PETG vs ABS
PETG is far easier to print and needs no enclosure; ABS holds its shape to around 100°C against about 75°C for PETG, but it warps badly without an enclosed printer and needs ventilation. On price, PETG is the cheaper today: an established 1 kg spool costs a median of £14.43 per kg, against £17.71 for ABS. We track 1,354 PETG and 284 ABS listings. The cheapest single listings are £5.63 per kg (PETG) and £6.12 per kg (ABS).
| PETG | ABS | |
|---|---|---|
| Listings tracked | 1,354 | 284 |
| Cheapest per kg today | £5.63 | £6.12 |
| Median per kg today 1 kg spools, 100+ reviews |
£14.43 | £17.71 |
| Ease of printing | Fairly easy: a little harder than PLA, and it strings more | Hard: warps badly without an enclosure |
| Heat resistance | Medium: holds up to around 75°C | High: holds its shape to around 100°C |
| Enclosure needed | No | Yes, plus ventilation |
| Typical uses | Functional parts: brackets, hooks, planters and outdoor fittings | Enclosures, car interior parts and prints you want to vapour-smooth |
| Main drawback | Strings more than PLA | Warps, gives off fumes, and yellows in the sun |
Prices are per kilogram of filament, with multi-spool bundles counted at their full weight, and are read from Amazon UK several times a day. The median is the middle listing among established 1 kg spools (new, with 100 or more reviews): half cost less per kg, half cost more. Little-known listings are left out of it because they are priced far higher and rarely bought; the listing counts and the cheapest figures cover everything we track.
Which should you buy: PETG or ABS?
Buy PETG unless you have a specific reason not to: it covers most functional parts on any printer. Buy ABS only if you have an enclosed printer and somewhere ventilated to run it, and the part needs to survive around 100°C or be vapour-smoothed. For outdoor parts at that temperature, ASA is usually a better pick than ABS.
The five cheapest PETG listings today
| Product | Material | Weight | Rating | Price | Per kg | Deal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PETG | 1 kg | 4.0 out of 5 (1,344 Amazon ratings) | £5.63 | £5.63 | Warehouse | |
| PETG | 4 kg | 4.3 out of 5 (5 Amazon ratings) | £22.60 | £5.65 | 27% below | |
| PETG | 2 kg | 4.4 out of 5 (4,640 Amazon ratings) | £12.00 | £6.00 | Warehouse · 45% under new | |
| PETG | 4 kg | 4.6 out of 5 (9 Amazon ratings) | £24.99 | £6.25 | 24% below | |
| PETG | 2 kg | 4.4 out of 5 (34 Amazon ratings) | £12.85 | £6.43 | 20% below |
All 1,354 PETG listings, ranked by £/kg
The five cheapest ABS listings today
| Product | Material | Weight | Rating | Price | Per kg | Deal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABS | 1 kg | 4.0 out of 5 (642 Amazon ratings) | £6.12 | £6.12 | Warehouse · 55% under new | |
| ABS | 2.5 kg | 4.3 out of 5 (50 Amazon ratings) | £17.09 | £6.84 | 47% below | |
| ABS | 2.5 kg | 4.3 out of 5 (50 Amazon ratings) | £18.99 | £7.60 | 9% below | |
| ABS | 4 kg | 4.3 out of 5 (111 Amazon ratings) | £31.37 | £7.84 | Warehouse · 12% under new | |
| ABS | 2.5 kg | 4.3 out of 5 (50 Amazon ratings) | £19.99 | £8.00 | 41% below |
All 284 ABS listings, ranked by £/kg
Questions people ask
Is PETG or ABS filament cheaper per kilogram in the UK?
PETG filament is cheaper per kilogram than ABS on Amazon UK in November 2026. Among established 1 kg spools (100 or more reviews) tracked by 3D Printer Deals, the median PETG spool costs 14.43 pounds per kilogram across 419 listings, against 17.71 pounds for ABS across 83. The cheapest single listings are 5.63 pounds per kilogram for PETG and 6.12 pounds for ABS.
Is PETG easier to print than ABS?
Yes, PETG is easier to print than ABS. PETG is a little harder to print than PLA and strings more, but it runs on any printer. ABS is hard to print: it warps badly without an enclosed printer.
Which copes better with heat, PETG or ABS filament?
ABS copes better with heat than PETG. PETG holds up to around 75°C. ABS holds its shape to around 100°C.
Do you need an enclosed 3D printer for PETG or ABS?
Only ABS of the two calls for an enclosed 3D printer. PETG does not need an enclosure. ABS needs an enclosed printer and ventilation.
Guides
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An enclosure matters enormously for ABS and ASA and barely at all for PLA. What a printer box really does for warping, fumes, noise and safety, and when an open frame is the better choice.
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Polycarbonate and nylon are the strongest common 3D printer filaments, but strong means four different things. Which filament type to pick for stiffness, impact, heat and layer bonding.