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PETG

Beginner

Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol

PETG bridges the gap between easy-to-print PLA and strong ABS. It offers excellent layer adhesion, good chemical resistance, and is slightly flexible — making it ideal for functional parts that need durability without the printing challenges of ABS.

⚠ IMPORTANT: Dry Your Filament Before Every Print

All filaments — including PETG — absorb moisture from the air. Printing with wet filament causes stringing, bubbling, weak layer adhesion, and poor surface finish. This is the single most overlooked cause of bad prints.

Always dry your filament per the manufacturer's recommendations printed on the spool label before printing, especially if the spool has been open for more than a few days or stored in a humid environment. Read our complete filament drying guide →

About the Temperatures & Speeds Listed Below

The print temperatures and speeds shown on this page are general industry ranges — not a one-size-fits-all prescription. Every printer brand and model has different capabilities. A Bambu Lab X1C can print PLA at 500 mm/s; an Ender 3 with a Bowden extruder performs best at 40–80 mm/s.

Always follow your specific printer manufacturer's recommended settings and the temperature range printed on your filament spool label. Start at the lower end of the range and dial in from there.

Material Properties

Strength8/10
Flexibility5/10
Heat Resistance7/10
Printability8/10

PETG Variants Explained

PETG isn't one material — it's a family. Every variant below starts from the same base chemistry but is modified for a different job. Click through for full settings and brand picks on each.

Best For

  • Functional parts
  • Mechanical components
  • Water-resistant prints
  • Phone cases
  • Tool holders

Avoid For

  • High-precision parts (slight stringing)
  • Very high temperatures (>80°C)

Pro Tips

  • 01Reduce print speed to 40–50mm/s for best results
  • 02Use a glass or PEI bed for easy removal
  • 03Slightly reduce retraction vs PLA to minimize stringing
  • 04Allow extra cooling time between layers

Dialed-In Print Profiles

These profiles are starting points based on community-tested settings for each printer. Your results may vary depending on your specific filament brand, ambient temperature, and printer condition. Always run a test print and adjust as needed. Speeds shown reflect what these printers are capable of — entry-level machines should use the lower end of any range.

Bambu Lab X1 Carbon
Nozzle
240°C
Bed
70°C
Speed
200mm/s
1st Layer
40mm/s
Retract
1mm
Fan
50%

⚠ Apply glue stick to PEI bed to prevent over-adhesion.

Prusa Research MK4
Nozzle
240°C
Bed
85°C
Speed
150mm/s
1st Layer
20mm/s
Retract
1.5mm
Fan
30%

⚠ Reduce fan speed for better layer adhesion on structural parts.

Bambu Lab P2S
Nozzle
240°C
Bed
70°C
Speed
180mm/s
1st Layer
40mm/s
Retract
1mm
Fan
50%

⚠ Apply glue stick to PEI bed. Excellent results with Bambu PETG HF.

Creality Ender-3 V3
Nozzle
240°C
Bed
80°C
Speed
120mm/s
1st Layer
20mm/s
Retract
1.5mm
Fan
30%

⚠ Reduce speed for best results. Glue stick prevents over-adhesion.

Print Speed by Printer Tier

Print speeds vary dramatically by printer. The speeds listed in product specs (like "500 mm/s") are maximum capabilities — not recommended everyday speeds. Use this table as a general guide and always follow your printer manufacturer's recommended settings.

High-End (Bambu X1C, P2S, H2D)
Print Speed: 150–250 mm/s

PETG HF (High Flow) variants recommended for high-speed printing on Bambu machines.

Mid-Range (Bambu A1/A1 Mini, Prusa MK4, Creality K1)
Print Speed: 60–120 mm/s

Reduce speed vs PLA to minimize stringing. Follow slicer PETG preset.

Entry-Level (Ender 3 series, Bowden extruders)
Print Speed: 40–60 mm/s

PETG strings more than PLA. Slower speeds and proper retraction tuning are essential.

Quick Specs

Print Temp230–250°C
Bed Temp70–85°C
Cost / kg$20–$35
EnclosureNot Required
DryingRecommended
DifficultyBeginner
Drying Note: Even filaments marked "Not Required" benefit from drying if the spool has been open or stored in a humid area. When in doubt, dry it.

Buy PETG Filament

Recommended brands: Hatchbox, eSUN, Polymaker, Bambu

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