETG HF lists 230–260 °C (446–500 °F), 65–75 °C (149–167 °F), and drying at 65 °C (149 °F) for 8 h. PrimaSelect PETG lists 225–245 °C (437–473 °F) and 70–80 °C (158–176 °F), and HDT 69 °C (156 °F), ISO 75, load not stated. Do not treat 57 °C (135 °F) and 69 °C (156 °F) as a ranking. The load is missing on both. PLA and PETG are the material hubs. Polymaker, PrimaCreator, and Bambu Lab are the brand indexes.
Pros and cons
Pros
- The functional-versus-decorative split is quoted from a score-45 comment, not from a title.
- Nozzle, bed, and the two HDT figures come from checked product pages or a technical data sheet.
Cons
- Color range is a comment about how many PLA finishes exist. It is not a strength test.
Printer considerations
- A functional part that also sees heat or sun is the PETG case in the comments, and the heat and outdoor pages if the part goes further than room temperature.
- PrimaSelect PLA and PrimaSelect PETG both publish an ISO 75 HDT with no load. Do not rank 57 °C (135 °F) against 69 °C (156 °F) as if the load matched.
- Match the row to the printer maximums. PETG HF's nozzle starts at 230 °C (446 °F). PrimaSelect PLA stops at 220 °C (428 °F).
Sources & notes
Published . Updated .
- Polymaker US PolyLite PLA product page manufacturer
- PrimaSelect PLA product page manufacturer
- PrimaSelect PETG product page manufacturer
- Bambu Lab PETG HF technical data sheet datasheet
- a Reddit thread in r/prusa3d reddit
- a Reddit thread in r/BambuLab reddit
- a Reddit thread in r/3Dprinting reddit
- a Reddit thread in r/BambuLab reddit
- a Reddit thread in r/BambuLab reddit
Related questions
- How do I get good PLA prints?PLA
- How do I get good PETG prints?PETG
- Can PLA be used outdoors?Outdoor
- What is the best filament for outdoor use?Outdoor
- Does PLA creep or deform under a sustained load?Heat resistance
- What filament should I use for heat?Heat resistance
Related data
- Cheapest filament per kg
- Cheapest PLA per kg
- Will my dryer cover this filament?
- Drying dataset
- How long to dry PETG
- PLA drying temperature and time
- PETG drying temperature and time
Questions
Do the comments say PETG is always stronger?
No. The score-45 comment reaches for PETG for functional prints and PLA for decorative prints. The score-17 comment keeps PLA when the part has no load-over-time, temperature, or UV requirement.
Can I compare the 57 °C (135 °F) and 69 °C (156 °F) HDT numbers?
Both are ISO 75 figures from PrimaCreator pages, and neither page states the load. The heat-resistance dataset says HDT values are only comparable at the same load and standard. Leave the comparison at that.