TPU

Intermediate

Thermoplastic Polyurethane

TPU is the go-to flexible filament for prints that need to bend, stretch, or absorb impact. It is used for phone cases, gaskets, shoe insoles, and anything that needs rubber-like properties. Printing requires patience — slow speeds are essential.

⚠ IMPORTANT: Dry Your Filament Before Every Print

All filaments — including TPU — 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

Strength6/10

Flexibility10/10

Heat Resistance5/10

Printability6/10

TPU Variants Explained

TPU 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.

TPU 85A

Very soft, rubber-like flexible filament (Shore 85A). Excellent for extreme flexibility applications. Requires...

TPU 95A

The most common and easiest-to-print flexible filament (Shore 95A). Stiff enough for most extruder setups whil...

TPE

Broad category of ultra-soft flexible materials (typically Shore 60-80A). Extremely rubber-like with excellent...

Best For

Phone cases
Gaskets & seals
Flexible hinges
Shoe insoles
RC car tires
Cable management

Avoid For

Bowden extruder setups (use direct drive)
High-speed printing
Humid environments without drying

TPU Shore Hardness Guide

TPU comes in different hardness ratings measured on the Shore scale. A higher number means harder and less flexible. The general hardness order from hardest to softest is: 77D > 70D > 55D > 95A > 90A > 85A > 83A > 80A. Most 3D printing applications use Shore A ratings. Source: Bambu Lab Wiki, April 2026

95AFirm rubber bandEasy

Printer Compatibility: Most printers including Bowden setups

Recommended Speed: 30–50 mm/s (standard), up to 200 mm/s on Bambu direct-drive

Best For: Phone cases, Protective bumpers, RC car tires, Tool grips, Cable management

90ASoft rubberModerate

Printer Compatibility: Direct drive extruder recommended

Recommended Speed: 20–40 mm/s

Best For: Shoe insoles, Gaskets, Flexible hinges, Wearables

85AVery soft, gel-likeChallenging

Printer Compatibility: Direct drive required. NOT compatible with Bambu A1 / A1 Mini. Requires 0.6mm+ nozzle on Bambu printers.

Recommended Speed: 15–25 mm/s

Best For: Soft grips, Cushioning pads, Vibration dampeners

83A and belowExtremely softVery Challenging

Printer Compatibility: Specialty direct drive only. NOT supported on Bambu Lab printers. Not recommended for beginners.

Recommended Speed: 10–20 mm/s max

Best For: Specialty applications only

Important: Bambu Lab A1 and A1 Mini printers are NOT compatible with TPU 85A. Bambu Lab printers do not support any TPU rated below 85A hardness. Always verify compatibility with your specific printer before purchasing.

Pro Tips

01Use a direct drive extruder for best results
02Print slowly — 20–30mm/s maximum
03Dry filament at 50°C for 4 hours before printing
04Disable retraction or use minimal retraction

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

230°C

Bed

40°C

Speed

80mm/s

1st Layer

20mm/s

Retract

0.5mm

Fan

60%

⚠ Reduce speed significantly. Disable AMS — feed directly.

Prusa Research MK4

Nozzle

230°C

Bed

40°C

Speed

25mm/s

1st Layer

15mm/s

Retract

0.5mm

Fan

50%

⚠ Direct drive makes MK4 excellent for TPU. Very slow speeds required.

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: Up to 200 mm/s (95A HF only)

Bambu TPU 95A HF is engineered for high-speed direct-drive. Standard TPU: 30–60 mm/s.

Mid-Range (Bambu A1/A1 Mini, Prusa MK4, Creality K1)

Print Speed: 30–80 mm/s

Direct drive required. A1 Mini NOT compatible with 85A or softer. Use 95A for best results.

Entry-Level (Ender 3 series, Bowden extruders)

Print Speed: 15–30 mm/s (95A only)

Bowden setups struggle significantly with flexible filaments. 95A only. Very slow speeds required.

Quick Specs

Print Temp220–240°C

Bed Temp30–60°C

Cost / kg$25–$45

EnclosureNot Required

DryingRequired

DifficultyIntermediate

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 TPU Filament

Recommended brands: Hatchbox, eSUN, Polymaker, Bambu

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Printers With Dialed-In Profiles

X1 CarbonBambu Lab MK4Prusa Research

Other Filaments