3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

ABS vs PLA

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

ABS guidePLA (standard) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore ABS comparisonsMore PLA comparisons
ABS vs PLA — documented properties and sources
PropertyABSABSPLA (standard)PLA
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$19.99/kg median; $11.99–$45.00/kg across 16 dated product listings$19.74/kg median; $9.99–$32.99/kg across 24 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryAcrylonitrile butadiene styrene — a styrenic terpolymer with a butadiene rubber phase[1][2]Poly(lactic acid), a thermoplastic aliphatic polyester from fermented plant starch[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]1.17–1.24 (ISO 1183)[3][8][4]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg spools cluster near 20[9][10][11][12][13]Mainstream 1 kg spools cluster near 20[14][15][16]
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[9][10][17][18][11][12][13][19]10–33 across brands; budget house brands 10–14, premium European 26–33[20][21][22][23]
Market availability1–5Ubiquitous, every brand and retailer[9][10][17][18]Ubiquitous, every brand and retailer[24][25]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 1, 5 and 10 kg spools[17][18]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.75, 0.85, 1 and 1.1 kg spools plus spool-less refills[14][26][27][22][28]
Typical applicationsEnclosures, automotive interior parts and tooling that must hold shape above PLA's 55 °C ceiling[1][29]Concept models, functional prototypes, low-wear toys, jigs used at room temperature[30]
Diameter tolerance± mmNot documented±0.02 (Prusament) to ±0.03 (Bambu Lab, Prusa Research standard)[3][14][31]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C240–270 (Bambu Lab); 245–265 (Polymaker PolyLite)[5][1]190–230; Prusament specifies 210 ± 10[3][8][4]
Bed temperature°C80–100 (Bambu Lab); 90–100 (Polymaker)[5][1]25–60; Prusament 40–60, Bambu Lab 35–45[3][8][4]
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][32]Open frame is fine[8][24]
Recommended chamber temperature°C45–60 (Bambu Lab)[5]Not documented
Part cooling fan0–80 % (Bambu Lab); off (Polymaker PolyLite)[5][1]100 % from the second layer; reduce on the first one or two layers for bed adhesion[3][25]
Bed surface & adhesion aidClean the plate and apply glue — Bambu Lab lists glue as the way to improve adhesion and prevent warping[32]Smooth or textured PEI, glass or painter's tape; glue stick only where release is a problem[8][33][25]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/s10–16 (PrusaSlicer guidance for ABS/ASA)[34]12–20 (PrusaSlicer max volumetric speed guidance for PLA)[34]
Warping tendency1–5High — enclosure needed for reliable large parts; Bambu Lab attributes surface cracking to cooling stress exceeding interlayer adhesion[32]None[35][24]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[32]Sticks to anything — glue only needed on smooth PEI[8][4][25]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Slight[1]Slight — 1–3 mm retraction handles it; oozing rises with nozzle temperature[8][25][36]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile[32][1]Beginner — prints on any machine out of the box[24][25]
Extruder requirementNot documentedAny extruder; Bowden and direct drive both fine, no hardware upgrades[24]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass fine indefinitely[32]Brass fine indefinitely[24]
Abrasiveness1–5Non-abrasive[32]Non-abrasive[35][24]
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[37][24]Very low[24][25]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Slightly sensitive[37]Moderate — good heatbreak cooling needed; softens below 60 °C so it deforms in a warm cold zone[33][38]
Hotend requirementNo special hot-end required[37]Any standard hotend; PTFE-lined is fine at PLA temperatures[24]
Other hardware wearNot documentedNone — brass nozzles and standard drive gears are unaffected[35][24]
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 — 0.40–0.51 % saturated at 23–25 °C and 55–70 % RH[4][8][39]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%0.65 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab); 0.51 maximum (Polymaker ABS Pro)[5][6]0.43 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab); 0.51 equilibrium (Polymaker)[4][8]
Drying temperature & time80 °C for 8 h (Bambu Lab); 70 °C for 6 h (Polymaker)[5][1]50–55 °C for 6–8 h in a forced-air dryer; 45 °C for 12 h in the Bambu Lab AMS HT[8][4][38]
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing, rough surface and weak layers[40]Bubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing, rough surface and weak layers[40]
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[40]Polymaker rates PLA low-sensitivity — it absorbs moisture slowly and the loss shows as poor layer adhesion and brittle layers rather than a published strength figure[40]
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant; Polymaker rates ABS moderate-sensitivity and advises periodic drying in humid climates[40]Sealed with desiccant below 20 % RH; shelf life at ambient is long[4][25]
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][41]35–52 (printed XY, ISO 527); 55 mean across 16 brands and 53 for the reference PLA in a later run, both on 4×4 mm printed bars[3][8][4][42][43]
Young's modulusMPa2200 ± 190 (Bambu Lab) to 2330 (Polymaker ABS Pro) printed XY, ISO 527; 3DXTech quotes 1950[5][6][41]2300–3427 (printed XY, ISO 527)[3][8][4]
Elongation at break%6.7 (ABS Max) to 10.5 (Bambu Lab) at break, printed XY, ISO 527[5][6][7]6.3–12.2 (printed XY, ISO 527); Prusament quotes 2.9 at yield[8][4][3]
Flexural strengthMPa60 (ABS Pro) to 63 (ABS Max) printed XY, ISO 178; Bambu Lab 62 ± 4; 3DXTech quotes 76[5][6][7][41]76–87 (printed XY, ISO 178); Fiberlogy quotes 81 by ASTM D790[3][8][4][44]
Flexural modulusMPa1880 ± 110 (Bambu Lab) to 2500 (ABS Max) printed XY, ISO 178[5][7]2750–3230 (printed XY, ISO 178); Fiberlogy quotes 3800 by ASTM D790[3][8][4][44]
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]3.3–7.9 (printed XY, ISO 179, notched)[8][4]
Other impact dataCharpy unnotched 39.3 ± 3.6 printed XY (Bambu Lab, ISO 179); notched 21.5 ± 2.2[5]Charpy unnotched, printed: 13–14 (Prusament, ISO 179-1), 26.6 (Bambu Lab PLA Basic)[3][4]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa21.9 (ABS Pro) to 29.7 (PolyLite) printed Z, ISO 527; Bambu Lab 28 ± 2[5][1][6]17–31 (Prusa interlayer test and printed Z tensile); 23 mean on My Tech Fun 4×4 mm bars[3][4][43]
Brittleness1–5Tough — absorbs impact, yields before breaking[5][1]Brittle — snaps with little warning[33][35]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / RockwellNot documented81 Shore D (Prusa Polymers in-house method); 75.3 Shore D measured on printed bars (My Tech Fun, Sunlu PLA)[3][45]
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 — deforms under load at room temperature; 12 mm bar sagged to 20.3 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg[46][47]
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][48]Poor — 38 000–49 000 cycles at 30 % of tensile strength, against 79 000–193 000 for PETG (printed, R = 0.2, 7 Hz)[48][33]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[5]Rigid[35]
Z strength as % of XY%85 (Bambu Lab, printed Z against XY tensile); 63 for Polymaker ABS Pro[5][6]77–89 on TDS specimens; ≈44 on My Tech Fun 4×4 mm bars[8][4][43]
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]55–60 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa)[3][8][4]
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]54–58 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa)[3][8][4]
Glass transition (Tg)°C101 (PolyLite) to 126 (ABS Max), DSC; 105 quoted by 3DXTech[1][7][41]55–61 (DSC)[3][8][4]
Melting point / Vicat°CAmorphous — no melting point; Vicat 104 (PolyLite) to 127 (ABS Max), ISO 306[1][7]145–160 peak melt (Prusament, ISO 11357); 150 and 160 by DSC (PolyLite, Bambu Lab); Vicat 57–63 (ISO 306)[30][8][4]
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[49][5][1]50–55 — loaded bars begin to move at this temperature[35][43]
Annealing responseDecomposition above 380 °C (PolyLite ABS, TGA)[1]Bambu Lab conditions specimens at 55 °C for 8 h; annealing at 50–60 °C for 6–12 h raises crystallinity but can warp parts[4][50]
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[51][52]96 ± 5 at 0° and 99 ± 5 at 90° raster (printed PLA, fibre Bragg grating, 25–50 °C)[51]
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for standard ABS, though V-0 grades exist[53][5]Flammable; no UL 94 rating published by the major brands[4][8]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Months outdoors before embrittlement[29]Degrades within weeks outdoors[33][30]
Outdoor durabilityNot documentedNot suitable for long-term outdoor use — UV embrittlement plus softening above 55 °C in direct sun[30][33]
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; dissolved by chloroform, THF and hot benzene[8][33]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Good — minor absorption[5]Good — insoluble in water, absorbs 0.4–0.5 % at equilibrium[4][54]
Food contactNot food safe — Polymaker cites potential chemical leaching[29]Base resin is food-contact grade and EN 71-3 certified by some brands, but printed layer grooves harbour bacteria; Prusa advises against food use[33][54]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[29]Industrially compostable only — needs sustained 55 °C and specific microbial conditions; not home compostable[54][33][4]
RecyclabilityMechanically recyclable as resin code 9, but not accepted in household plastic collection[29]Mechanically recyclable; not accepted in household plastic collection, so brand take-back schemes are the practical route[54]
Electrical & ESD propertiesSurface resistance above 10¹³ ohm/sq — insulating (3DXTech, ASTM D257)[41]Not documented
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5High — hazardous VOC such as styrene; enclosure and filtration needed[55][32]Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission[55]
VOC emission rateµg/min12–113 styrene, the dominant VOC from every ABS and HIPS combination tested[55]4–5 lactide, the dominant VOC (chamber study, three printers)[55]
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/min2 × 10¹⁰ to 9 × 10¹⁰ median across all ABS printers, two orders of magnitude above PLA's ≈1 × 10⁸[55]≈1 × 10⁸ median across three printers; only laywood ≈8 × 10⁷ and laybrick ≈6 × 10⁷ were lower[55]
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[55][32]Lactide (3,6-dimethyl-1,4-dioxane-2,5-dione) dominates; no styrene or caprolactam as a leading species[55]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Enclosure with carbon and HEPA filtration — an enclosure alone cut measured UFP by only about 35 %[55][32]None needed in a normal room[55]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands well and takes filler; the usual preparation before painting[29]Wet sanding — dry sanding heats the surface by friction and smears it[30][33]
Gluing & solvent weldingSolvent-welds with acetone[1]Cyanoacrylate for most joints; some grades partially dissolve and bond with acetone, depending on additives and colour[33][31]
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[33]
Support material pairingHIPS breaks away or dissolves in d-limonene; Bambu Lab sells a dedicated Support for ABS[56][32]PolySupport and PolyDissolve S1 (Polymaker); Support for PLA (Bambu Lab)[8][4]
Dimensional accuracy & detailWarping and cooling-stress cracking are the accuracy limits, not shrinkage of the melt[32]Good — low shrinkage and features under 0.2 mm resolve; 55° overhangs and 30 mm bridges[35][4][25]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inAcetone dissolves it — the basis of ABS slurry; so do MEK, THF, ethyl acetate, chloroform, dichloromethane and toluene.[57][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.[58]
Softened or crazed byPetrol and perchloroethylene soften it and benzene attacks it; d-limonene disrupts layer adhesion in some ABS and ASA grades.[57][59]Acetone, ethyl acetate and toluene plasticise it but dissolve <1 % even at 65 °C; submersion in acetone crazes and destroys parts.[58][60]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentAcetone: about 20 min of vapour at 80 °C over 5 mm of liquid. Prusa measured layer adhesion more than doubled.[60]Chloroform vapour smooths and welds PLA at the cost of tensile strength; acetone does not smooth it at all.[61][60]

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. Prusament PLA Technical Datasheet v1.1 Prusa Polymers · 2022-02 · tds
  4. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — PLA Basic Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · 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. PolyLite PLA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  9. ABS — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. Push Plastic product catalogue Push Plastic · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. SUNLU ABS 3D Printer Filament 1 kg SUNLU · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. IEMAI ABS 3D Printing Filament product page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  14. PLA Basic — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  15. MH Build Series PLA Filament White 1.75mm 1kg MatterHackers · 2026-08 · vendor
  16. 3DJAKE ecoPLA Black 1.75mm 1000g 3DJake International · 2026-08 · vendor
  17. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  18. ELEGOO product catalogue ELEGOO · 2026-08 · vendor
  19. YXPOLYER ABS Squirrel Grey product page YXPOLYER · 2026-08 · vendor
  20. JAYO PLA Classic 1.1KG 1.75mm JAYO Official Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  21. ELEGOO PLA Filament 1.75mm Colored 1KG Elegoo US Official Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  22. Fillamentum PLA Extrafill Natural 1kg Fillamentum USA · 2026-08 · vendor
  23. Prusament PLA Jet Black 1kg (NFC) Prusa Research · 2026-08 · vendor
  24. Filament Material Guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  25. PLA — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  26. Fiberlogy rPLA Refill Anthracite 850 g 3DJake International · 2026-08 · vendor
  27. JAYO Silk PLA+ 1.75mm 1.1kg JAYO Official Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  28. ColorFabb PLA/PHA 750g 3D Universe · 2026-08 · vendor
  29. ABS — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  30. Prusament PLA Technical Data Sheet v1.0 Prusa Polymers · 2018-09 · tds
  31. Prusament rPLA Corn Pigment 1kg — product page Prusa Research · 2026-08 · vendor
  32. ABS / ASA / PC Usage Guide Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  33. PLA — material guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  34. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  35. Prusament PLA — material page Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · doc
  36. PLA — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  37. ABS — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  38. Filament Drying Recommendations Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  39. PolySonic PLA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  40. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  41. 3DXMAX ABS Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  42. 16 PLA brand comparison test — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2022-10 · test
  43. Creality Hyper PLA filament review — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  44. Easy PLA — product and technical data Fiberlogy · 2026-08 · tds
  45. Carbon Fiber PLA vs META-PLA vs PLA+ vs PLA by Sunlu — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  46. BambuLab PLA Basic vs PLA Tough vs PLA-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  47. PolyTerra PLA vs PLA+ — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  48. Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Materials — PLA and PETG — For Biomechanical Applications Polymers 16(13):1868 · 2024-06 · paper
  49. ABS-GF vs PET-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  50. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — PLA Matte Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  51. Characterization of Thermal Expansion Coefficient of 3D Printing Polymeric Materials Using Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors Materials 17(18):4668 · 2024-09 · paper
  52. 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
  53. Firewire Flame Retardant ABS Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  54. Filamentive PLA (recycled) — product page Filamentive · 2026-08 · vendor
  55. 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
  56. HIPS — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  57. Chemical resistance — resistance of Ensinger plastics to chemicals (DIN 50 014, 23/50) Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  58. Solubility Study of Ingeo Biopolymer Grades in Common Organic Solvents (NWPD003) NatureWorks · 2019-10 · tds
  59. HIPS — Knowledge Base Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  60. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  61. 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