Material comparison
PETG vs ABS
How PETG and ABS compare on strength, heat, ease of printing and price, and the cheapest reels of each in stock on Amazon UK and Eryone UK.
- typical PETG
- £12.99/kg
- typical ABS
- £15.99/kg
- cheaper right now
- PETG
PETG vs ABS at a glance
| Property | PETG | ABS |
|---|---|---|
| Nozzle | 230-260°C | 240-270°C |
| Bed | 65-85°C | 90-110°C |
| Enclosure | Helps | Required |
| Heat resistance | 69°C | 87°C |
| Strength | 3 out of 5 | 3 out of 5 |
| Flexibility | 2 out of 5 | 2 out of 5 |
| UV resistance | 3 out of 5 | 1 out of 5 |
| Ease of printing | 4 out of 5 | 2 out of 5 |
| Absorbs moisture | Medium | Low |
| Drying | 65°C, 6h | 80°C, 6h |
| Typical price | £12.99/kg | £15.99/kg |
| Cheapest in stock | £6.65/kg | £9.99/kg |
Ratings are out of 5. Temperatures and ratings are typical values from manufacturers' data sheets; prices are live from Amazon UK and Eryone UK.
Cheapest PETG per kg
Prices checked 5 Oct, 23:20 – 6 Oct, 11:14 (UK time) and may change.We earn a small commission if you buy. Your price stays the same.
Cheapest ABS per kg
Prices checked 5 Oct, 03:00 – 6 Oct, 06:00 (UK time) and may change.We earn a small commission if you buy. Your price stays the same.
PETG vs ABS: which should you buy?
Choose PETG if you want the easiest printing, with the fewest failed prints; it will live outdoors or in sunlight; or your printer is open-frame: PETG prints without one.
Choose ABS if the part has to survive heat: ABS holds its shape to about 87°C, against 69°C for PETG; or you don't want to dry filament before printing.
On price, a typical PETG reel costs £12.99 per kilogram on Amazon UK and Eryone UK right now, against £15.99 for ABS.
The figures are typical values from manufacturers' data sheets (Polymaker, Prusament, Bambu Lab); individual brands vary, so the range on the reel always wins.
Common questions
Is PETG stronger than ABS?
They're about as strong as each other; the bigger difference is heat resistance (PETG 69°C, ABS 87°C).
Which is easier to print, PETG or ABS?
PETG. It prints at 230-260°C with a 65-85°C bed; ABS needs 240-270°C and an enclosure.
Is PETG or ABS cheaper in the UK?
PETG: a typical reel costs £12.99 per kg on Amazon UK and Eryone UK right now, against £15.99 for ABS. The cheapest of each are listed on this page.
Can I print ABS without an enclosure?
Small parts, sometimes; anything bigger tends to warp and split in a draught, so ABS really needs an enclosed printer. Check which printers can print it in our printer guides.
How SpoolDeal checks prices
The same rules on every page, so a deal badge means the same thing everywhere.
Re-checked through the day
Every tracked listing on Amazon UK and Eryone UK is re-checked through the day, and the most-watched ones every two hours.
Measured against our own history
A deal only counts when the price is below what that reel has actually sold for over the last 90 days, not a seller's “was” price.
An email when it drops
Set a target price on any reel with a free account and we email you when it gets there.
Material pages
More comparisons
Waiting for a better price?
Open any reel and set the price you want to pay. We check it through the day and email you when it gets there. Free, and you can switch it off any time.