PLA, PETG or TPU – which should your print be made in?
How the plastics we print compare, and which one we'd pick for your part.
Last updated 13 Oct 2026
The short answer
Use PLA for indoor items that stay cool, PETG for parts that need to be tough or cope with warmth, damp or the outdoors, and TPU for anything that has to flex. For parts in strong sun all day, such as a car dashboard, ask for ASA. If you're not sure, tell us what the part does and we'll choose.
PLA vs PETG vs TPU vs ASA at a glance
| Material | Heat | Sun and outdoors | Flexibility | Strength | Typical uses | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLA | Softens at about 50 °C. Not for cars or hot windowsills | Fine indoors. Fades and gets brittle after months in sun | Stiff | Strong, but snaps rather than bends | Gifts, signs, models, organisers, indoor parts | Lowest: 10p a gram |
| PETG | Copes with about 70 °C | Good outside. Colours may fade a little over time | Bends a little | Tough: bends before it breaks | Clips, brackets, car interior parts, outdoor and damp places, pet tags | 12p a gram |
| TPU | Copes with everyday warmth. Softens further as it heats | Fair | Rubbery and flexible | Very hard to tear or crack | Bumpers, feet, grips, seals, straps | 16p a gram. Prints slowly |
| ASA (on request) | Copes with about 95 °C | Best: made for strong sun and weather | Stiff | Strong and tough | Dashboard and rear shelf parts, outdoor fittings | 15p a gram |
Temperatures are rough guides for printed parts, not lab figures. The prices per gram are what our instant estimate uses; a job also includes printer time and a set fee per job.
Which should you choose?
PLA: indoor things that stay cool
We recommend PLA for gifts, signs, models, desk items and organisers that live indoors. It has the widest range of colours and finishes and prints crisp detail. Keep it away from heat: a car in summer or a sunny windowsill can soften it.
PETG: tough, practical parts
We recommend PETG for parts that get handled, knocked or wet: clips, brackets, hooks, appliance parts and car interior parts out of direct sun. It bends a little before it breaks, which makes it more forgiving than PLA, and it copes with more heat. It's our usual choice for replacement parts.
TPU: anything that has to flex
We recommend TPU for parts that need to squash, grip or bend back: rubber-like feet and buffers, bumpers, grips, gaskets and straps. It's slower to print, so it costs a little more.
ASA: strong sun and heat (on request)
We recommend ASA for parts in strong sun all day: the top of a car dashboard, the rear shelf, or fittings outdoors. It copes with more heat than PETG and resists fading. Ask for it in your request.
Is PETG OK in a hot car?
For most of the inside of a car, yes. PETG copes with about 70 °C, which suits door pockets, the centre console, the glovebox and the boot. The top of the dashboard and the rear shelf can get hotter than that in full sun, so for those we print in ASA. We don't use PLA in cars. More in our guide to car interior parts.
Which is strongest?
It depends what "strong" means for your part. PLA is stiff but brittle, so it snaps under a sharp knock. PETG and ASA are tougher and bend before they break. TPU is the hardest to break but it's flexible, so it won't hold a shape under load. For most practical parts, PETG is the best balance.
Questions
What's the difference between PLA and PETG?
PLA is stiffer, cheaper and comes in more colours, but softens at about 50 °C and is more brittle. PETG is tougher, bends a little before breaking, copes with about 70 °C and does better outdoors. We use PLA for indoor items and PETG for practical parts.
Which 3D printing material is best for outdoor use?
PETG is good outdoors for most things. For parts in strong sun all day, ASA lasts longer without fading or going brittle. PLA isn't a good choice outside.
Which material is flexible?
TPU. It's rubber-like, so it suits feet, bumpers, grips and seals.
Do you print ABS, nylon or resin?
Not at the moment. We print PLA, PETG and TPU, with ASA on request. ASA does most of the jobs people would use ABS for.
Can I choose the material in the estimate?
Yes. The instant estimate lets you pick PLA, PETG or TPU and shows how the price changes.
3D printing services
- Custom 3D printing serviceSend a photo, a sketch or a file. Free quote within 24 hours.
- Print your file – instant estimateUpload an STL, 3MF or OBJ and see a price range straight away.
- Replacement parts from a photoKnobs, clips, covers and brackets, made from a photo of the broken one.
- STL, 3MF and OBJ printingWe print your file in PLA, PETG or TPU, up to 34 × 32 cm.
- Car interior partsClips, trims, holders and cup holder adapters. Interior, non-safety parts only.
- Business & batchesPrototypes, parts and batches, with volume discounts and invoices.
- 3D printing in ColchesterOur studio, collection by arrangement, and printing for local businesses.
- 3D printing in EssexPosted to every Essex town, or collect in Colchester.
Care and safety notes for the items in our shop are on the safety page.