Skip to content
Layer Lookup

Best filament for heat resistance

Short answer

PC is the most heat resistant filament most desktop printers can print, softening at around 110–140 °C. Nylon (PA6) is close behind, and ASA and ABS handle around 95–100 °C with easier printing. PEI goes far higher but needs an industrial printer. PLA and PETG soften too soon for hot parts.

Share Facebook X Reddit Pinterest Email

Our picks

  1. 1. PC Polycarbonate

    The most heat resistant filament most desktop printers can handle, softening at around 110–140 °C depending on the grade. It needs a nozzle of around 260–300 °C and an enclosure.

    Heat resistance
    Ease of printing
    Toughness
    Nozzle
    260–300 °C
    Needs
    An enclosure, dry before printing, ventilation

    Popular PC filaments

    All 47 →

  2. 2. PA6 Nylon 6 (polyamide 6)

    Many PA6 nylon grades stay usable well above the temperatures that soften PETG or ABS, and carbon or glass fibre grades go higher still. It must be printed dry.

    Heat resistance
    Ease of printing
    Toughness
    Nozzle
    250–290 °C
    Needs
    An enclosure, dry before printing

    Popular PA6 filaments

    All 69 →

  3. 3. ASA Acrylonitrile styrene acrylate

    Stays rigid to around 95–100 °C and resists UV, so it's the pick for parts that get hot outdoors. It needs an enclosure.

    Heat resistance
    Ease of printing
    Toughness
    Nozzle
    235–260 °C
    Needs
    An enclosure, ventilation

    Popular ASA filaments

    All 109 →

  4. 4. ABS Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene

    The same heat resistance as ASA, around 95–100 °C, for indoor parts. Cheaper, and it smooths with acetone.

    Heat resistance
    Ease of printing
    Toughness
    Nozzle
    230–260 °C
    Needs
    An enclosure, ventilation

    Popular ABS filaments

    All 151 →

  5. 5. PEI Polyetherimide

    For extreme heat, with a glass transition of around 185–215 °C, but it needs a specialist printer with a very hot nozzle and a heated chamber.

    Heat resistance
    Ease of printing
    Toughness
    Nozzle
    340–380 °C
    Needs
    An enclosure, dry before printing, ventilation

    Popular PEI filaments

    All 17 →

Torn between the top two? See PC vs PA6.

Not recommended

  • PLA

    Softens at around 55–60 °C, so it sags in a hot car, near heaters or in summer sun.

  • PETG

    Better than PLA, but it softens at around 70–80 °C, too low for parts near engines, heaters or hot drinks.

Guide

How heat resistant is each filament?

Filament Softens at around Printer needs
PLA 55–60 °C Any printer
PETG 70–80 °C Any printer
ABS and ASA 95–100 °C Enclosure
PC 110–140 °C 260–300 °C nozzle, enclosure
PA6 nylon Above ABS; higher for fibre grades Dry filament, enclosure
PEI 185–215 °C (glass transition) Specialist high-temperature printer

Softening points are typical values. Grades vary, so check the data sheet's heat deflection temperature (HDT) for the filament you buy, especially for parts under load.

Choosing a heat resistant filament

  • Up to about 90 °C, for a hot car, a sunny windowsill or near electronics: ASA or ABS.
  • Over 100 °C, near motors, lamps or heaters: PC or a fibre-filled nylon.
  • Under load at temperature: check the HDT on the data sheet, because parts can creep well below their softening point.

Heat resistance questions

What is the most heat resistant 3D printer filament?

For desktop printers, PC and fibre-filled nylon grades lead, with PC softening at around 110–140 °C. PEI handles far more, with a glass transition of around 185–215 °C, but needs a specialist printer.

Is PETG heat resistant?

Moderately. PETG softens at around 70–80 °C: better than PLA, but not enough for a car dashboard in summer or parts near heaters. Use ASA, ABS or PC for those.

What temperature can PLA withstand?

PLA starts to soften at around 55–60 °C, so it can sag in a hot car, in direct summer sun or near a radiator.

Can I print heat resistant filament on a basic printer?

Partly. ASA and ABS need an enclosure, and PC also needs a nozzle of around 260–300 °C, which usually means an all-metal hotend. Many recent enclosed printers can; most basic open printers struggle.

What does HDT mean on a filament data sheet?

Heat deflection temperature: the point at which a test bar bends under a set load. It's the most useful number for parts that must carry weight while hot, and it's usually lower than the glass transition temperature.