Material comparison
PLA vs PETG
How PLA and PETG compare on strength, heat, ease of printing and price, and the cheapest reels of each in stock on Amazon UK and Eryone UK.
- typical PLA
- £13.99/kg
- typical PETG
- £12.99/kg
- cheaper right now
- PETG
PLA vs PETG at a glance
| Property | PLA | PETG |
|---|---|---|
| Nozzle | 190-230°C | 230-260°C |
| Bed | 35-60°C | 65-85°C |
| Enclosure | Not needed | Helps |
| Heat resistance | 57°C | 69°C |
| Strength | 3 out of 5 | 3 out of 5 |
| Flexibility | 1 out of 5 | 2 out of 5 |
| UV resistance | 2 out of 5 | 3 out of 5 |
| Ease of printing | 5 out of 5 | 4 out of 5 |
| Absorbs moisture | Low | Medium |
| Drying | 50°C, 6h | 65°C, 6h |
| Typical price | £13.99/kg | £12.99/kg |
| Cheapest in stock | £7.12/kg | £6.65/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 PLA per kg
Prices checked 6 Oct, 03:00–09:20 (UK time) and may change.We earn a small commission if you buy. Your price stays the same.
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.
PLA vs PETG: which should you buy?
Choose PLA if you want the easiest printing, with the fewest failed prints; your printer is open-frame: PLA doesn't need an enclosure; or you don't want to dry filament before printing.
Choose PETG if the part has to survive heat: PETG holds its shape to about 69°C, against 57°C for PLA; the part needs to bend or flex without snapping; or it will live outdoors or in sunlight.
On price, a typical PETG reel costs £12.99 per kilogram on Amazon UK and Eryone UK right now, against £13.99 for PLA.
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 PLA stronger than PETG?
They're about as strong as each other; the bigger difference is heat resistance (PLA 57°C, PETG 69°C).
Which is easier to print, PLA or PETG?
PLA. It prints at 190-230°C with a 35-60°C bed and needs no enclosure; PETG needs 230-260°C.
Is PLA or PETG cheaper in the UK?
PETG: a typical reel costs £12.99 per kg on Amazon UK and Eryone UK right now, against £13.99 for PLA. The cheapest of each are listed on this page.
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.