Materials guide
PLA vs ABS: which filament should you choose?
PLA and ABS sit at opposite ends of the desktop FDM spectrum. PLA is forgiving and detail-friendly; ABS trades ease of printing for real heat resistance and toughness. Here's how to pick.
The short answer
Use PLA for prototypes, display models, and parts that stay at room temperature. Use ABS when the part has to survive heat (car interiors, near motors, enclosures around electronics) or absorb impacts without shattering.
Heat resistance
This is the biggest split. PLA softens around 55–60 °C — a car dashboard on a summer day is enough to deform it. ABS holds shape up to roughly 100 °C, which is why it's the default choice for automotive fixtures, kitchen jigs, and housings near heat-producing components.
Warping and printability
PLA is one of the easiest filaments in existence: low shrinkage, minimal warping, prints cleanly on an open machine. ABS shrinks significantly as it cools and will lift, crack, or split layers without a heated enclosure and a well-managed bed. On our side we print ABS in enclosed chambers with heated build plates — but it's still slower to dial in than PLA.
Strength and toughness
- PLA is rigid and stiff but brittle — it snaps rather than bends.
- ABS is less stiff but far tougher. It absorbs impacts, flexes slightly under load, and machines/drills well without chipping.
Finishing
ABS can be smoothed with acetone vapour into a glossy, almost injection-moulded finish — useful for consumer-facing parts. PLA doesn't respond to solvents the same way; smoothing means sanding, filler primer, and paint.
Quick comparison
| Property | PLA | ABS |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of printing | Excellent | Tricky — needs enclosure |
| Heat resistance | ~55 °C | ~100 °C |
| Toughness | Brittle | Impact resistant |
| Warping | Very low | High |
| Finishing | Sand + paint | Acetone smoothing |
| Best for | Display, prototypes | Automotive, enclosures |
Which should you order?
If the part lives on a desk or a shelf, PLA gives you the crispest detail at the lowest cost. If it goes in a car, near a motor, or into anyone's hands with real load on it, pay the small premium for ABS. Not sure? Read the full materials guide or compare with PLA vs PETG.