3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

ABS vs PLA HS

Compare printing settings, strength, heat resistance, dated prices and sources.

ABS guideHigh-Speed PLA guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore ABS comparisonsMore PLA HS comparisons
ABS vs PLA HS — documented properties and sources
PropertyABSABSHigh-Speed PLAPLA
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$19.99/kg median; $11.99–$45.00/kg across 16 dated product listings$19.99/kg median; $11.49–$32.99/kg across 10 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryAcrylonitrile butadiene styrene — a styrenic terpolymer with a butadiene rubber phase[1][2]PLA with rheology and crystallisation tuned for high volumetric flow; melt index 15.4 g/10 min vs 7–11 for standard PLA[3][4]
Densityg/cm³1.04 (Polymaker PolyLite ABS and ABS Pro) to 1.06 (ABS Max), ISO 1183; Bambu Lab 1.05[5][1][6][7]1.23 (ISO 1183, at 21.5 °C)[3]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg spools cluster near 20[8][9][10][11][12]Mainstream 1 kg spools cluster near 20[13][14][15]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg12–45 across brands; IEMAI 12, SUNLU 12 at a 3 kg minimum, ELEGOO 15 in a 5 kg pack, Polymaker 19, YXPOLYER 20, Bambu Lab 20, Push Plastic 25, 3DXTech 45[8][9][16][17][10][11][12][18]11–33 across brands; budget house brands 11–18, Prusament 33[19][20][21]
Market availability1–5Ubiquitous, every brand and retailer[8][9][16][17]Stocked by most mainstream brands[22][15][23]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 1, 5 and 10 kg spools[16][17]1.75 mm; 1 kg spools[13][15]
Typical applicationsEnclosures, automotive interior parts and tooling that must hold shape above PLA's 55 °C ceiling[1][24]Large or repetitive prints on printers that can sustain high flow[25][22]
Diameter tolerance± mmNot documented±0.03 (Bambu Lab PLA Basic, rated to 258 mm/s)[26]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C240–270 (Bambu Lab); 245–265 (Polymaker PolyLite)[5][1]210–230 for high-speed work; 190–210 at classic speeds[3][22]
Bed temperature°C80–100 (Bambu Lab); 90–100 (Polymaker)[5][1]30–60 (Polymaker); 35–45 (Bambu Lab)[3][27]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure recommended — Polymaker calls a chamber needed at ambient temperature, Bambu Lab requires an enclosed printer and rules out its P1P and A-series machines[1][28]Open frame is fine[3]
Recommended chamber temperature°C45–60 (Bambu Lab)[5]Not documented
Part cooling fan0–80 % (Bambu Lab); off (Polymaker PolyLite)[5][1]Fan on[3]
Bed surface & adhesion aidClean the plate and apply glue — Bambu Lab lists glue as the way to improve adhesion and prevent warping[28]Not documented
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/s10–16 (PrusaSlicer guidance for ABS/ASA)[29]≈24 at 300 mm/s with a 0.4 mm nozzle and 0.2 mm layer; 30 % more flow than regular PLA at the same temperature[3][22][25][29]
Warping tendency1–5High — enclosure needed for reliable large parts; Bambu Lab attributes surface cracking to cooling stress exceeding interlayer adhesion[28]None[3]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[28]Sticks to anything[30]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Slight[1]Not documented
Overall printing difficulty1–5Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile[28][1]Easy — minor profile tuning; needs a printer that can actually reach the flow rate[22][3]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass fine indefinitely[28]Brass fine indefinitely[31]
Abrasiveness1–5Non-abrasive[28]Non-abrasive[32][31]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Low — no special hot-end required and clogging is not among the listed drawbacks; Prusa lists no drybox and no hardened nozzle[33][31]Very low[31]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Slightly sensitive[33]Moderate — good heatbreak cooling needed; PLA softens below 60 °C[34]
Hotend requirementNo special hot-end required[33]No special hot-end required[30]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Moderate — 0.65 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab); Polymaker measures 0.51 % maximum uptake for ABS Pro[5][6]Moderate — 0.40 % equilibrium at 23 °C / 70 % RH[3]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%0.65 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab); 0.51 maximum (Polymaker ABS Pro)[5][6]0.40 equilibrium at 23 °C / 70 % RH (Polymaker PolySonic)[3]
Drying temperature & time80 °C for 8 h (Bambu Lab); 70 °C for 6 h (Polymaker)[5][1]55 °C for 6 h; 50 °C for 8 h (Bambu Lab)[3][27]
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing, rough surface and weak layers[35]Bubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing, rough surface and weak layers[35]
Effect of moisture on strengthPolymaker rates ABS moderate-sensitivity and publishes no dry-versus-conditioned figures; the loss appears as poor layer adhesion and surface defects rather than a stated strength delta[35]Polymaker rates PLA low-sensitivity — the loss shows as poor layer adhesion and brittle layers rather than a published strength figure[35]
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant; Polymaker rates ABS moderate-sensitivity and advises periodic drying in humid climates[35]Sealed with desiccant below 20 % RH; shelf life at ambient is long[27][30]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa33 ± 3 (Bambu Lab) to 35 (Polymaker ABS Pro and Max) printed XY, ISO 527; 3DXTech quotes 42 at break[5][6][7][36]43.9 at 300 mm/s and 46.0 at 46.7 mm/s (printed XY, ISO 527); 58.6 on My Tech Fun bars for Creality Hyper PLA[3][37]
Young's modulusMPa2200 ± 190 (Bambu Lab) to 2330 (Polymaker ABS Pro) printed XY, ISO 527; 3DXTech quotes 1950[5][6][36]2650 at 300 mm/s, 2878 at classic speed (printed XY, ISO 527)[3]
Elongation at break%6.7 (ABS Max) to 10.5 (Bambu Lab) at break, printed XY, ISO 527[5][6][7]15.1 at 300 mm/s, 21.5 at classic speed (printed XY, ISO 527)[3]
Flexural strengthMPa60 (ABS Pro) to 63 (ABS Max) printed XY, ISO 178; Bambu Lab 62 ± 4; 3DXTech quotes 76[5][6][7][36]71.4 at 300 mm/s, 76.5 at classic speed (printed XY, ISO 178)[3]
Flexural modulusMPa1880 ± 110 (Bambu Lab) to 2500 (ABS Max) printed XY, ISO 178[5][7]2798 at 300 mm/s, 2868 at classic speed (printed XY, ISO 178)[3]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²10.5 (ABS Max) and 14.5 (ABS Pro) printed XY, ISO 179, notched; PolyLite ABS 18.0 ± 0.9 and Bambu Lab 21.5 ± 2.2[1][6][7][5]5.0 at 300 mm/s, 6.1 at classic speed (printed XY, ISO 179, notched)[3]
Other impact dataCharpy unnotched 39.3 ± 3.6 printed XY (Bambu Lab, ISO 179); notched 21.5 ± 2.2[5]Printing at 300 mm/s instead of 46.7 mm/s costs 4.6 % tensile strength and 18 % notched Charpy[3]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa21.9 (ABS Pro) to 29.7 (PolyLite) printed Z, ISO 527; Bambu Lab 28 ± 2[5][1][6]32.4 at 300 mm/s, 37.3 at classic speed (printed Z, ISO 527); 35.3 for Creality Hyper PLA vs 23.0 for average PLA on identical bars[3][37]
Brittleness1–5Tough — absorbs impact, yields before breaking[5][1]Moderate[3]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / RockwellNot documented78.7 Shore D measured on printed bars for Sunlu PLA Meta (My Tech Fun), against 75.3 for the same maker's plain PLA[38]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Moderate — no printed-ABS creep test found; Tg of 101–126 °C keeps room-temperature service far below softening, unlike PLA[1][6][7]Poor — 12 mm bar sagged to 17.7 mm over 6 days at 1.25 kg[37]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Moderate — no printed-ABS S-N curve found; 10.5 % elongation and 21.5 kJ/m² notched Charpy give far more cyclic tolerance than PLA[5][39]Poor — no grade-specific S-N curve; plain printed PLA ran 38 000–49 000 cycles at 30 % of tensile strength (R = 0.2)[39][34]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[5]Rigid[3]
Z strength as % of XY%85 (Bambu Lab, printed Z against XY tensile); 63 for Polymaker ABS Pro[5][6]74 at 300 mm/s, 81 at classic speed (printed)[3]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C87 (Bambu Lab) to 118 (Polymaker ABS Max), ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa; PolyLite ABS 100[5][1][7]53 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa)[3]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C84 (Bambu Lab) to 113 (Polymaker ABS Max), ISO 75 at 1.8 MPa; PolyLite ABS 98[5][1][7]52 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa)[3]
Glass transition (Tg)°C101 (PolyLite) to 126 (ABS Max), DSC; 105 quoted by 3DXTech[1][7][36]59 (DSC)[3]
Melting point / Vicat°CAmorphous — no melting point; Vicat 104 (PolyLite) to 127 (ABS Max), ISO 306[1][7]164 peak melt (DSC); crystallisation 96 °C, Vicat 61 °C[3]
Continuous service temperature°C101 measured on a loaded glass-filled ABS bar (My Tech Fun); unfilled ABS is bounded by its 84–98 °C heat deflection[40][5][1]53 — loaded bars begin to move at this temperature[37]
Annealing responseDecomposition above 380 °C (PolyLite ABS, TGA)[1]Not documented
Thermal expansion (CTE)µm/m·K86 ± 3 at 0° and 89 ± 3 at 90° raster (printed, fibre Bragg grating, 25–50 °C); 82 for a neat large-format bead at 30 °C[41][42]96–99 for plain printed PLA (fibre Bragg grating, 25–50 °C); no grade-specific measurement published[41]
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for standard ABS, though V-0 grades exist[43][5]Flammable; no UL 94 rating published by the major brands[27][4]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Months outdoors before embrittlement[24]Degrades within weeks outdoors[34][44]
Chemical resistanceGood against weak acids, weak alkalis, oils and grease; poor against strong acids; dissolved by acetone[1]Good against weak acids, oils and grease; poor against strong acids and alkalis[3]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Good — minor absorption[5]Good — insoluble in water[27]
Food contactNot food safe — Polymaker cites potential chemical leaching[24]Base resin is food-contact grade, but printed layer grooves harbour bacteria; Prusa advises against food use[34]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[24]Industrially compostable only — needs sustained 55 °C; not home compostable[45][34]
RecyclabilityMechanically recyclable as resin code 9, but not accepted in household plastic collection[24]Mechanically recyclable; not accepted in household plastic collection[45]
Electrical & ESD propertiesSurface resistance above 10¹³ ohm/sq — insulating (3DXTech, ASTM D257)[36]Not documented
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5High — hazardous VOC such as styrene; enclosure and filtration needed[46][28]Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission[46]
VOC emission rateµg/min12–113 styrene, the dominant VOC from every ABS and HIPS combination tested[46]Not documented
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/min2 × 10¹⁰ to 9 × 10¹⁰ median across all ABS printers, two orders of magnitude above PLA's ≈1 × 10⁸[46]Not documented
Hazardous species emittedStyrene dominates. Bambu Lab states ABS and ASA release harmful gases such as styrene at printing temperature, which can be toxic and cause dizziness or nausea[46][28]Not documented
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Enclosure with carbon and HEPA filtration — an enclosure alone cut measured UFP by only about 35 %[46][28]None needed in a normal room[46]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands well and takes filler; the usual preparation before painting[24]Wet sanding — dry sanding heats the surface by friction and smears it[44][34]
Gluing & solvent weldingSolvent-welds with acetone[1]Cyanoacrylate for most joints; some grades partially dissolve and bond with acetone[34][47]
Vapour / chemical smoothingAcetone vapour smoothing works — ABS dissolves in acetone[1]No practical vapour smoothing — only chloroform, hot benzene or THF, which are laboratory-only[34]
Support material pairingHIPS breaks away or dissolves in d-limonene; Bambu Lab sells a dedicated Support for ABS[48][28]PolySupport and PolyDissolve S1 (Polymaker)[3]
Dimensional accuracy & detailWarping and cooling-stress cracking are the accuracy limits, not shrinkage of the melt[28]Not documented
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inAcetone dissolves it — the basis of ABS slurry; so do MEK, THF, ethyl acetate, chloroform, dichloromethane and toluene.[49][1]Chloroform: 10 % w/v in 2–4 h at 23 °C, every grade and morphology; THF and DMF only at 65 °C. Laboratory reagents.[50]
Softened or crazed byPetrol and perchloroethylene soften it and benzene attacks it; d-limonene disrupts layer adhesion in some ABS and ASA grades.[49][51]Acetone, ethyl acetate and toluene plasticise it but dissolve <1 % even at 65 °C; submersion in acetone crazes and destroys parts.[50][52]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentAcetone: about 20 min of vapour at 80 °C over 5 mm of liquid. Prusa measured layer adhesion more than doubled.[52]Chloroform vapour smooths and welds PLA at the cost of tensile strength; acetone does not smooth it at all.[53][52]

Material entries describe families or representative grades, not an interchangeable specification for every spool. Test methods, orientations and conditions may differ. Unknown values are marked “Not documented”. Prices and source dates remain historical snapshots; check the linked guide for product details. Differences highlight text, not a universal winner.

Sources for this comparison

  1. PolyLite ABS Technical Data Sheet (V5.5 served at this URL) Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  2. Safety Data Sheet SDS20250724B00 — Bambu ABS Bambu Lab · 2025-07 · msds
  3. PolySonic PLA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  4. PolyLite PLA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  5. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — ABS Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  6. Polymaker ABS Pro Technical Data Sheet V1 (2026-05-29) Polymaker · 2026-05 · tds
  7. Polymaker ABS Max Technical Data Sheet V1.1 (2026-06-01) Polymaker · 2026-06 · tds
  8. ABS — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. Push Plastic product catalogue Push Plastic · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. SUNLU ABS 3D Printer Filament 1 kg SUNLU · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. IEMAI ABS 3D Printing Filament product page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. PolySonic PLA 1.75mm/1kg — product page Polymaker Shop · 2026-08 · vendor
  14. Overture High Speed PLA 1.75mm Overture3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  15. High Speed PLA filament collection Anycubic Official Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  16. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  17. ELEGOO product catalogue ELEGOO · 2026-08 · vendor
  18. YXPOLYER ABS Squirrel Grey product page YXPOLYER · 2026-08 · vendor
  19. PLA Meta filament collection Sunlu Official Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  20. QIDI PLA Rapido 1.75mm 1kg 3D Printers Depot · 2026-08 · vendor
  21. Prusament PLA Prusa Pro Green 1kg (NFC) Prusa Research · 2026-08 · vendor
  22. PolySonic PLA — product page Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  23. Creality PLA filament collection Creality Official Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  24. ABS — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  25. Polymaker Launches New High-Speed 3D Printing Filament — PolySonic PLA & PLA Pro Polymaker · 2023-11 · doc
  26. PLA Basic — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  27. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — PLA Basic Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  28. ABS / ASA / PC Usage Guide Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  29. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  30. PLA — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  31. Filament Material Guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  32. Prusament PLA — material page Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · doc
  33. ABS — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  34. PLA — material guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  35. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  36. 3DXMAX ABS Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  37. Creality Hyper PLA filament review — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  38. Carbon Fiber PLA vs META-PLA vs PLA+ vs PLA by Sunlu — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  39. Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Materials — PLA and PETG — For Biomechanical Applications Polymers 16(13):1868 · 2024-06 · paper
  40. ABS-GF vs PET-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  41. Characterization of Thermal Expansion Coefficient of 3D Printing Polymeric Materials Using Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors Materials 17(18):4668 · 2024-09 · paper
  42. Effects of Fiber Orientation on the Coefficient of Thermal Expansion of Fiber-Filled Polymer Systems in Large Format Polymer Extrusion-Based Additive Manufacturing Materials 15(8):2764 · 2022-04 · paper
  43. Firewire Flame Retardant ABS Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  44. Prusament PLA Technical Data Sheet v1.0 Prusa Polymers · 2018-09 · tds
  45. Filamentive PLA (recycled) — product page Filamentive · 2026-08 · vendor
  46. Emissions of Ultrafine Particles and Volatile Organic Compounds from Commercially Available Desktop Three-Dimensional Printers with Multiple Filaments (Azimi et al.) Environmental Science & Technology 50(3) 1260-1268 · 2016-01 · paper
  47. Prusament rPLA Corn Pigment 1kg — product page Prusa Research · 2026-08 · vendor
  48. HIPS — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  49. Chemical resistance — resistance of Ensinger plastics to chemicals (DIN 50 014, 23/50) Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  50. Solubility Study of Ingeo Biopolymer Grades in Common Organic Solvents (NWPD003) NatureWorks · 2019-10 · tds
  51. HIPS — Knowledge Base Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  52. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  53. Effect of vapour smoothing in trichloromethane on 3D printed PLA — surface, mechanical and chemical structure Pitale, Keche & Chopra, Engineering Research Express 6(4) 045579 · 2024-12 · paper