Filament comparison

PLA vs ABS filament

Live prices from the stores FilaNexus tracks, side by side with what each material is good at, so you can pick the right one and pay the least for it.

Short answer: PLA and ABS cost about the same: a typical 1 kg spool is $19.49 for PLA and $18.99 for ABS, and the cheapest spools we track are $12.99 and $17.99. Choose PLA for prototypes and calibration prints, or decorative pieces and figures. Choose ABS for cases and enclosures, or parts near heat, such as in a car.

PLA vs ABS price per kg

Single spools of about 1 kg, plus the cheapest way to buy 10 kg with bulk tiers and coupons applied.

	PLA	ABS
Cheapest 1 kg spool	$12.99/kg	$17.99/kg
Typical 1 kg spool	$19.49/kg	$18.99/kg
Cheapest 10 kg, per kg	$9.20/kg	$10.99/kg
Single spools tracked	8	7

PLA vs ABS: properties and print settings

	PLA	ABS
Strengths	cheapest and easiest to print stiff, with good strength accurate dimensions keeps well on the shelf	good heat resistance tough and wear-resistant smooth finish with little stringing
Weaknesses	low heat resistance, so it softens in hot places can turn brittle not suited to outdoor use	warps badly without an enclosure strong smell while printing, so ventilate shrinks as it cools, which costs accuracy
Best for	prototypes and calibration prints decorative pieces and figures cosplay props parts that need to fit together accurately	cases and enclosures parts near heat, such as in a car toys and hard-wearing parts
Heat resistance	low	high
Outdoors	poor — softens in heat and degrades in sunlight	fair — less UV-resistant than ASA
Nozzle temperature	190–220 °C	230–260 °C
Bed temperature	45–60 °C	90–110 °C
Enclosure	Not needed	Recommended
Moisture sensitivity	low	low
Difficulty	easy	medium

Material properties summarised from Simplify3D's PLA guide and ABS guide.

Cheapest PLA and ABS right now

PLA

Inland PLA 1 kg (Black) · Micro Center — $12.99/kg
ELEGOO PLA 1 kg · ELEGOO — $13.99/kg
Anycubic PLA Basic Mix & Match 1 kg (White) · Anycubic — $15.99/kg

Every PLA price →

ABS

OVERTURE ABS 1 kg · Overture — $17.99/kg
Bambu ABS 1 kg · Bambu Lab — $18.99/kg
Polymaker PolyLite ABS 1 kg · Polymaker — $18.99/kg

Every ABS price →

PLA vs ABS questions

Is ABS more expensive than PLA?

PLA and ABS cost about the same: a typical 1 kg spool is $19.49 for PLA and $18.99 for ABS, and the cheapest spools we track are $12.99 and $17.99. In bulk, PLA drops to $9.20/kg and ABS to $10.99/kg when you buy 10 kg.

Which is easier to print, PLA or ABS?

PLA is rated easy and ABS medium. ABS needs an enclosure; PLA doesn't. Moisture sensitivity is low for PLA and low for ABS.

Which handles heat better, PLA or ABS?

PLA has low heat resistance and ABS has high. For outdoor use: PLA is poor — softens in heat and degrades in sunlight; ABS is fair — less UV-resistant than ASA.

Other filament comparisons

PLA vs PETG PETG vs ABS ABS vs ASA PETG vs TPU How much filament costs

Prices last checked Oct 1, 2026 · US prices in USD · shipping and sales tax not included. Always confirm the final price at the store before you buy.