For most custom parts, PLA is the right choice: it's stiff, detailed and included in our starting prices. Choose PETG when a part has to handle heat, sun, moisture or knocks, and TPU when it needs to bend, grip or cushion like rubber. The rest of this guide explains how to tell which one your part needs.
PLA vs PETG vs TPU at a glance
| PLA / PLA+ | PETG | TPU | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel | Hard and stiff | Hard, with a little give | Flexible and rubbery |
| Starts to soften | About 55–65 °C (130–150 °F) | About 80 °C (175 °F) | Flexible at room temperature by design |
| Impact | Can crack or snap | Tougher; bends before breaking | Absorbs impact |
| Detail | Crisp, sharp edges | Good, slightly softer | Softer, less precise |
| Outdoors | Short-term only | Good choice | Depends on the use |
| Our pricing | Included in starting prices | Quoted | Quoted |
PLA and PLA+: the everyday choice
PLA is the most widely used 3D printing filament, and for good reason. It prints with sharp detail, clean edges and very little warping, and it comes in a huge range of colors. PLA+ is a modified PLA that most makers formulate to be tougher and a little less brittle than standard PLA.
PLA's main weakness is heat. Its glass transition, the point where it starts to soften, is around 55–65 °C (roughly 130–150 °F). That sounds high, but a car parked in the summer sun can get much hotter than that inside, and a PLA part on the dashboard can sag or warp. PLA is also stiff rather than tough, so a thin section can snap under a sharp knock.
Good for: display pieces, desk organizers, figures, indoor brackets and holders, replacement knobs and covers that stay at room temperature, prototypes, and costume pieces that won't be left in a hot car.
PETG: tougher and more heat-tolerant
PETG is a close cousin of the plastic used in many drink bottles. It softens at around 80 °C (roughly 175 °F), noticeably higher than PLA, and it's tougher: under stress it tends to bend a little before it breaks, rather than snapping. It also handles moisture and outdoor conditions better than PLA.
The trade-offs are small but real. PETG usually has a glossier finish, fine details come out slightly softer, and it's a little harder to print cleanly, which is part of why it's quoted rather than included.
Good for: outdoor brackets and garden parts, clips and parts that flex slightly when installed, parts that live near warm appliances, and functional parts that need to survive being dropped.
TPU: flexible and rubber-like
TPU is a flexible filament that behaves more like rubber than plastic. It's sold in different hardness grades, measured on the Shore A scale; 95A, a firm but bendable grade, is the most common for FDM printing. TPU stretches, squashes and springs back, and it grips surfaces instead of sliding.
It's also slow to print. Flexible filament compresses if it's pushed too fast, so TPU prints at a fraction of normal speeds and needs careful handling, which is why it's always quoted. It's not the right choice for parts that need precise, rigid fits, and it can be tricky to glue.
Good for: bumpers, furniture feet, gaskets and seals, grips and handle covers, protective corners, and straps.
How to choose: five questions about your part
If you're unsure, run through these questions. The first "yes" usually points to the answer:
- Does it need to bend, stretch or cushion? Choose TPU.
- Will it get hotter than a warm room, for example in a car, near an oven, or in direct summer sun? Choose PETG.
- Will it live outdoors or around moisture? Choose PETG.
- Will it take knocks, drops or snap into place? Consider PETG, or PLA+ for indoor use.
- Is it mainly about looks and detail, indoors? Choose PLA or PLA+.
Material isn't the only thing that decides strength. Wall thickness and how the part is oriented on the printer matter a lot too; our guide on preparing your 3D model before ordering a print covers both.
A few real-world examples
- A replacement drawer knob: PLA+ is fine indoors; PETG if it's on an oven or dishwasher front.
- A bracket for a garden hose: PETG, for sun and water.
- Non-slip feet for a small shelf: TPU, for grip and to protect the floor.
- A desk organizer in a bright color: PLA, for sharp detail and color choice.
- A costume helmet: PLA or PLA+, as long as it's not stored in a hot car or attic.
We also print in silk (a shiny PLA finish) and multicolor, both quoted. For a sense of how materials affect overall price, see our custom 3D printing price guide, and for more on filament choices for decorative pieces, read our guide to filaments for display pieces.
Custom part materials FAQ
Which is strongest: PLA, PETG or TPU?
It depends on the kind of strength. PLA is the stiffest. PETG is tougher and better at surviving impacts and heat. TPU is very hard to snap because it bends instead, which also makes it wrong for rigid parts.
Can I leave a PLA part in my car?
It's not a good idea. PLA starts to soften around 55–65 °C (130–150 °F), and the inside of a parked car in summer sun can get hotter than that. PETG is the safer choice.
Why are PETG and TPU quoted instead of included?
They take more time and care to print well, especially TPU, which prints much slower than PLA. We quote them per job so the price reflects the actual part.
Not sure which material your part needs? Tell us what it does and where it will live on our custom 3D printing page, and we can suggest a material when we send your quote.