PETG vs PLA: which should you choose?
The two most popular 3D printing materials, compared honestly by a service that prints both every day. If you only remember one rule, make it this one:
PLA for parts that need to look good — prototypes, models, sharp detail. PETG for parts that need to do something — brackets, enclosures, anything outdoors, near heat or near water.
Head to head
| Property | PLA | PETG |
|---|---|---|
| Stiffness & tensile strength | Higher — but brittle | Slightly lower, ductile |
| Impact resistance | Snaps under shock | Bends, absorbs impacts |
| Heat resistance | Softens ~55–60°C | Handles ~75–80°C |
| UV / outdoor use | Degrades, goes brittle | Good outdoor durability |
| Water resistance | Absorbs moisture over time | Water-resistant, near water-tight |
| Fine detail & sharp corners | Excellent — crisp edges | Good, slightly softer detail |
| Surface finish | Matte or silk, very clean | Semi-gloss |
| Sustainability | Plant-derived, industrially compostable | Recyclable (same family as bottles) |
| Price per gram (at Sync 3D) | Identical — geometry decides your price, not this choice | |
Choose PLA when…
- The part is a visual prototype, model or display piece — PLA holds the sharpest detail of any common FDM material.
- It lives indoors at room temperature and won't be stressed, dropped or left in the sun.
- You want the widest finish and colour range — matte, silk, and speciality blends.
Choose PETG when…
- The part has a job to do: brackets, mounts, jigs, enclosures, replacement parts.
- It will meet heat — car interiors, near electronics or machinery (PLA warps where PETG shrugs).
- It will live outdoors or around water — PETG resists UV and moisture dramatically better.
- It must survive being dropped — PETG deforms and recovers where PLA cracks.
The myth worth busting
"PETG is stronger than PLA" is only half-true. Pull both in a straight line and PLA actually wins — it's stiffer and takes slightly more load. But PLA fails suddenly: it snaps like a biscuit. PETG behaves like a polymer should — it flexes, dents and carries on. For real-world parts that see impacts, vibration and temperature swings, that toughness is worth far more than a few extra megapascals on a datasheet.
What we print with
At our London studio we currently stock PETG in black — the engineering workhorse — with PLA, ASA and TPU arriving soon. Both materials cost the same per gram here, so the honest advice above isn't steering you toward anything more expensive. Curious what your part costs? See our UK pricing guide or get the exact number below.
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