PLA vs PETG: Choosing the Right Material for Your Parts
The Core Difference
PLA (polylactic acid) is the default choice for most print jobs. It is easy to process, dimensionally stable, and produces good surface finish across a wide range of geometries. PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol) trades some surface quality for better toughness, higher temperature resistance, and improved layer adhesion.
Both materials are processed at similar temperatures on FDM equipment, but PETG is more hygroscopic — it absorbs moisture from the air more readily, which degrades print quality if the filament has not been stored and dried properly. On a well-run farm with dried filament, this is not a customer concern, but it is worth knowing if you are printing in-house.
When to Choose PLA
PLA is the right choice for: display models and prototypes that will not be handled roughly; personalised items like keychains, name badges, and decorative pieces; point-of-sale display parts; and any application where the part will stay indoors at normal room temperature.
PLA starts to deform above approximately 60°C. For a part that will sit on a desk in an air-conditioned office, that is not a constraint. For a part that will sit in a parcel in a delivery van on a summer afternoon, it can be.
PLA machines cleanly, holds fine detail well, and is available in a wider colour range than PETG. It is also less expensive per kilogram. For the majority of B2B applications — branded merchandise, educational models, prototype housings — PLA is the correct choice.
When to Choose PETG
PETG is the right choice when the part needs to survive higher temperatures, handle mechanical stress, or be used outdoors for limited periods. A functional bracket, a clip that will flex repeatedly, or a component that will be installed near a heat source all benefit from PETG's higher glass transition temperature (approximately 80°C) and better impact resistance.
PETG also bonds to itself better between layers. Under load, PLA parts tend to fail at layer lines; PETG's inter-layer adhesion is meaningfully stronger, which matters for load-bearing applications.
The trade-off is surface quality. PETG tends to produce a slightly stringier surface than PLA, and fine surface detail is marginally less crisp. For functional parts where appearance is secondary to performance, that is an acceptable trade. For display pieces where surface quality matters, PLA is better.
PETG is not food-safe from us regardless of the material's own properties. FDM printing produces micro-porosity between layers where bacteria can harbour. No FDM print from any material is suitable for direct food contact without post-processing such as food-safe coating.
A Note on ABS and ASA
We offer ABS and ASA for engineering applications where PETG is not sufficient: parts that need to withstand sustained heat above 80°C, outdoor applications requiring UV resistance (ASA specifically), or where acetone smoothing is part of the finishing process. These materials are more demanding to process and carry a higher per-part cost. If you are unsure whether your application needs ABS or ASA, contact us with the use case and we will advise.
Not Sure?
If the application is not clear-cut, get in touch before ordering. A brief description of how the part will be used — temperature exposure, load conditions, indoor versus outdoor — gives us what we need to recommend the right material.