What nozzle temperature should I use?
Short answer
Nozzle temperature is how hot your hotend should be while printing this filament. Makers give a range rather than one number because the right value depends on your printer, print speed and nozzle. Start in the middle of the range and adjust from there.
Typical nozzle temperature by material
The middle value across the filaments we list for each material. Always check the range for your own filament.
| Material | Nozzle temperature |
|---|---|
| PLA Polylactic acid | 190–230 °C |
| PETG Polyethylene terephthalate glycol | 220–250 °C |
| TPU Thermoplastic polyurethane | 210–240 °C |
| ABS Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene | 230–260 °C |
| ASA Acrylonitrile styrene acrylate | 235–260 °C |
| PA6 Nylon 6 (polyamide 6) | 250–290 °C |
| PA12 Nylon 12 (polyamide 12) | 240–270 °C |
| PC Polycarbonate | 260–300 °C |
| PP Polypropylene | 210–240 °C |
| PCTG Polycyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate glycol | 230–260 °C |
| PEI Polyetherimide | 340–380 °C |
| PET Polyethylene terephthalate | 220–250 °C |
| HIPS High-impact polystyrene | 220–250 °C |
| TPE Thermoplastic elastomer | 210–240 °C |
Guide
How to find the right temperature
- Start in the middle of the maker's range.
- Print a temperature tower, which steps the temperature down every few millimetres, and pick the section that looks best.
- Go hotter if layers split apart, or if you print fast or with a large nozzle.
- Go cooler if you see stringing, blobs or droopy overhangs.
Signs the temperature is wrong
- Too hot: stringing, oozing, glossy blobs and poor bridges.
- Too cold: weak layers that split, under-extrusion, and clicking from the extruder.
Nozzle temperature questions
What nozzle temperature for PLA?
Most PLA prints well at around 190–230 °C. Check the range for your filament, as silk and high-speed PLA often like it hotter.
What nozzle temperature for PETG?
Most PETG prints at around 220–250 °C. Too cold and layers bond poorly; too hot and it strings.
Why do high-speed filaments need a higher temperature?
At high speed the plastic spends less time in the hotend, so it needs more heat to melt fully. Many high-speed filaments list a higher range for that reason.
Does nozzle size change the temperature?
A larger nozzle pushes more plastic through, so it often needs the top of the range. A small nozzle for fine detail can usually run a little cooler.