Filament Atlas

PLA

Polylactic Acid

196 products from 39 makers. Bambu Lab lists PLA as a material type for the H2C; the listing covers the type, not each brand.

Tensile modulus (XY)
2.58GPa
0.210 (log)
61 products · middle half 2–2.88
Tensile strength (XY)
45MPa
0125
83 products · middle half 39.5–53
Tensile strength (Z)
30.3MPa
060
40 products · middle half 22.1–34
Notched Charpy impact
6kJ/m²
150 (log)
14 products · middle half 3.97–7.9
HDT at 0.45 MPa
56°C
50300
50 products · middle half 53–58
Price
33CAD/kg
0300
27 products · middle half 28–40

PLA is polylactic acid. Makers sell it for prototypes and display models, and Prusa's Knowledge Base rates it easy to print. It is amorphous as printed, so it softens at its glass transition: its HDT at 0.45 MPa is 56.1 °C, and the heavier load gives the same. On the H2C it needs no heated chamber and, except a few filled products, no hardened nozzle. Makers' statements on acids and alkalis mostly say it does not resist them.

Well documented 284 documents from 41 publishers, 241 of them data sheets. Each figure is the median of the products that publish it comparably, and beside it the middle half of them; a value on a test bar no document describes as printed, or with no stated test load, is set apart, except a heat deflection of a plastic that cannot crystallise, which its glass transition sets, unless its document points to a moulded or resin bar. Products with an added filler or additive, and for notched impact those sold as toughened, are shown but kept out of the medians.

Nozzle
190⁠–⁠230 °C
most products that give one
Bed
50⁠–⁠60 °C
most products that give one
Heated chamber
none needed
163 of 196 products
Drying
40–65 °C, 2–12 h
most advise it only for wet filament
Nozzle type
standard for most
4 of 196 products' sheets ask for one; 34 say a standard nozzle is enough; the Bambu Lab Filament Guide says any for 149 more; the rest are silent

No product's setting is beyond the H2C's limits: nozzle 350 °C, bed 120 °C, heated chamber 65 °C.

Among the materials

Against PLA-CF, PLA is 18 % less expensive, 20 % stronger across the layers and 8 % less stiff. Against PETG, PLA is 52 % stiffer and 28 % more expensive, and its HDT at 0.45 MPa is 14 °C lower. Among the materials, PLA has a low HDT at 0.45 MPa and price: both are in the lowest quarter of the materials that publish them. The rest of its key properties sit in the middle half.

PLA is stronger flat than PLA-CF, PP and ABS but costs less than PLA-CF, PLA-GF and PP and others

How does it compare with what an engineer would buy instead?

  • PLA: its products' median and middle half
  • an alternative
  • lowest to highest
  • each material's median (top row)
  • set apart: test bar not described as printed, or no stated load
  • beyond the scale
All materials
PLA196 products
PLA-CF19 products
PLA-GF4 products
PETG72 products
PP12 products
ABS55 products
Modulus (XY)GPa, log scale
Strength (XY)MPa
Strength (Z)MPa
Notched CharpykJ/m², log scale
HDT 0.45 MPa°C
PriceCAD/kg

Each row is a material, each column a property: the bar is the middle half of a material's products, the tick their median, the hairline their lowest to highest; the ticks above the rows are every material's median.

The figure as a table
MaterialModulus (XY) (GPa)Strength (XY) (MPa)Strength (Z) (MPa)Notched Charpy (kJ/m²)HDT 0.45 MPa (°C)Price (CAD/kg)
PLA (this material)2.58 (2⁠–⁠2.88) · 6145 (39.5⁠–⁠53) · 8330.3 (22.1⁠–⁠34) · 406 (3.97⁠–⁠7.9) · 1456 (53⁠–⁠58) · 5033 (28⁠–⁠40) · 27
PLA-CF2.8 (2.26⁠–⁠3.65) · 742.3 (39.3⁠–⁠47) · 1025.3 (24.1⁠–⁠26) · 56.08 · 255 (55⁠–⁠57) · 640 · 2
PLA-GF—46 · 1———41 · 0
PETG1.69 (1.42⁠–⁠1.95) · 2447 (40.3⁠–⁠50.6) · 3430.2 (28⁠–⁠36.5) · 166 (4.76⁠–⁠8) · 1070 (69⁠–⁠71) · 3226 (25⁠–⁠32) · 11
PP1.2⁠–⁠1.4 as published (2)19 · 1—65 as published (1)59 · 177 · 2
ABS2.2 (2.02⁠–⁠2.25) · 1334.5 (33⁠–⁠35.6) · 1827.3 (24.6⁠–⁠28.3) · 1220 (18⁠–⁠21.5) · 795 (89⁠–⁠99) · 1840 (31⁠–⁠52) · 9

Each cell is the median of the products ranked, its middle half in brackets, and how many.

How the numbers are worked out

Where PLA sits among the 128 rigid materials on file

Where is it in the landscape: stiffness against strength, heat resistance against price?

  • PLA: median, middle half as a cross
  • a PLA product
  • an alternative
  • another material
  • beyond the scale

Tensile strength (XY) against tensile modulus (XY)

MPa, log scale

51020501002000.20.512510PLAPLA-CFPETGABS

Tensile modulus (XY), GPa, log scale

HDT at 0.45 MPa against price

°C

501001502002503002050100200500PLAPLA-CFPPABS

Price, CAD/kg, log scale

Grey points are every other rigid material's medians; the alternatives are named.

The figure as a table
MaterialTensile modulus (XY)Tensile strength (XY)PriceHDT at 0.45 MPa
PLA (this material)2.58 GPa · 6145 MPa · 8333 CAD/kg · 2756 °C · 50
PLA-CF2.8 GPa · 742.3 MPa · 1040 CAD/kg · 255 °C · 6
PLA-GF—46 MPa · 141 CAD/kg · 0—
PETG1.69 GPa · 2447 MPa · 3426 CAD/kg · 1170 °C · 32
PP1.2⁠–⁠1.4 GPa as published19 MPa · 177 CAD/kg · 259 °C · 1
ABS2.2 GPa · 1334.5 MPa · 1840 CAD/kg · 995 °C · 18

How the numbers are worked out

Mechanical properties

Printed flat (XY), PLA typically reaches a tensile strength of 45 MPa at a modulus of 2.58 GPa, and breaks at 6.3 % elongation. In bending, its flexural strength is typically 76 MPa at a flexural modulus of 2.88 GPa.

PLA's products spread most in elongation at break: the middle half runs 4⁠–⁠12 %

How strong, stiff and tough are its products, and which stand out?

  • a product
  • set apart: test bar not described as printed, or no stated load
  • measured after annealing
  • added filler or additive, kept out of the median
  • sold as toughened (maker's statement)
  • middle half and median
  • beyond the scale
Tensile strength (XY)MPa · 140 products, 83 in the median
Polymaker PolyTerra PLA0255075100125
Tensile modulus (XY)GPa, log scale · 107 products, 61 in the median
Flashforge PLA Pro0.20.512510
Tensile strength (Z)MPa · 43 products, 40 in the median
Eryone Hyper Speed Matte PLA0204060
Elongation at break (XY)%, log scale · 121 products, 73 in the median
Eryone Hyper Speed Matte PLA125102050100200500
Notched Charpy impactkJ/m², log scale · 45 products, 14 in the median
colorFabb PLA-HPBambu Lab PLA Tough+125102050
Notched Izod impactkJ/m², log scale · 23 products, 8 in the median
Elegoo PLA25102050

One mark per product on each property's scale (zoomed where its products sit close together, as its label says); the band is the middle half of the products the median counts, and the line the median.

Hover or select a product to find it in every figure; its name opens its card on the Products page.

The figure as a table
PropertyIn the medianMedianMiddle halfLowest in the medianHighest in the medianAs publishedAdded filler or additive
Tensile strength (XY) (MPa)834539.5⁠–⁠53Polymaker PolyTerra PLA, 23.2colorFabb PLA Chameleon, 70.94616
Tensile modulus (XY) (GPa)612.582⁠–⁠2.88Flashforge PLA Pro, 0.95colorFabb PLA-HP, 4.243916
Tensile strength (Z) (MPa)4030.322.1⁠–⁠34Eryone Hyper Speed Matte PLA, 8.7Polymaker PolyLite PLA, 43.503
Elongation at break (XY) (%)736.34⁠–⁠12Eryone Hyper Speed Matte PLA, 1.23DXTECH ECOMAX Tough PLA, 653915
Notched Charpy impact (kJ/m²)1463.97⁠–⁠7.9colorFabb PLA-HP, 2.16Bambu Lab PLA Tough+, 72.31710
Notched Izod impact (kJ/m²)84.754.38⁠–⁠5.25Elegoo PLA, 3.5SUNLU PLA+2.0, 10115

Every PLA product that publishes these values is drawn; each value, with its document and conditions, is on the Products page.

How the numbers are worked out

Across the layers (Z), PLA keeps 60 % of its flat strength and 89 % of its flat stiffness

What does a printed part lose across the layers (Z) against flat (XY), and is that usual?

  • a product
  • equal share: 100, 75, 50 and 25 %
  • PLA's median share
  • an alternative

Tensile strength

Z keeps 60 % of XY, median of 39 products

020406080020406080100 %75 %50 %25 %

flat (XY), MPa

0 %50 %100 %

Share kept: ABS 73 % · PETG 69 % · PLA 60 % · PLA-CF 58 %

Tensile modulus

Z keeps 89 % of XY, median of 29 products

01230123100 %75 %50 %25 %

flat (XY), GPa

0 %50 %100 %

Share kept: ABS 89 % · PLA 89 % · PETG 88 % · PLA-CF 77 %

Elongation at break

Z keeps 59 % of XY, median of 35 products

0.51251020500.5125102050100 %75 %50 %25 %

flat (XY), %, log scale on both axes

0 %50 %100 %

Share kept: PETG 59 % · PLA 59 % · PLA-CF 43 % · ABS 38 %

Each point is a product that publishes both from one sheet: below the 100 % ray it keeps less across the layers than flat. Under each plot, the median share its alternatives' products keep.

The figure as a table
ProductPropertyFlat (XY)Across (Z)Z as a share of XY
Bambu Lab PLA BasicTensile strength35 MPa31 MPa89 %
Bambu Lab PLA MatteTensile strength30 MPa22 MPa73 %
Bambu Lab PLA Basic GradientTensile strength36 MPa32 MPa89 %
Bambu Lab PLA Tough+Tensile strength34.9 MPa20.9 MPa60 %
Bambu Lab PLA TranslucentTensile strength55.4 MPa28.9 MPa52 %
eSUN PLA-LiteTensile strength53 MPa26.9 MPa51 %
Polymaker PolyLite PLATensile strength46.6 MPa43.5 MPa93 %
Polymaker PolySonic PLA Pro 6.0Tensile strength41.2 MPa33.6 MPa82 %
Polymaker HT PLATensile strength42.9 MPa20.8 MPa49 %
Polymaker PolyLite PLA PRO Army BeigeTensile strength35.6 MPa39.7 MPa111 %
Polymaker PolyTerra PLATensile strength23.2 MPa12.2 MPa53 %
Polymaker PolyMax PLATensile strength41.3 MPa32.4 MPa78 %
Polymaker PolySonic PLATensile strength46 MPa37.3 MPa81 %
Polymaker PolyLite PLA ProTensile strength49.8 MPa36.5 MPa73 %
Polymaker PolyLite CosPLA Version ATensile strength31.1 MPa16.7 MPa54 %
Polymaker HT PLA ProTensile strength37.6 MPa26.8 MPa71 %
Polymaker PLA ProTensile strength39.9 MPa25.4 MPa64 %
Eryone Hyper-Speed PLATensile strength35.7 MPa18.1 MPa, Z (X-Z)51 %
Eryone Matte PLATensile strength34.2 MPa11 MPa, Z (X-Z)32 %
Eryone PLA+Tensile strength57.3 MPa32.2 MPa, Z (X-Z)56 %
Eryone Hyper Speed Matte PLATensile strength32.7 MPa8.7 MPa, Z (X-Z)27 %
Eryone Dual Color Burnt Titanium PLATensile strength34 MPa34.2 MPa, Z (X-Z)101 %
eSUN PLA-MatteTensile strength26 MPa14.3 MPa55 %
eSUN PLA+Tensile strength70.4 MPa36.4 MPa52 %
eSUN PLA HFTensile strength64.3 MPa33.9 MPa53 %
Raise3D Premium PLATensile strength40 MPa36 MPa90 %
eSUN PLA Basic ENTensile strength64.3 MPa32.3 MPa50 %
eSUN PLA Cast ENTensile strength53.5 MPa30.6 MPa57 %
eSUN PLA+HSTensile strength53.1 MPa32 MPa60 %
Anycubic PLATensile strength51.2 MPa24.2 MPa47 %
Creality Hyper-PLA RFIDTensile strength43.4 MPa27.9 MPa64 %
Anycubic PLA High SpeedTensile strength45 MPa22.1 MPa49 %
Polymaker PolyLite CosPLA Version BTensile strength49.8 MPa36.5 MPa73 %
Eryone Burnt Titanium PLATensile strength34 MPa34.2 MPa, Z (X-Z)101 %
Raise3D Hyper Speed PLATensile strength48 MPa39 MPa, Z (ZX)81 %
Eryone Standard PLATensile strength57.3 MPa28.4 MPa, Z (X-Z)50 %
Kingroon PLA BasicTensile strength35 MPa31 MPa89 %
Anycubic PLA+Tensile strength45 MPa23.8 MPa53 %
Polymaker Panchroma Satin PLATensile strength31.1 MPa16.7 MPa54 %
Bambu Lab PLA BasicTensile modulus2.58 GPa2.06 GPa80 %
Bambu Lab PLA MatteTensile modulus1.96 GPa1.67 GPa85 %
Bambu Lab PLA Basic GradientTensile modulus2.58 GPa1.98 GPa77 %
Bambu Lab PLA Tough+Tensile modulus1.86 GPa1.92 GPa103 %
Bambu Lab PLA TranslucentTensile modulus2.88 GPa2.55 GPa89 %
Polymaker PolySonic PLA Pro 6.0Tensile modulus2.36 GPa2.28 GPa97 %
Polymaker HT PLATensile modulus2.95 GPa2.6 GPa88 %
Polymaker PolyLite PLA PRO Army BeigeTensile modulus2.68 GPa2.55 GPa95 %
Polymaker PolyTerra PLATensile modulus2 GPa1.61 GPa81 %
Polymaker PolyMax PLATensile modulus2.15 GPa1.98 GPa92 %
Polymaker PolySonic PLATensile modulus2.88 GPa2.69 GPa93 %
Polymaker PolyLite PLA ProTensile modulus2.93 GPa2.63 GPa90 %
Polymaker PolyLite CosPLA Version ATensile modulus2.25 GPa1.78 GPa79 %
Polymaker HT PLA ProTensile modulus2.27 GPa1.85 GPa81 %
Polymaker PLA ProTensile modulus2.53 GPa2.27 GPa90 %
Eryone Hyper-Speed PLATensile modulus1.3 GPa0.873 GPa, Z (X-Z)67 %
Eryone Matte PLATensile modulus1.13 GPa0.953 GPa, Z (X-Z)84 %
Eryone PLA+Tensile modulus1.75 GPa1.43 GPa, Z (X-Z)82 %
Eryone Hyper Speed Matte PLATensile modulus1.35 GPa1.28 GPa, Z (X-Z)95 %
Eryone Dual Color Burnt Titanium PLATensile modulus1.74 GPa1.62 GPa, Z (X-Z)93 %
Raise3D Premium PLATensile modulus2.68 GPa2.55 GPa95 %
Anycubic PLATensile modulus2.83 GPa2.43 GPa86 %
Creality Hyper-PLA RFIDTensile modulus1.89 GPa1.68 GPa89 %
Polymaker PolyLite CosPLA Version BTensile modulus2.93 GPa2.63 GPa90 %
Eryone Burnt Titanium PLATensile modulus1.74 GPa1.62 GPa, Z (X-Z)93 %
Raise3D Hyper Speed PLATensile modulus2.6 GPa2.48 GPa, Z (ZX)95 %
Bambu Lab PLA PureTensile modulus2.48 GPa2.2 GPa89 %
Eryone Standard PLATensile modulus1.9 GPa1.82 GPa, Z (X-Z)96 %
Kingroon PLA BasicTensile modulus2.58 GPa2.06 GPa80 %
Bambu Lab PLA BasicElongation at break12 %7.5 %61 %
Bambu Lab PLA MatteElongation at break15 %4.8 %32 %
Bambu Lab PLA Basic GradientElongation at break15 %8.3 %55 %
Bambu Lab PLA Tough+Elongation at break9.4 %9.3 %99 %
Bambu Lab PLA TranslucentElongation at break11 %9.6 %87 %
eSUN PLA-LiteElongation at break3.89 %2.39 %61 %
Polymaker PolySonic PLA Pro 6.0Elongation at break23 %4.9 %21 %
Polymaker HT PLAElongation at break2.8 %0.97 %35 %
Polymaker PolyLite PLA PRO Army BeigeElongation at break2.45 %6.02 %246 %
Polymaker PolyTerra PLAElongation at break28 %0.9 %3 %
Polymaker PolyMax PLAElongation at break5.7 %4.7 %82 %
Polymaker PolySonic PLAElongation at break22 %4.2 %20 %
Polymaker PolyLite PLA ProElongation at break6.3 %2.4 %38 %
Polymaker PolyLite CosPLA Version AElongation at break14 %1.1 %8 %
Polymaker HT PLA ProElongation at break13 %2.6 %20 %
Polymaker PLA ProElongation at break17 %3.05 %18 %
Eryone Hyper-Speed PLAElongation at break8.7 %5.1 %, Z (X-Z)59 %
Eryone Matte PLAElongation at break4.1 %2.3 %, Z (X-Z)56 %
Eryone PLA+Elongation at break4.2 %3.1 %, Z (X-Z)74 %
Eryone Hyper Speed Matte PLAElongation at break1.2 %1 %, Z (X-Z)83 %
Eryone Dual Color Burnt Titanium PLAElongation at break2.1 %1.9 %, Z (X-Z)90 %
eSUN PLA-MatteElongation at break7.23 %2.26 %31 %
eSUN PLA+Elongation at break4.14 %2.92 %71 %
eSUN PLA HFElongation at break5.19 %2.8 %54 %
Raise3D Premium PLAElongation at break2.5 %6 %240 %
eSUN PLA Basic ENElongation at break4.61 %2.89 %63 %
eSUN PLA Cast ENElongation at break4.6 %3.12 %68 %
eSUN PLA+HSElongation at break4.01 %2.8 %70 %
Anycubic PLAElongation at break4.2 %1.1 %26 %
Polymaker PolyLite CosPLA Version BElongation at break6.3 %2.4 %38 %
Eryone Burnt Titanium PLAElongation at break2.1 %1.9 %, Z (X-Z)90 %
Raise3D Hyper Speed PLAElongation at break9.6 %3.8 %, Z (ZX)40 %
Bambu Lab PLA PureElongation at break5.6 %2.8 %50 %
Eryone Standard PLAElongation at break2.2 %1.8 %, Z (X-Z)82 %
Kingroon PLA BasicElongation at break12 %7.5 %61 %
PLA-CF (alternative)Tensile strength58 % · 5
PETG (alternative)Tensile strength69 % · 13
ABS (alternative)Tensile strength73 % · 9
PLA-CF (alternative)Tensile modulus77 % · 5
PETG (alternative)Tensile modulus88 % · 10
ABS (alternative)Tensile modulus89 % · 7
PLA-CF (alternative)Elongation at break43 % · 5
PETG (alternative)Elongation at break59 % · 13
ABS (alternative)Elongation at break38 % · 9

Tensile strength: one more product is in the median across the layers but gives no share, with no flat value of the same test from the same sheet: Bambu Lab PLA Pure (its flat and across values from two documents).

How the numbers are worked out

Flat and across the layers, property by property

Flat and across the layers

PropertyPrinted flat (XY)Across the layers (Z)Z as a share of XY
MedianProductsMedianProducts
Tensile strength MPa4539.5⁠–⁠538330.322.1⁠–⁠3440
Tensile modulus GPa2.582⁠–⁠2.88611.981.67⁠–⁠2.4829
Elongation at break %6.34⁠–⁠12732.892.28⁠–⁠4.8535
Flexural strength MPa7668.8⁠–⁠85765442⁠–⁠5917
Flexural modulus GPa2.882.44⁠–⁠3.11712.412.07⁠–⁠2.7417

The middle half of the products under each median. The share is each product's Z value as a part of its XY value, from one sheet and one state, and the median of those shares. Where it counts fewer products than the Z median, the others publish no flat value of the same test from the same sheet; the figure's table names them. How XY and Z differ.

Most PLA products measure 81⁠–⁠84.5 Shore D

How hard are its products, on the Shore scale their sheets use?

  • a product
  • added filler or additive, kept out of the median
  • middle half and median
  • beyond the scale
Shore D hardnessscale 80–88 Shore D · 8 products, 7 in the median
Prusa Research Prusament PLA Recycled by Prusa Polymers8082848688
The figure as a table
PropertyIn the medianMedianMiddle halfLowest in the medianHighest in the medianAs publishedAdded filler or additive
Shore D hardness (Shore D)78281⁠–⁠84.5Prusa Research Prusament PLA Recycled by Prusa Polymers, 80Prusa Research Prusament rPLA Natural Pigments by Prusa Polymers, 8701

Every PLA product that publishes these values is drawn; each value, with its document and conditions, is on the Products page.

How the numbers are worked out

Thermal properties

PLA is amorphous as printed, so it softens at its glass transition, typically 59 °C: its HDT is 56 °C under 0.45 MPa and 55 °C under 1.8 MPa. Three products publish 75 to 135 °C at 0.45 MPa, three of them after annealing. The highest are colorFabb PLA-HP (135 °C, annealed at a temperature its sheet does not state for a time its sheet does not state), Fiberlogy IMPACT PLA (75 °C, annealed at 110 °C for 0.25 h) and 3D-Fuel Pro PLA (75 °C, annealed at 110 °C for 0.333 h). As published, Vicat softening is typically 60 °C and melting typically 163 °C.

Most PLA products deflect at 53⁠–⁠58 °C under 0.45 MPa

Where do its products soften under load?

  • a product
  • set apart: test bar not described as printed, or no stated load
  • measured after annealing
  • added filler or additive, kept out of the median
  • middle half and median
  • beyond the scale
HDT at 0.45 MPascale 50–70 °C · 125 products, 50 in the median
Anycubic PLA+colorFabb PLA-HP5055606570
HDT at 1.8 MPascale 52–60 °C · 44 products, 22 in the median
Polymaker PolySonic PLA Pro 6.0Polymaker HT PLA5254565860
Glass transition (Tg)scale 54–64 °C · 83 products, 76 in the median
Bambu Lab PLA TranslucentSUNLU High Speed PLA+2.0545658606264
The figure as a table
PropertyIn the medianMedianMiddle halfLowest in the medianHighest in the medianAs publishedAdded filler or additive
HDT at 0.45 MPa (°C)505653⁠–⁠58Anycubic PLA+, 50colorFabb PLA-HP, 1357111
HDT at 1.8 MPa (°C)225554⁠–⁠57Polymaker PolySonic PLA Pro 6.0, 52Polymaker HT PLA, 59213
Glass transition (Tg) (°C)765955⁠–⁠61Bambu Lab PLA Translucent, 54SUNLU High Speed PLA+2.0, 6807

Every PLA product that publishes these values is drawn; each value, with its document and conditions, is on the Products page.

How the numbers are worked out

Printing on the H2C

PLA softens near 56 °C, below the H2C's 65 °C chamber

What does printing it on the H2C take, and how hot can a part get?

  • share of the products that accept each temperature
  • what most products accept
  • the H2C's limit, and beyond it
  • a product
  • PLA: its products' median and middle half
  • as published, under each sheet's own test

Printing it on the H2C

Nozzle190⁠–⁠230 °C, accepted by most of the 166 products that give a window · the H2C reaches 350 °C
Bed50⁠–⁠60 °C, accepted by most of the 156 products that give a window · the H2C reaches 120 °C
Heated chamber25⁠–⁠45 °C, accepted by most of the 23 products that give a window; 163 need none · the H2C reaches 65 °C
Drying40⁠–⁠65 °C, 2⁠–⁠12 h, 68 products

In service

HDT at 1.8 MPa22 products
55 °C
HDT at 0.45 MPa50 products
56 °C
Glass transition (Tg)76 products
59 °C
Vicat softening temperature55 products, as published
52⁠–⁠156 °C
Melting temperature65 products, as published
80⁠–⁠220 °C

°C

One temperature axis for the settings a print needs and the temperatures a part meets. A setting's shade is how many of the products whose sheets give a window accept each degree; the H2C's limit closes its row.

The figure as a table
Setting or propertyMost products, or the medianProductsH2C limit
Nozzle190⁠–⁠230 °C166350 °C
Bed50⁠–⁠60 °C156120 °C
Heated chamber25⁠–⁠45 °C2365 °C
Drying40⁠–⁠65 °C, 2⁠–⁠12 h68—
HDT at 1.8 MPa55 °C (54⁠–⁠57 °C)22—
HDT at 0.45 MPa56 °C (53⁠–⁠58 °C)50—
Glass transition (Tg)59 °C (55⁠–⁠61 °C)76—
Vicat softening temperature52⁠–⁠156 °C55—
Melting temperature80⁠–⁠220 °C65—

Windows read from the Bambu Lab Filament Guide are not shaded: the guide speaks for every product that reads it.

How the numbers are worked out

SettingMost PLA productsBambu Lab Filament Guide (PLA column)
Nozzle190⁠–⁠230 °C most products that give one190 - 230 ℃
Bed50⁠–⁠60 °C most products that give oneCool Plate (35 - 55 °C)
Smooth PEI Plate (55 - 65 °C)
Textured PEI Plate (55 - 65 °C)
Cool Plate SuperTack (30-45 °C)
Heated chambernone; sheets that give one say 25⁠–⁠45 °C 163 of 196 productsenclosure not needed
Drying40⁠–⁠65 °C, 2⁠–⁠12 h most advise it only for wet filamentoptional: 50 °C for 8 h
Nozzle typestandard for most 4 of 196 products' sheets ask for one; 34 say a standard nozzle is enough; the Bambu Lab Filament Guide says any for 149 more; the rest are silentany

Where a product's own sheet is silent, its setting comes from a sheet it shares or from the Bambu Lab Filament Guide; each product's card says which.

Hardened nozzle. Four products need one: eSUN eStars-PLA, Nobufil PLAx, colorFabb steelFill and Raise3D Hyper Speed PLA Pro.

After printing

11 products publish values measured after annealing, on schedules from 90 °C for 4 h to 110 °C for 15 min.

What makers say about printing it

Warping and shrinkage

  • Fast printing up to 300 mm/s, low warp and a consistent surface finish. Polymaker HT PLA Pro, data sheet, p. 1

Printing advice

  • Remote printing needs to reduce the printing speed (≤40mm/s) to prevent potential feeding issue eSUN ePLA ST, data sheet, p. 2

On PLA in general

  • Low printing difficulty; limited warping and good small-feature reproduction. Difficulty after Prusa Research, PLA | Prusa Knowledge Base
More from makers: moisture sensitivity, adhesion between layers, nozzle wear, odour and emissions and supports and removal

Moisture sensitivity

  • It is recommended to store PolyWood™ in the PolyBox™ to prevent moisture absorption which will lower the quality and the mechanical properties of the print. Polymaker PolyWood, data sheet, p. 5

Adhesion between layers

  • Compared to general PLA, it can easily achieve printing speeds up to 250-300 mm/s and has excellent toughness and Z-layer strength. Bambu Lab PLA Basic, data sheet, p. 1

Nozzle wear

  • Luminous PLA is easy to grind nozzle and extruder gear, it is recommended to use steel nozzle or ruby nozzle, hardened steel extruder gear will be perfect , if the nozzle is clogging , replace the throat and nozzle eSUN eStars-PLA, data sheet, p. 2

Odour and emissions

  • No pungent smell when printing, safe and environmental protection. eSUN PLA Clear, data sheet, p. 1

Supports and removal

  • compared to other materials, the support is easier to peel from the surface of the model and the contact surface is smooth and flat eSUN PLA-Matte, data sheet, p. 1

Products

196 products from 39 makers; the most from eSUN (21), Spectrum (19) and Polymaker (14).

These are published values, not recommendations: the selector judges each product against your requirements.

Compare the 196 products

Uses, limitations and chemicals

What it is sold for

What makers warn about

Finish and accuracy

Chemicals and environment

ExposureWhat makers say
Acid resistanceNot resistant, in 25 of 35 statements
Alkali resistanceNot resistant, in 7 of 9 statements
Organic solvent resistanceLimited, in all 5 statements
Oil and grease resistanceLimited, in 5 of 6 statements
Water solubilityInsoluble, in all 5 statements
FlammabilityFlammable, in 4 of 5 statements
UV and outdoorDescribed in words, with no rating, in all 6 statements
Food contact claimsDescribed in words, with no rating, in its one statement
What guides and references say of PLA in general (5)
  • UV exposure and heat can degrade performance; unmodified PLA is not a weathering-grade default. UV and outdoor after Prusa Research, PLA | Prusa Knowledge Base
  • Industrial compostability does not imply breakdown in home compost. Disposal and circularity after Prusa Research, PLA | Prusa Knowledge Base
  • Polymer-level food-contact statements do not certify a printed article or its cleanability. Food contact claims after Prusa Research, PLA | Prusa Knowledge Base
  • Material extrusion can release particles and volatile compounds. Assess ventilation and source capture; low odour does not establish low exposure. Protect against hot surfaces and machining dust. Safety after CDC / NIOSH, Potential Hazards of Additive Manufacturing
  • Original study examines mineral-oil exposure coupled with low-cycle loading. The exposure and loading protocol must be matched; a generic oil-resistance label is insufficient. Oil and grease resistance after Głowacki et al., Polymers, Change in the Low-Cycle Performance on the 3D-Printed Materials ABS, ASA, HIPS, and PLA Exposed to Mineral Oil

Makers rarely give the concentration, temperature or duration: treat them as indications, not design data. Each product's statements are on its card.

Resin reference data (for plain PLA, where no maker of these products speaks): it absorbs moisture and is dried before melt processing. Fillers, pigments and printing change this, so it does not stand for these products.

Density and price

PLA's density is typically 1,240 kg/m³, the middle half 1,230⁠–⁠1,240 kg/m³, across 155 products. PLA typically costs 33 CAD/kg, the middle half 28⁠–⁠40 CAD/kg, across the 27 products with a regular price in the sample; the lowest is eSUN PLA HF at 18 CAD/kg.

Regular prices, never sale prices, from 9 Canadian shops and 10 foreign shops, sampled 10 Sep–20 Oct 2026, not live; shipping and tax are not included.

Other properties, as published

15 more properties are published, each under its own sheet's test conditions, so they are listed, not ranked.

The 15 properties, lowest to highest
PropertyProductsLowest–highest
Melt mass-flow rate1082.13⁠–⁠70 g/10 min
Water absorption370.13⁠–⁠1.8 %
Elongation at yield220.8⁠–⁠13 %
Mould shrinkage180.1⁠–⁠0.67 %
Decomposition temperature16250⁠–⁠375 °C
Impact strength, test unclear132.1⁠–⁠17.6 kJ/m²
Crystallization temperature1277.2⁠–⁠130 °C
Hardness780⁠–⁠86.5 Shore (scale not specified by source)
Tensile strain at strength72.07⁠–⁠15 %
Continuous service temperature645⁠–⁠50 °C
Interlayer adhesion strength417⁠–⁠41 MPa
Melt volume-flow rate48⁠–⁠32 cm³/10 min
Moisture content40.1⁠–⁠0.26 %
Flexural elongation at break33.3⁠–⁠10 %
Flexural stress at conventional deflection279⁠–⁠80.1 MPa

Sources

284 documents from 41 publishers (241 data sheets, 37 makers' product pages and guides, 2 safety data sheets, 1 printer document, 1 reference, 1 safety guidance document and 1 peer-reviewed study), read 10 Sep–19 Oct 2026. Each value on PLA's Products page names its document and page, and links to the original.

Bambu Lab, H2C Filamant Printing Guide (the H2C's printer guide): print settings for 192 products.

The Bambu Lab Filament Guide (print settings per material type): read for 182 products whose own sheets are silent.

Every document (284), by publisher
PublisherDocumentsValuesProducts
Spectrum3014622
eSUN2520221
Polymaker2437514
colorFabb2116812
Fiberlogy211169
SUNLU1822314
FormFutura139513
Bambu Lab111856
Prusa Research111125
Extrudr11916
Eryone8998
MatterHackers7334
and 29 more publishers, with 82 documents