PLA vs PCTG
How PLA and PCTG compare, from typical settings across every filament we list.
- PLA is easier to print and stiffer; PCTG is tougher, more heat resistant, better outdoors and more flexible.
- PCTG typically prints about 35 °C hotter at the nozzle.
- PCTG typically prints about 20 °C hotter on the bed.
- PCTG is less dense, so a 1 kg spool holds about 3 m more 1.75 mm filament.
- There are 880 PLA filaments in 8,714 colours, and 26 PCTG filaments in 151 colours.
At a glance
Our rating, out of 5| PLA | PCTG | |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of printing | Easier to print | |
| Toughness | Tougher | |
| Stiffness | Stiffer | |
| Heat resistance | More heat resistant | |
| Outdoor and UV | Better outdoors | |
| Flexibility | More flexible | |
| Setup | No enclosure or special setup needed | No enclosure or special setup needed |
| PLA | PCTG | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Polylactic acid | Polycyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate glycol |
| Filaments listed | 880 | 26 |
| Brands | 145 | 13 |
| Colours | 8,714 | 151 |
| Nozzle temperature | 190–230 °C | 230–260 °C |
| Bed temperature | 50–70 °C | 70–90 °C |
| Density | 1.24 g/cm³ | 1.23 g/cm³ |
| Length of 1 kg (1.75 mm) | about 335 m | about 338 m |
| Max drying temperature | 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
13 brands make both PLA and PCTG; these have the most of each.
- Spectrum 36 PLA · 5 PCTG
- FormFutura 17 PLA · 4 PCTG
- ROSA3D Filaments 18 PLA · 3 PCTG
- Fiberlogy 13 PLA · 4 PCTG
- extrudr 9 PLA · 1 PCTG
- 3DJAKE 7 PLA · 1 PCTG
- AzureFilm 7 PLA · 1 PCTG
- 3D Fuel 5 PLA · 1 PCTG
- 3DXTech 5 PLA · 1 PCTG
- CC3D 4 PLA · 1 PCTG
- American Filament 3 PLA · 1 PCTG
- Nobufil 1 PLA · 2 PCTG