3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PETG vs rPETG

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

PETG guideRecycled PETG (rPETG) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PETG comparisonsMore rPETG comparisons
PETG vs rPETG — documented properties and sources
PropertyPETGPETGRecycled PETG (rPETG)PETG
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$19.99/kg median; $8.99–$69.99/kg across 21 dated product listings$28.99/kg median; $17.24–$39.98/kg across 4 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryPolyethylene terephthalate glycol copolymer — PET with a glycol comonomer that suppresses crystallisation[1][2]PETG regranulated from recycled polyester waste; Polymaker's Fiberon PETG-rCF08 adds 8 wt% recycled carbon fibre[3][4][5]
Densityg/cm³1.24–1.30 (ISO 1183)[1][2][6][7]1.27 (Prusament) and 1.30 (Fiberon PETG-rCF08), ISO 1183[3][5]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg spools cluster near 20[8][9][10]1 kg spools cluster near 29[11][12][9][13]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg12–70 across brands; IEMAI 12, ELEGOO 14, CHCKX 14, Bambu Lab 18–20, Hatchbox 26, Prusament 38, Prusament PETG V0 70[8][9][14][10][15][16]17–40 across brands; Filament PM RePETG 17, 3DXTech ECOMAX 26, GreenGate3D 32, Fiberon rCF08 40[11][12][9][13]
Market availability1–5Ubiquitous, every brand and retailer[8][9][17][10]Available from several mainstream brands[11][12][9]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.75, 0.8 and 1 kg spools plus spool-less refills[9][10]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 1 and 3 kg spools[9][12]
Typical applicationsFunctional parts, enclosures and outdoor fittings that need more toughness and heat tolerance than PLA[1][2]Not documented
Diameter tolerance± mm±0.02 (Prusament)[1]±0.05 (Prusament PETG Recycled), against ±0.02 for virgin Prusament PETG[3][1]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C230–260 across brands; Prusament 250 ± 10, Polymaker 240–260[1][2][7]250 ± 10 (Prusament); 230–255 (Spectrum)[3][4]
Bed temperature°C60–90; Prusament 80 ± 10, Polymaker 60–70[1][7]80 ± 10 (Prusament); 60–80 (Spectrum)[3][4]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Open frame is fine[7]Open frame is fine — Spectrum states a closed chamber is not necessary[4]
Part cooling fanAround 50 %; Polymaker specifies 20–60 %, less than PLA to protect layer bonding[1][7]50 % (Prusament); up to 100 % (Spectrum)[3][4]
Bed surface & adhesion aidTextured PEI, satin or powder-coated sheets. On smooth PEI a glue stick is used as a release agent, not an adhesive — PETG bonds to bare PEI hard enough to tear the sheet[1][7]Textured PEI, satin or powder-coated sheets; on smooth PEI a glue stick acts as a release agent[1][18]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/s8–15 (PrusaSlicer guidance); My Tech Fun ran Bambu Lab PETG Basic at 13 mm³/s[19][20]Not documented
Warping tendency1–5Slight — corner lift on large flat parts[1][7]Not documented
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs the right surface or a thin adhesive — the problem is releasing the part, not sticking it[1]Needs the right surface or a thin adhesive — the problem is releasing the part, not sticking it[1][18]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Moderate — retraction tuning needed[1][7]Moderate — retraction tuning needed; Polymaker names stringing as PETG's common quirk[18]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Easy — minor profile tuning[7]Easy — minor profile tuning; Spectrum describes printing as similar to standard PETG[4]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass fine indefinitely[19]Brass fine indefinitely[3]
Abrasiveness1–5Non-abrasive[7]Not documented
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[21][22]Low — recycled PETG prints on the same hardware as virgin PETG: no special hot-end, no drybox and no hardened nozzle[21][22]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Slightly sensitive[21]Slightly sensitive[21]
Hotend requirementNo special hot-end required[21]No special hot-end required[21]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Moderate (0.3–0.8 %) — Bambu Lab reports 0.40 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH; Prusa measures only 0.07 % in 24 h and 0.10 % in 7 days at the drier 22 % RH[1][23]Moderate (0.3–0.8 %) — recycled PETG shares the virgin matrix, which reaches 0.40 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH[1]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%0.10 after 7 days at 24 °C / 22 % RH (Prusa Polymers); 0.40 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab)[1][23]0.07 after 24 h and 0.10 after 7 days at 24 °C / 22 % RH (Prusa Polymers)[3]
Drying temperature & time60–65 °C for 6–8 h[7][23]Not documented
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[1]Bubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[24]
Effect of moisture on strengthPolymaker groups PETG with nylon, PVA and TPU as highly hygroscopic and shows a before-and-after-drying comparison; the loss appears as poor layer adhesion and weak, brittle layers rather than a published dry-versus-conditioned figure[24]Polymaker groups PETG with nylon, PVA and TPU as highly hygroscopic; no dry-versus-conditioned strength figures are published for this grade and the loss shows as bubbling and poor layer adhesion[24]
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant; Polymaker groups PETG with the highly hygroscopic materials[24][18]Sealed with desiccant; Polymaker groups PETG with the highly hygroscopic materials[24][18]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa38–51 (printed XY, ISO 527); Prusament 47 ± 2 at yield; 62 on My Tech Fun 4×4 mm bars[1][2][6][25]43 ± 1.8 printed horizontal at yield, ISO 527-1 (Prusament), against 47 ± 2 for virgin Prusament PETG; Spectrum quotes 52 at yield on moulded specimens[3][1][4]
Young's modulusMPa1500–2311 (printed XY, ISO 527)[1][2][6][7]1500 printed horizontal, 1600 printed vertical (Prusament, ISO 527-1) — the same as virgin Prusament PETG[3][1]
Elongation at break%5.2–9.3 at break (printed XY, ISO 527); Prusament 5.1 at yield[2][6][7][1]4.5 at yield printed (Prusament); Spectrum quotes 400 at break on moulded specimens[3][4]
Flexural strengthMPa58–80 (printed XY, ISO 178); Prusament 66 ± 2[1][2][6][7]63 ± 1 printed horizontal, ISO 178 (Prusament), against 66 ± 2 for virgin Prusament PETG[3][1]
Flexural modulusMPa1068–2277 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1][2][6][7]1800 printed horizontal, ISO 178 (Prusament)[3]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²2.6 (PolyLite) to 11.6 (PolyMax) printed XY, ISO 179, notched; Prusament 6 ± 1[2][6][1]12 ± 1 printed horizontal and 15 ± 3 printed vertical, ISO 179-1 notched (Prusament)[3]
Other impact dataCharpy unnotched does not break on Prusa's 4 J pendulum (ISO 179-1); Izod 3.37 kJ/m² on My Tech Fun printed bars[1][25]Charpy unnotched 25 ± 3 printed horizontal and 38 ± 11 printed vertical (Prusament, ISO 179-1)[3]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa18 ± 4 (Prusa interlayer adhesion test); 42.8 printed Z for PolyLite PETG; 33 on My Tech Fun bars[1][2][25]15 ± 5 (Prusa Polymers interlayer adhesion test), against 18 ± 4 for virgin Prusament PETG[3][1]
Brittleness1–5Moderate[1][2]Moderate[3]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / Rockwell74 Shore D (Prusa Polymers method); measured on printed bars at 68.2 for Extrudr PETG, 72 for Fiberlogy PETG and 72.8 for Prusament PETG[1][25][26][27]74 Shore D (Prusa Polymers method) — the same as virgin Prusament PETG[3][1]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Below average — a 12 mm bar sagged to 18.2 mm (Fiberlogy) and 19.4 mm (Bambu Lab Basic) over 5 days at 1.25 kg[25][20]Below average — no recycled-grade creep test; virgin PETG sagged from 12 to 17.1–20.4 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg[25][26][27][20]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Moderate — 79 000–193 000 cycles at 30 % of tensile strength, about three times printed PLA (R = 0.2, 7 Hz)[28]Moderate — no recycled-grade S-N curve; virgin printed PETG ran 79 000–193 000 cycles at 30 % of tensile strength[28]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Slightly flexible in thin sections[1]Slightly flexible in thin sections[3]
Z strength as % of XY%84 (PolyLite, printed Z against XY tensile)[2]Not documented
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C68 (Prusament) to 78 (PolyLite), ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa[1][2][7]68 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa) — the same as virgin Prusament PETG; Spectrum quotes 70[3][1][4]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C65 (Polymaker) to 75 (PolyLite), ISO 75 at 1.8 MPa; Prusament 68[1][2][7]68 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa)[3]
Glass transition (Tg)°C71–81 (DSC)[2][6][7]Not documented
Melting point / Vicat°CAmorphous — no melting point; Vicat 75–84 (ISO 306)[2][6][7]Not documented
Continuous service temperature°C61–66 — loaded bars begin to move at this temperature across six grades from four brands; Prusa publishes 68 for Prusament PETG[25][26][27][20][29]Not documented
Thermal expansion (CTE)µm/m·K65 at 30 °C (neat PETG, large-format printed bead, TMA)[30]Not documented
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for standard PETG, though flame-retardant V0 grades exist[31][18]Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for standard grades[31]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Moderate — a season or two[1]Not documented
Chemical resistanceWithstands acids, alkalis, oils and UV exposure — Polymaker names outdoor use as a result[18]Withstands acids, alkalis, oils and UV exposure[18]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Good — minor absorption[1]Not documented
Food contactPET is the polymer of drinks bottles, but printed layer grooves harbour bacteria and no filament here carries a food-contact certification[18]Not certified for food contact as filament[18]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[18]Not biodegradable[18]
RecyclabilityPET is widely recycled as bottle stock, but printed PETG waste is not accepted in household collection[18]The feedstock itself — Spectrum describes collecting, shredding and re-homogenising PETG waste[4]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[32]Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[32]
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/min≈5 × 10⁹ median for the PET-based T-Glase filament in the same chamber study, against ≈1 × 10⁸ for PLA[32]Not documented
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Open a window / occasional ventilation[32]Open a window / occasional ventilation[32]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands poorly — the material is tough and gums rather than powders[21]Sands poorly — the material is tough and gums rather than powders[21]
Painting & finishingPaint adheres poorly without abrasion and a primer[1]Not documented
Gluing & solvent weldingCyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds PETG cleanly[21]Cyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds PETG cleanly[21]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing[1]No practical vapour smoothing[21]
Support material pairingPrints its own supports; Polymaker rates PolyDissolve S1 for PETG[21]Prints its own supports; Polymaker rates PolyDissolve S1 for PETG[21]
Dimensional accuracy & detailStringing and blobbing are the usual accuracy limits, not shrinkage[1][7]Not documented
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inNo common workshop solvent; 1,2-dichloroethane destroys it inside a week and dichloromethane — a carcinogen — dissolves the surface.[33][34]No common workshop solvent; 1,2-dichloroethane destroys it inside a week and dichloromethane — a carcinogen — dissolves the surface.[33][34]
Softened or crazed byAcetone (+16 % weight over 1 year at 23 °C), ethyl acetate, toluene and DMF swell and soften it; methanol crazes it.[33]Acetone (+16 % weight over 1 year at 23 °C), ethyl acetate, toluene and DMF swell and soften it; methanol crazes it.[33]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentDichloromethane brushed on is the only agent that smooths PETG — a controlled carcinogen, not workshop stock.[34]Dichloromethane brushed on is the only agent that smooths PETG — a controlled carcinogen, not workshop stock.[34]

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. Prusament PETG Technical Datasheet v1.1 Prusa Polymers · 2022-02 · tds
  2. PolyLite PETG Technical Data Sheet Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · tds
  3. Prusament PETG Recycled Technical Datasheet Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · tds
  4. Spectrum r-PETG Technical Data Sheet Spectrum Filaments · 2026-08 · tds
  5. Fiberon PETG-rCF08 Technical Data Sheet V1.0 Polymaker · 2026-08 · tds
  6. PolyMax PETG Technical Data Sheet Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · tds
  7. Polymaker PETG Technical Data Sheet Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · tds
  8. PETG Basic — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. Printed Solid product catalogue Printed Solid · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. GreenGate3D Recycled PET-G — product data GreenGate3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. Filament PM RePETG technical data sheet Filament PM (Plasty Mladec) · 2026-08 · tds
  14. Black PETG Filament 1.75 mm 1 kg — product data Hatchbox · 2026-08 · vendor
  15. IEMAI PETG 3D Printing Filament product page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  16. CHCKX PETG 3D Printer Filament 1.75 mm 1 kg, Black CHCKX (Amazon US) · 2026-08 · vendor
  17. ELEGOO product catalogue ELEGOO · 2026-08 · vendor
  18. PETG — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  19. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  20. BambuLab PETG Basic vs Translucent vs PETG-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  21. PET and PETG — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  22. Filament Material Guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  23. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet — PETG HF Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  24. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  25. PCTG vs PETG comparison — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  26. Extrudr PETG vs PCTG vs XPETG-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  27. Prusament PETG-CF vs PETG V0 vs PETG — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  28. Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Materials — PLA and PETG — For Biomechanical Applications Polymers 16(13):1868 · 2024-06 · paper
  29. Prusament PETG — material page Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · doc
  30. 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
  31. Prusament PETG V0 Technical Datasheet Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · tds
  32. 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
  33. Eastman Spectar copolyester — Chemical resistance (unstressed bars, 1 year at 23 °C) Eastman Chemical Company · 2026-08 · tds
  34. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc