3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

TPU 85A vs TPU 95A

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

TPU 85A guideTPU 95A guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore TPU 85A comparisonsMore TPU 95A comparisons
TPU 85A vs TPU 95A — documented properties and sources
PropertyTPU 85AFLEXTPU 95AFLEX
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$89.89/kg median; $31.99–$106.05/kg across 6 dated product listings$39.99/kg median; $23.00–$106.05/kg across 15 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistrySoft thermoplastic polyurethane at 82–85 Shore A[1][2][3]Thermoplastic polyurethane, polyester or polyether based, at about 92–95 Shore A[4][5]
Densityg/cm³1.11 (BASF Ultrafuse 85A) to 1.19 (NinjaFlex 85A), ISO 1183 / ASTM D792[3][1]1.20–1.25 (ISO 1183); Prusament 1.25, Polymaker 1.20–1.24, Bambu Lab 1.22[4][5][6]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg-equivalent spools span 32–106; the middle of the market is about 90[7][8][1]1 kg spools cluster near 35; the specialist and industrial brands run to 106[9][10][6][11][12][13]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg32–106 across brands; Siraya Tech Flex TPU 85A 32 at 1 kg, add:north TPU Pro Matte 85A 72, Recreus Filaflex 82A 90 at 500 g, Proto-pasta Clear Flexible TPU 90, 3DXTech 3DXFLEX 85A 96, NinjaTek NinjaFlex 106[14][7][8][15][1]23–106 across brands; IEMAI 3D 23, LANDU 24, Siraya Tech 25, PS Imports 25, PrimaCreator 32, Bambu Lab 35–42, Polymaker 40–50, add:north 72, Recreus 90, 3DXTech 96, NinjaTek Cheetah 106[10][16][9][7][11][12][17][18][19][13]
Market availability1–5Available from several mainstream brands[7][14]Ubiquitous, every brand and retailer[9][7][10][16][11][12]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75, 2.85 and 3 mm; 0.5, 1 and 2 kg spools[7][14][1]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 0.75 and 1 kg spools[9][7]
Typical applicationsSoft-touch grips, seals, wearables and anything that must compress and rebound[1][2]Gaskets, phone cases, tyres, vibration mounts and protective covers[20]
Diameter tolerance± mmNot documented±0.06 (Prusament) — the loosest tolerance Prusa publishes, because soft filament deforms in the gauge[5]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C200–220 (BASF Ultrafuse 85A, 210 typical)[3]210–240; Polymaker 210–230, Prusament 230 ± 10, Bambu Lab HF 220–240[4][5][6]
Bed temperature°C40 (BASF Ultrafuse 85A)[3]25–65; Prusament 65 ± 10, Bambu Lab 30–35, Polymaker 25–60[5][6][4]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Open frame is fine[3]Open frame is fine[4]
Part cooling fanNot documentedFan on[4][6]
Bed surface & adhesion aidPEI sheet or painter's tape; Polymaker warns TPU can over-stick and advises a glue stick as a release agent[21][20]PEI sheet or painter's tape; Polymaker warns TPU can over-stick and advises a glue stick as a release agent[21][20]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/s1.2–3.2 at the 15–40 mm/s BASF specifies on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer[3]2.4 at Polymaker's 30–50 mm/s and 2.4 at Prusa's 30 mm/s cap on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer; Bambu Lab's high-flow grade lifts the cap to 200 mm/s (16 mm³/s)[4][5][6]
Warping tendency1–5None[3]None[4]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Sticks to anything — Recreus states its 82A grade has excellent bed adhesion without a heated bed or additives[2]Sticks to most surfaces[4]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5High — drying plus tuning needed[22][20]Moderate — retraction tuning needed; Polymaker specifies 3–6 mm retraction, well above the 1–3 mm used for rigid filaments[4]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning; at this hardness the filament will not push through a Bowden tube[1][2]Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile; the speed ceiling is the main constraint[4][5]
Extruder requirementDirect drive only. NinjaTek calls its 85A grade ideal for direct-drive extruders and Recreus specifies direct-drive printers for 82A; BASF caps print speed at 15–40 mm/s with a nozzle of 0.4 mm or larger[1][2][3]Direct drive strongly preferred. BASF rates its 95A grade as running on both direct-drive and Bowden machines, but every maker caps speed at 15–50 mm/s unless the grade is specifically high-flow[23][4][5]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass fine indefinitely[24]Brass fine indefinitely[24]
Abrasiveness1–5Non-abrasive[24]Non-abrasive[24]
Nozzle clog risk1–5High — jams from moisture, heat creep or particles[22][20]Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle[22]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Very high — softens in the cold zone readily; soft filament buckles between the drive gear and the melt zone[20][1]High — all-metal hotend and strong cooling needed; soft filament buckles in the cold zone if it slows[20]
Hotend requirementNo special hot-end required, but a direct-drive extruder is (Simplify3D)[21]No special hot-end required, but a direct-drive extruder is (Simplify3D)[21]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Moderate — NinjaTek measures 0.22 % in 24 h (ASTM D570) and BASF specifies a 70 °C dry for at least 5 h[1][3]Low (0.1–0.3 %) by Prusa's measurement at 0.04 % in 7 days, but Polymaker measures 0.82 % equilibrium and groups TPU with the highly hygroscopic materials[5][4][22]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%0.22 after 24 h water immersion (NinjaFlex 85A, ASTM D570) — an immersion figure, not an equilibrium moisture content at 50 % RH[1]0.82 equilibrium (Polymaker); 0.02 after 24 h and 0.04 after 7 days at 22 % RH (Prusa)[4][5]
Drying temperature & time70 °C for at least 5 h in a hot-air dryer or vacuum oven (BASF)[3]70 °C for 8 h (Polymaker); 70 °C for 8 h or an 80–90 °C heatbed for 12 h (Bambu Lab)[4][6]
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[22]Bubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing, rough surface and weak layers[22]
Effect of moisture on strengthPolymaker groups TPU with the highly hygroscopic materials; wet TPU prints with poor layer adhesion and weak, brittle layers[22]Polymaker groups TPU with nylon, PVA and PETG as highly hygroscopic and says these often need to stay in a dryer while printing; no dry-versus-conditioned figures are published[22]
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant; often kept in a dryer during the print[22]Sealed with desiccant; often kept in a dryer during the print[22]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa26 ultimate (NinjaFlex 85A, ASTM D638)[1]41.4 ± 1.3 printed (Prusament, ISO 37); NinjaTek Cheetah 39 ultimate (ASTM D638)[5][25]
Young's modulusMPa12 (NinjaFlex 85A, ASTM D638) — two orders of magnitude below any rigid filament; NinjaTek's 95A Cheetah reaches 26 by the same method[1][25]Not documented
Elongation at break%650 at break (Filaflex 82A) and 660 (NinjaFlex 85A); BASF measures 600 in XY and 320 in ZX[2][1][3]551 ± 24 printed (Polymaker, ISO 37); the filament itself stretches 7264 % before break (Prusa, ISO 527)[4][5]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPaNot documented9.5 ± 0.2 (Prusament interlayer adhesion, ISO 527)[5]
Brittleness1–5Very ductile — bends far before failing[1]Very ductile — bends far before failing[4][5]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / Rockwell29 Shore D / 85 Shore A (BASF Ultrafuse 85A, ISO 7619-1); 85 Shore A (NinjaFlex, ASTM D2240); 82 A nominal for Filaflex[1][3][2]92 ± 0.4 Shore A and 39 ± 0.7 Shore D (Prusament); 95A (Polymaker, ISO 7619-1); 91 Shore A / 40 Shore D (Fiberlogy FiberFlex 40D, ISO 7619); 95A (NinjaTek Cheetah, ASTM D2240); 94.5 A measured on a printed Bambu Lab 95A part and 96.2 A on a Qidi one (My Tech Fun)[5][4][26][25][27]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Poor — no 85A creep test; a printed 95A TPU bar crept from 74.5 to 82.7 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg, and softer grades creep more[27]Poor — deforms under load at room temperature; a loaded bar crept from 74.5 to 82.7 mm over 5 days[27]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Excellent — living hinges viable[20]Excellent — living hinges viable[20]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rubbery / highly elastic[1][2]Rubbery / highly elastic[4][5]
Z strength as % of XY%53 — BASF measures 320 % elongation at break in ZX against 600 % in XY[3]Not documented
Wear resistance & frictionAbrasion 0.08 g mass loss over 10 000 cycles (NinjaFlex, ASTM D4060); 82 mm³ (BASF, ISO 4649)[1][3]Abrasion resistance is a headline property; BASF measures 64 mm³ loss by ISO 4649 on its 92A grade[23]
Thermal Properties
Melting point / Vicat°C216 melting (NinjaFlex 85A, DSC)[1]144 melting (BASF 95A, ISO 11357-3); Bambu Lab 183, Polymaker's modulus at 100 % elongation 8.9 MPa[23][6]
Continuous service temperature°CNot documentedBounded by a melting point of 144–183 °C; no loaded-bar service figure is published for TPU[23][6]
Flammability / UL 94Not documentedFlammable; no UL 94 rating published for the grades surveyed[4]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Good — years with some colour shift; Polymaker lists UV exposure among the conditions TPU withstands[20]Good — years with some colour shift; Polymaker lists UV exposure among the conditions TPU withstands[20]
Chemical resistanceWithstands industrial solvents and UV exposure (Polymaker)[20]Good resistance to oils and common solvents (BASF)[23]
Food contactNot food safe without specific certification (Polymaker)[20]Not food safe without specific certification (Polymaker)[20]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[20]Not biodegradable[20]
RecyclabilityNot accepted in household plastic collection[20]Not accepted in household plastic collection[20]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission; TPU was not among the nine filaments in the chamber study[28]Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission; TPU was not among the nine filaments in the chamber study[28]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Open a window / occasional ventilation[28]Open a window / occasional ventilation[28]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningDifficult to sand or smooth; Polymaker limits post-processing to trimming or tumbling[20]Sanding is impractical — the surface tears rather than abrades[20]
Gluing & solvent weldingCyanoacrylate bonds TPU; no common solvent welds it[20]Cyanoacrylate bonds TPU; no common solvent welds it[20]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing[20]No practical vapour smoothing[20]
Support material pairingPolymaker warns TPU supports are often very difficult to remove[20]Polymaker warns TPU supports are often very difficult to remove; PolyDissolve S1 is rated for TPU[20]
Dimensional accuracy & detailNot documentedStringing and elephant-foot are the accuracy limits; retraction has to be long and slow[4]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inDMF, DMSO, NMP and THF dissolve TPU; acetone, MEK and cyclohexanone are partial solvents. All laboratory reagents.[29]DMF, DMSO, NMP and THF dissolve TPU; acetone, MEK and cyclohexanone are partial solvents. All laboratory reagents.[29]
Softened or crazed byToluene and benzene swell it up to +50 % by weight at 23 °C; esters swell it severely; ethanol and IPA soften it.[29]Toluene and benzene swell it up to +50 % by weight at 23 °C; esters swell it severely; ethanol and IPA soften it.[29]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNone practical — the true solvents (DMF, THF, NMP) are laboratory reagents and leave the joint swollen and weak.[29]None practical — the true solvents (DMF, THF, NMP) are laboratory reagents and leave the joint swollen and weak.[29]

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. NinjaFlex 85A Technical Specifications NinjaTek · 2026-08 · tds
  2. Filaflex 82A product page (Shore hardness and elongation) Recreus · 2026-08 · vendor
  3. Ultrafuse TPU 85A Technical Data Sheet (Version 3.0) BASF Forward AM · 2022-08 · tds
  4. PolyFlex TPU95 Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  5. Prusament TPU 95A Technical Datasheet v1.0 Prusa Polymers · 2025-05 · tds
  6. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet — TPU 95A HF Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  7. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. Siraya Tech Flex TPU 85A Filament — product page Siraya Tech · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. Printed Solid product catalogue Printed Solid · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. LANDU TPU 3D Printer Filament 1.75 mm 95A Black 1 kg — Amazon listing Amazon.com · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. IEMAI 3D TPU 3D Printing Filament — store page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. Cheetah product page — print guidelines, spool sizes and price NinjaTek · 2026-08 · vendor
  14. Proto-pasta product catalogue Proto-pasta · 2026-08 · vendor
  15. add:north TPU Pro Matte 85A product page add:north · 2026-08 · vendor
  16. TPU for AMS — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  17. Siraya Tech Flex TPU 95A Filament — product page Siraya Tech · 2026-08 · vendor
  18. PrimaCreator EasyPrint FLEX TPU 95A product page PrimaCreator · 2026-08 · vendor
  19. add:north TPU Pro Matte 95A product page add:north · 2026-08 · vendor
  20. TPU — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  21. Flexible (TPE/TPU) — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  22. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  23. Ultrafuse TPU 95A Technical Data Sheet (Version 2.0) BASF Forward AM · 2022-08 · tds
  24. Extrudr Product Catalogue (DURAPRO PA12 data block) Extrudr · 2025-03 · tds
  25. NinjaTek technical specs comparison chart (Cheetah, NinjaFlex, Armadillo, Alloy 910, Nylon 645) NinjaTek · 2026-08 · tds
  26. FiberFlex 40D Technical Data Sheet Fiberlogy · 2026-08 · tds
  27. BambuLab TPU 95A HF vs Qidi TPU 95A HF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2024-02 · test
  28. 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
  29. Elastollan — Chemical properties: swelling and chemical resistance BASF · 2026-08 · tds