PLA and ABS sit at opposite ends of the everyday filament range. PLA prints on almost any machine with little warping. ABS is an older engineering plastic that handles heat and impact better but shrinks as it cools and gives off fumes, so it asks more of the printer and the room.
The numbers below come from one supplier, Polymaker, whose PolyLite PLA and PolyLite ABS data sheets use the same ISO test methods. Prusa's material guides add printing and safety guidance. Treat brand-specific figures as a guide to the difference between the materials, not as values for every spool.
PLA and ABS side by side
| Property | PLA | ABS |
|---|---|---|
| Nozzle temperature | 190–230 °C (PolyLite PLA); Prusa: 215 °C first layer, 210 °C after | 245–265 °C (PolyLite ABS); Prusa: 255 °C |
| Bed temperature | 25–60 °C (PolyLite PLA); Prusa: 60 °C | 90–100 °C (PolyLite ABS); Prusa: 100 °C, usable 80–110 °C |
| Enclosure | Not needed (Polymaker; Prusa enclosure guide) | Needed (Polymaker); Prusa says the printer should be inside an enclosure |
| Heat deflection, ISO 75 (1.8 / 0.45 MPa) | 58 °C / 60 °C | 98 °C / 100 °C |
| Tensile strength, ISO 527 (X-Y / Z) | 52.3 / 40.5 MPa | 33.4 / 29.7 MPa |
| Tensile modulus, ISO 527 (X-Y) | 3426.9 MPa | 2246.6 MPa |
| Elongation at break (X-Y / Z) | 6.3% / 1.8% | 17.9% / 3.1% |
| Notched Charpy impact, ISO 179 (X-Y) | 3.3 kJ/m² | 18.0 kJ/m² |
| UV and outdoor use | Prusa: degrades under UV light; not for outdoor use | Prusa: lists no UV resistance as a con; outdoor parts yellow and become more brittle |
| Fumes and ventilation | Not stated in Prusa's PLA article | Prusa: potentially dangerous styrene fumes; print in a well-ventilated room |
| Drying | 55 °C for 6 h (Polymaker) | 70 °C for 6 h (Polymaker) |
| Finishing | Prusa: wet sanding works; chemical smoothing needs hazardous solvents | Prusa: acetone vapor smoothing and gluing |
Property values come from Polymaker's PolyLite PLA and PolyLite ABS technical data sheets (same ISO test methods, 100% infill specimens), with printing and safety guidance from Prusa's PLA, ABS and enclosure articles.
Heat resistance
Polymaker lists a heat deflection temperature of 98 °C for PolyLite ABS and 58 °C for PolyLite PLA under the 1.8 MPa ISO 75 load. That 40-degree gap is the main reason to accept ABS's harder printing. Prusa's PLA guide says PLA softens and deforms above about 60 °C, while its ABS guide lists good high-temperature resistance as a strength.
Heat deflection is a test-bar figure under a set load. A part with thin sections or a constant clamp load may deform below it, so compare the expected service temperature with the exact grade's data and keep a margin.
Stiffness versus toughness
The two materials fail differently. PolyLite PLA has the higher tensile strength (52.3 MPa in-plane against 33.4 MPa) and is much stiffer, so it carries a steady load with less deflection. PolyLite ABS stretches far more before breaking in-plane (17.9% against 6.3%) and its notched Charpy value is 18.0 kJ/m² against 3.3 kJ/m² for PLA.
In practice, that points PLA toward rigid parts under light, steady loads and ABS toward parts that get dropped, snapped or knocked. Prusa describes PLA as brittle and prone to shattering on impact, and credits ABS with high tenacity. A print in the real orientation, loaded the way it will be used, is a better check than any table.
Warping and the print environment
ABS shrinks noticeably as it cools. Prusa lists significant warping as its main drawback, says parts shrink by about 1 to 2%, and recommends a bed of at least 100 °C with the printer inside an enclosure. Without one, Prusa suggests PrusaSlicer's draft shield. Polymaker also lists an enclosure as needed for PolyLite ABS.
PLA needs none of that. Polymaker runs it with the cooling fan on and a bed from room temperature to 60 °C, and Prusa's enclosure guide says its shrinkage is too small to notice during printing.
Fumes, outdoor use and finishing
Prusa warns that ABS can release potentially dangerous styrene fumes and recommends a well-ventilated room without drafts across the print. Its PLA article does not discuss fumes. Neither material is a strong outdoor choice in Prusa's guidance: PLA degrades under UV, and ABS yellows and becomes more brittle over time. Prusa's ABS article contrasts this with ASA, which it describes as UV resistant.
ABS is easier to finish. Prusa notes it can be smoothed and glued with acetone, while smoothing PLA requires solvents that Prusa says belong in a lab with trained staff.
Which should you choose?
Choose PLA if…
- The part is a model, figure or early prototype that stays indoors at room temperature.
- You need a stiff part that resists bending under a light, steady load.
- Your printer has no enclosure or the room has limited ventilation.
- You want large prints with little risk of warping.
Choose ABS if…
- The part must keep its shape near the 98 °C heat deflection temperature Polymaker lists for PolyLite ABS, with a margin.
- The part will take knocks or drops, where ABS's higher impact value matters.
- You plan to smooth or glue the part with acetone.
- You have an enclosed printer and a ventilated room.
Common questions
Is ABS stronger than PLA?
Not in every sense. In Polymaker's PolyLite data, PLA has higher tensile strength and stiffness, while ABS has far higher elongation and notched impact strength. ABS is the tougher material; PLA is the more rigid one.
Can I print ABS without an enclosure?
Prusa says the printer should be inside an enclosure for ABS and suggests the draft shield setting when one is not available. Polymaker also lists an enclosure as needed. Small parts may succeed without one, but warping risk rises.
Is ABS safe to print indoors?
Prusa warns of potentially dangerous styrene fumes and recommends printing in a well-ventilated room. Follow the safety data sheet for your exact filament as well.
Sources
- PolyLite PLA technical data sheet Polymaker · Checked 2026-11-02
- PolyLite ABS technical data sheet (V5.5) Polymaker · Checked 2026-11-02
- PLA Prusa Research · Checked 2026-10-15
- ABS Prusa Research · Checked 2026-10-15
- Enclosure guidepost Prusa Research · Checked 2026-10-16
This comparison summarizes the cited documentation; it is not a lab test. Properties vary by brand, grade, print settings and orientation, so check the data sheet for the exact product you buy.