PLA or PETG: which one your part needs
The most common decision in 3D printing, settled with practical criteria: heat, sun, impact, detail and price. With a simple rule at the end.
4 min read
Eight out of ten orders we take are settled by one of these two. The practical difference is smaller than the data sheets suggest, but there are three situations where choosing wrong really shows.
| PLA | PETG | |
|---|---|---|
| Survives up to | 55 °C | 75 °C |
| Detail | Better | Good |
| Impact | Brittle, snaps | Bends before breaking |
| Sun and damp | Degrades | Holds up |
| Price | The cheapest | A little more |
The three cases where it matters
- Inside a car in summer. A dashboard passes 60 °C easily and a PLA part will sag on its own. PETG, or better still ABS.
- Outdoors. PLA turns brittle in the sun within months. PETG lasts years.
- Parts that flex or take knocks: clips, hinges, brackets. PLA snaps clean; PETG bends and comes back.