ABS vs PVA
How ABS and PVA compare, from typical settings across every filament we list.
- ABS typically prints about 50 °C hotter at the nozzle.
- ABS typically prints about 45 °C hotter on the bed.
- ABS is less dense, so a 1 kg spool holds about 62 m more 1.75 mm filament.
- There are 151 ABS filaments in 1,021 colours, and 22 PVA filaments in 24 colours.
| ABS | PVA | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene | Polyvinyl alcohol |
| Filaments listed | 151 | 22 |
| Brands | 72 | 15 |
| Colours | 1,021 | 24 |
| Nozzle temperature | 230–260 °C | 180–210 °C |
| Bed temperature | 90–110 °C | 50–60 °C |
| Density | 1.04 g/cm³ | 1.23 g/cm³ |
| Length of 1 kg (1.75 mm) | about 400 m | about 338 m |
| Max drying temperature | 80 °C | 55 °C |
Temperatures are medians across each material's filaments, rounded to 5 °C. Always check the maker's settings for a specific filament.
Brands that make both
15 brands make both ABS and PVA; these have the most of each.