Material comparison
PLA vs TPU
How PLA and TPU 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 TPU
- £19.99/kg
- cheaper right now
- PLA
PLA vs TPU at a glance
| Property | PLA | TPU |
|---|---|---|
| Nozzle | 190-230°C | 210-240°C |
| Bed | 35-60°C | 30-50°C |
| Enclosure | Not needed | Not needed |
| Heat resistance | 57°C | — |
| Strength | 3 out of 5 | 3 out of 5 |
| Flexibility | 1 out of 5 | 5 out of 5 |
| UV resistance | 2 out of 5 | 3 out of 5 |
| Ease of printing | 5 out of 5 | 2 out of 5 |
| Absorbs moisture | Low | High |
| Drying | 50°C, 6h | 70°C, 8h |
| Typical price | £13.99/kg | £19.99/kg |
| Cheapest in stock | £7.12/kg | £12.99/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 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 TPU per kg
Prices checked 5 Oct, 03:00 – 6 Oct, 11:20 (UK time) and may change.We earn a small commission if you buy. Your price stays the same.
PLA vs TPU: which should you buy?
Choose PLA if you want the easiest printing, with the fewest failed prints; or you don't want to dry filament before printing.
Choose TPU if the part needs to bend or flex without snapping; or it will live outdoors or in sunlight.
On price, a typical PLA reel costs £13.99 per kilogram on Amazon UK and Eryone UK right now, against £19.99 for TPU.
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 TPU?
They're about as strong as each other; choose on ease of printing and price.
Which is easier to print, PLA or TPU?
PLA. It prints at 190-230°C with a 35-60°C bed and needs no enclosure; TPU needs 210-240°C.
Is PLA or TPU cheaper in the UK?
PLA: a typical reel costs £13.99 per kg on Amazon UK and Eryone UK right now, against £19.99 for TPU. 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.