PETG: density, print temperature and when it beats PLA
PETG (glycol-modified PET) is the middle ground between easy-printing PLA and temperamental ABS. It takes impacts better than PLA, needs no enclosure and barely smells while printing — which makes it the second most popular material among makers after PLA.
Key properties
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Density | 1.27 g/cm³ |
| Nozzle temperature | 230–250°C |
| Bed temperature | 70–80°C |
| Part cooling | 30–50% (less than PLA) |
| Shrinkage | low |
| Enclosure required | no, but doesn't hurt |
At 1.27 g/cm³ PETG is slightly denser than PLA (1.24) — for the same model volume a PETG part weighs a bit more and therefore costs a bit more in material per gram.
When to use it
- Functional parts under impact loads — brackets, fasteners, enclosures.
- Outdoor or damp-environment parts — PETG handles moisture better than PLA.
- Food contact — provided the filament is specifically rated for it and the extruder hardware is suitable (using PETG by itself does not guarantee food safety).
When to pick something else
- You need maximum stiffness and dimensional stability on large parts — ABS/ASA behave more predictably there.
- Budget is tight and strength requirements are low — PLA is cheaper and prints with no surprises.
- The part has to flex — TPU.
Pros and cons
Pros: noticeably tougher against impact and snapping than PLA; no odor while printing; tolerates brief heating better than PLA (up to ~70–80°C).
Cons: prone to stringing without careful retraction tuning; sands and machines worse than ABS; with an overheated bed it sticks so hard the part can get damaged on removal.
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How it affects your print cost
Higher nozzle and bed temperatures than PLA mean slightly more electricity per print. The density difference (1.27 vs 1.24 g/cm³) adds about 2% more weight for the same model volume — and 2% more material in grams for the same part.