If you print at home on a printer without an enclosure, PLA will be the better choice in most cases: you print it at 190–220 °C with the bed at 50–60 °C and full cooling, while ABS demands 230–260 °C at the nozzle, 90–110 °C on the bed, the fan limited to 0–30 % and, ideally, an enclosed chamber. The difference doesn't end with temperatures, though — PLA is stiffer and easier to print, while ABS withstands higher service temperatures and handles impacts far better.
In this guide we break the “PLA or ABS” dispute down to first principles: concrete starting settings, real mechanical differences, hardware requirements, post-processing and safety. By the end you'll know exactly which material fits your project — and why the “which one is better” debate makes no sense without context.
Starting settings for PLA and ABS — table
| Parameter | PLA | ABS |
|---|---|---|
| Nozzle temperature | 190–220 °C | 230–260 °C |
| Bed temperature | 50–60 °C | 90–110 °C |
| Part cooling | 100 % | 0–30 % |
| Enclosure | not needed | recommended (essential for larger prints) |
| Print speed | 50–150 mm/s (and faster on modern machines) | 40–60 mm/s to start |
| Heat resistance of the finished part | approx. 55–60 °C (glass transition) | approx. 95–105 °C |
| Processing shrinkage | approx. 0.3 % | 0.7–1.5 % |
| Density | approx. 1.24 g/cm³ | approx. 1.04 g/cm³ |
| Odour and emissions while printing | minimal | noticeable — room ventilation required |
| Acetone vapour smoothing | doesn't work | works very well |
The values above are a safe starting point for most filaments in both groups. You'll find exact ranges for every material in our printing temperature table — keep it handy, because manufacturers shift the ranges by 5–10 °C depending on pigments and additives.
Why PLA and ABS differ so much
PLA (polylactide) is a polyester made from plant starch that softens at around 60 °C. That low glass-transition temperature is both its greatest strength and its biggest weakness: thanks to it, PLA prints easily, barely shrinks and doesn't need a hot bed, but the finished part will deform in a hot car or next to a heating element.
ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) is a classic engineering plastic — it's what LEGO bricks, power-tool housings and dashboard components are made of. It only softens at around 100 °C and has high impact strength, but it pays for that with high processing shrinkage: cooling layers contract so strongly that corners lift off the bed and tall prints can crack halfway up.
That shrinkage is the source of 90 % of ABS problems. If the corners of your prints keep lifting despite a hot bed, read our separate guide on why prints detach from the bed and how to prevent warping — every mechanism described there applies to ABS with double the force.
Strength: stiffness versus impact resistance
Contrary to popular opinion, PLA is by no means “weak”. In tension and bending it actually beats ABS: typical tensile strength of PLA is 50–60 MPa, while ABS reaches 35–45 MPa. PLA is also noticeably stiffer, so a bracket or mount printed in PLA will flex less under the same load.
Where PLA wins
PLA excels wherever stiffness, dimensional accuracy and aesthetics matter and the part works at room temperature: prototypes, figurines, organisers, enclosures for home electronics, templates, architectural models. Thanks to its minimal shrinkage, a PLA print stays closer to the designed dimensions than any other popular filament.
Where ABS wins
ABS wins wherever the part is flexed, struck or works in heat: clips and snap-fits, tool housings, parts in an engine bay or car interior, machine components close to stepper motors. Lower stiffness means an ABS snap-fit will flex and spring back where a PLA one simply cracks. ABS is also easier to post-process: sanding, tapping and gluing all go more smoothly than with PLA.
Service temperature — the hot-car test
The simplest material-selection test: could your part ever end up in a car parked in the sun? In summer a dashboard reaches 70–90 °C and the cabin 50–60 °C. A PLA phone mount will come back from that car park bent. ABS won't budge in the same conditions — its continuous service range extends to roughly 90–100 °C.
This also applies to less obvious places: a windowsill in full sun, the area around a stove, the inside of a printer enclosure, a lamp next to a halogen bulb. The rule is simple: above 50 °C of continuous service PLA is out, and the choice narrows to ABS, ASA or PETG.
Ease of printing and hardware requirements
An open printer without an enclosure
On an open printer PLA is almost maintenance-free: bed adhesion is good from 55 °C, the fan can run at 100 % and a draught from a window is harmless. ABS on an open machine is a fight: temperature differences between layers cause warping and cracking, and every draught leaves a mark on the walls. Small parts (up to ~5 cm) can be printed with a brim and the fan off, but it's better not to even start anything bigger.
A printer with an enclosed chamber
In an enclosed chamber the roles partly reverse. ABS feels right at home: the air around the print warms up to 40–60 °C, shrinkage spreads evenly and even large, solid parts hold their dimensions. PLA, on the other hand, starts causing trouble in a hot chamber — an environment that's too warm degrades bridges and fine details, and the filament can soften in the heatsink and clog the extruder (so-called heat creep). So when printing PLA on an enclosed machine, leave the door or lid open.
Surface finish and post-processing
PLA usually gives a prettier print “straight off the bed”: sharp edges, well-reproduced details and hundreds of colours and variants (silk, matte, wood-filled). Its mechanical post-processing can be thankless, though — it heats up and smears quickly when sanded, and gluing requires CA or epoxy adhesives.
ABS is a material made for post-processing. It sands cleanly, can be tapped and drilled, and its unique advantage is acetone vapour smoothing: fifteen-odd minutes in a closed container of vapour turns visible layers into a smooth, glossy, injection-moulded-looking surface. Acetone also welds ABS parts chemically — the joint is practically as strong as the solid material.
Safety and odour while printing
PLA smells mild while printing and emits relatively few volatile compounds — for short prints in an aired room you don't need special measures. ABS is another league: molten styrene has a sharp, irritating smell, and emission studies show far higher levels of volatile organic compounds and ultrafine particles than PLA. Print ABS in a ventilated room, ideally on an enclosed printer with a filter, and don't put the printer in a bedroom. It's no reason to panic, but it is workplace hygiene worth taking seriously.
Settings for popular configurations
| Configuration | PLA | ABS |
|---|---|---|
| Open printer, direct drive | 200 °C / 60 °C, cooling 100 % | small parts only: 245 °C / 100 °C, 8–10 mm brim, zero draughts |
| Open printer, Bowden | 205 °C / 60 °C, retraction 4–6 mm | not recommended — add an enclosure before you start |
| CoreXY with an enclosed chamber | 210–220 °C / 55 °C, door open | 250–260 °C / 100 °C, chamber 40–60 °C, cooling 10–20 % |
| Printer with a multi-spool system (AMS/CFS) | a perfect match, unlimited multicolour printing | possible, but keep spools dry and limit colour changes |
Most common mistakes
Printing a large ABS model on an open printer. Without a chamber a large ABS print will almost certainly detach or crack — enclose the printer even with a makeshift cover, or change the material.
Full cooling with ABS. A fan at 100 % guarantees delamination; with ABS start at 0 % and enable cooling only on bridges and overhangs, up to 30 % at most.
A bed that's too cold for ABS. 80 °C is not enough — the first layer needs 95–110 °C, otherwise the corners will lift within minutes.
A PLA part in a hot environment. Car mounts and parts near stoves or halogen lamps made of PLA will deform — for those jobs choose ABS, ASA or at least PETG.
Printing ABS without ventilation. You'll smell the styrene immediately, and long hours in a closed room with ABS printing is an unnecessary risk — make sure the air is exchanged.
Judging a material by one failed print. ABS printed in bad conditions will look worse than the cheapest PLA; compare materials only after tuning temperatures and cooling for your specific machine.
Frequently asked questions
Is ABS stronger than PLA?
It depends on the type of load. PLA has higher tensile strength (50–60 MPa versus 35–45 MPa) and greater stiffness, but ABS has far higher impact strength and heat resistance. For static loads PLA is often better; for impacts and heat — ABS.
Can you print ABS without an enclosure?
Small parts — yes: bed at 95–110 °C, cooling off, an 8–10 mm brim and a room free of draughts. With larger prints the risk of warping and cracking grows so quickly that an enclosure stops being an option and becomes a prerequisite.
Which filament should I choose for car parts?
For a car interior or engine bay choose ABS or ASA — they withstand the temperatures a parked car reaches in summer (50–90 °C). PLA will deform in those conditions; for exterior parts, ASA's UV resistance is an extra argument.
Is PLA safer than ABS while printing?
PLA emissions are clearly lower than those of ABS, which releases styrene and more ultrafine particles. Whatever the material, print in a ventilated room, but with ABS ventilation and a filtered enclosure are the sensible minimum.
Should I pick ASA or PETG instead of ABS?
Often, yes. ASA prints almost identically to ABS but doesn't yellow in the sun and copes better outdoors. PETG, in turn, needs no enclosure and offers heat resistance of about 70–80 °C — for many applications it's the sweet spot between PLA's ease and ABS's toughness.
Summary
The “PLA or ABS” dispute is settled by a single question: where will your part work? Room temperature, aesthetics and dimensions matter — PLA. Heat, impacts, post-processing, acetone — ABS, provided you have an enclosed chamber and ventilation. And if you need a compromise without an enclosure, consider PETG.
You'll find both materials in the Porima range: stiff, predictable PLA filaments in dozens of colours and engineering-grade ABS for special tasks. Start by browsing our PLA filament collection — and if your project has to survive the heat, reach for ABS or ASA.