PLA vs PETG: which should you choose?

PLA prints crisply and cleanly, with sharp detail and a smooth finish. It is stiff and strong enough for most household and desk objects, display models, school projects and prototypes.

Its weakness is heat: PLA can soften and bend if left somewhere hot, such as a car dashboard in the sun or near a heat source.

PETG is more flexible and impact-resistant than PLA, so it is less likely to snap. It tolerates more heat and moisture, which makes it a better choice for functional parts, clips that flex, outdoor or kitchen-adjacent items and enclosures for electronics that get warm.

PETG’s surface can show slightly more stringing and a glossier finish than PLA, and fine details are a little less crisp.

Choose PLA for: display models, figurines, organisers, prototypes, school and hobby projects.

Choose PETG for: functional brackets and mounts, clips and snap fits, parts near warmth or moisture, electronics enclosures.

Not sure? PLA is the safe default. If your part will bend, take knocks or get warm, choose PETG.

Available colours are shown live when you configure your print, based on the filament Tomo actually has in stock, so you only choose what can be made. PLA and PETG currently cost the same per gram.

3D-printed parts are not certified for food contact, medical, electrical, pressure-bearing or safety-critical use. Please choose a certified product for those purposes.