PLA vs PETG
PLA is easier to print and is the right default for models and prototypes; PETG is tougher, holds up to around 75°C against about 55°C for PLA, and is the better choice for functional and outdoor parts. On price, PETG is the cheaper today: an established 1 kg spool costs a median of £14.43 per kg, against £15.99 for PLA. We track 4,021 PLA and 1,354 PETG listings. The cheapest single listings are £6.39 per kg (PLA) and £5.63 per kg (PETG).
| PLA | PETG | |
|---|---|---|
| Listings tracked | 4,021 | 1,354 |
| Cheapest per kg today | £6.39 | £5.63 |
| Median per kg today 1 kg spools, 100+ reviews |
£15.99 | £14.43 |
| Ease of printing | Easiest: prints cool on an open printer with a brass nozzle | Fairly easy: a little harder than PLA, and it strings more |
| Heat resistance | Low: softens from about 55°C | Medium: holds up to around 75°C |
| Enclosure needed | No | No |
| Typical uses | Models, toys, ornaments and prototypes | Functional parts: brackets, hooks, planters and outdoor fittings |
| Main drawback | Softens in a hot car or a sunny window | Strings more than PLA |
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: PLA or PETG?
Buy PLA if you are starting out, or printing models, toys and prototypes that stay indoors: it is the most forgiving material and needs no special hardware. Buy PETG when the part has a job to do, sits in a car, a conservatory or the garden, or needs to take a knock. Neither needs an enclosure, so most people end up with a spool of each.
The five cheapest PLA listings today
| Product | Material | Weight | Rating | Price | Per kg | Deal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 3DHoJor 6KG Matte PLA Filament Bundle 1.75mm Multicolor for 3D Printers |
PLA | 6 kg | 5.0 out of 5 (2 Amazon ratings) | £38.35 | £6.39 | 19% below |
 OVERTURE 3D Printer Filament PLA 1.75mm 2kg Bundle, Black*1+White*1 |
PLA | 2 kg | 4.6 out of 5 (29 Amazon ratings) | £13.13 | £6.57 | Warehouse · 30% under new |
 3DHoJor Matte PLA Filament 1.75mm 1kg*4 Multicolor Bundle for 3D Printers |
PLA | 4 kg | 4.4 out of 5 (52 Amazon ratings) | £26.63 | £6.66 | 19% below |
 3DHoJor Matte PLA Filament 1.75mm 1kg*4 Multicolor Bundle for 3D Printers |
PLA | 4 kg | 4.4 out of 5 (52 Amazon ratings) | £26.63 | £6.66 | 19% below |
 DEEPLEE PLA Basic Refill Filament 1.75mm White 4kg Bundle |
PLA | 4 kg refill | 4.2 out of 5 (323 Amazon ratings) | £26.85 | £6.71 | Warehouse · 13% under new |
All 4,021 PLA listings, ranked by £/kg
The five cheapest PETG listings today
| Product | Material | Weight | Rating | Price | Per kg | Deal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 High-Speed Red PETG 3D Printer Filament 1.75mm, Dimentional Accuracy +/-0.02mm |
PETG | 1 kg | 4.0 out of 5 (1,344 Amazon ratings) | £5.63 | £5.63 | Warehouse |
 3DHojor Basic PETG Filament 1.75mm 1kg*4 Bundle-Clear+Geen+Blue+Orange |
PETG | 4 kg | 4.3 out of 5 (5 Amazon ratings) | £22.60 | £5.65 | 27% below |
 ELEGOO Rapid PETG 3D Printer Filament Bundle 1.75mm Yellow/Green 2KG |
PETG | 2 kg | 4.4 out of 5 (4,640 Amazon ratings) | £12.00 | £6.00 | Warehouse · 45% under new |
 TINMORRY PETG 3D Printer Filament Bundle, PETG-ECO Filament 1.75 mm,Rapid PETG |
PETG | 4 kg | 4.6 out of 5 (9 Amazon ratings) | £24.99 | £6.25 | 24% below |
 3DHoJor Basic PETG Filament 1.75mm 1kg*2 Bundle for 3D Printers-2Pack White |
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
Questions people ask
Is PLA or PETG filament cheaper per kilogram in the UK?
PETG filament is cheaper per kilogram than PLA on Amazon UK in November 2026. Among established 1 kg spools (100 or more reviews) tracked by 3D Printer Deals, the median PLA spool costs 15.99 pounds per kilogram across 1,569 listings, against 14.43 pounds for PETG across 419. The cheapest single listings are 6.39 pounds per kilogram for PLA and 5.63 pounds for PETG.
Is PLA easier to print than PETG?
Yes, PLA is easier to print than PETG. PLA is the easiest filament to print: it prints cool on an open printer with a standard brass nozzle. PETG is a little harder to print than PLA and strings more, but it runs on any printer.
Which copes better with heat, PLA or PETG filament?
PETG copes better with heat than PLA. PLA softens from about 55°C. PETG holds up to around 75°C.
Do you need an enclosed 3D printer for PLA or PETG?
No, neither PLA nor PETG needs an enclosed 3D printer. PLA does not need an enclosure. PETG does not need an enclosure.
Guides
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PLA vs PETG: which should you buy?
The two filaments that cover nearly everything. What each is actually good at, where PETG is worth the extra difficulty, and why PLA is still the right default.
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Your first filament order: what to buy
What to put in your first filament order, and what to leave until your third. One material, one diameter, two colours, and the three things worth paying more for.
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Strongest 3D printer filament: types compared
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.