PETG and ABS are the two most common "step up from PLA" materials — and choosing wrong wastes days of printing. Here's the honest engineering comparison, plus when you should skip both and reach for ASA.
The 30-second answer
- Choose PETG if you want toughness, chemical resistance and easy printing (no enclosure) — the best default for functional parts.
- Choose ABS if you need higher heat resistance (85 °C HDT), machinability and acetone smoothing, and you can run an enclosure.
- Choose ASA instead of ABS for anything that faces direct sun or outdoor weather — same strength, far better UV resistance.
Head-to-head table
| Property | PETG | ABS |
|---|---|---|
| Print difficulty | Easy–moderate, no enclosure | Moderate–hard, enclosure recommended |
| Heat resistance (HDT) | 70 °C | 85 °C |
| Impact strength | High, doesn't shatter | High, doesn't shatter |
| Chemical / moisture resistance | Excellent | Good |
| UV / outdoor | Fair | Poor (use ASA) |
| Post-processing | Sand / glue | Sand / glue / acetone smooth |
| Odor | Mild | Strong, needs ventilation |
| Cost per kg | Slightly higher | Lower |
When PETG wins
Vases and fluid containers, outdoor-adjacent parts, protective cases, brackets, and anything where you want strength without the enclosure headache. PETG also absorbs far less moisture-related warping risk than ABS.
When ABS wins
Parts that live in warm environments (car interiors, electronics enclosures), parts you want to acetone-smooth, and machined or drilled components. If you already run a heated enclosure for other materials, ABS is cheap and proven.
Practical print notes
PETG: 230–250 °C nozzle, 70–85 °C bed, low cooling (20–40%), dry 4 h at 65 °C for long prints. Reduce retraction 1–2 mm to kill stringing.
ABS: 230–260 °C nozzle, 90–110 °C bed, cooling off, enclosure at 40–60 °C chamber. Use a brim for large parts.
Both materials are available from VOXFIL in 1 kg, 3 kg and 5 kg spools with ±0.02 mm tolerance and batch reports — and we'll happily recommend a material for your specific part.