PLA
For gifts and display pieces
- Best for
- Gifts, keychains, models
- Heat
- Up to ~55 °C
- Colors
- 8 stock
- Material cost
- Baseline
PLA vs ABS: which material?
Updated September 28, 2026
PLA for gifts and display pieces. ABS for parts that get warm.
ABS
For parts that get warm
- Best for
- Parts, brackets, car interiors
- Heat
- Up to ~95 °C
- Colors
- Black, white
- Material cost
- About 30% more
Get an estimate See 3D printing
Need another filament? Message us, we’ll say if we can source it.
| Material | Best for | Heat | Material cost vs PLA |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLA | Gifts, figures, keychains, display pieces | Softens around 55 °C | Baseline |
| ABS | Car parts, enclosures, anything in full sun | Handles more heat than PLA | About 30% more |
Material FAQ
Which is stronger, PLA or ABS?
ABS is tougher and handles heat and sun better. PLA is stiffer, with crisper detail, but softens in a hot car. See 3D printing.
Which material is best for name keychains?
PLA. It gives the brightest colours and sharpest letters. Keep it off hot dashboards. Personalize a keychain.
Will PLA survive a parked car?
Not for long. A parked car in Metro Manila can get hotter than PLA can take. Anything that lives in a car, on a window sill or in direct sun is better in ABS. Switch the material in the Make Lab and the estimate updates.
What about PETG or TPU?
We print mostly PLA, and ABS when heat matters. PETG, TPU and other filaments are sourced on request: message us and we confirm the price before you pay. PETG handles heat better than PLA but not as well as ABS.
