PLA vs TPU
PLA is rigid and the easiest material to print; TPU is flexible, for parts that have to bend, and has to be printed slowly. They do different jobs rather than compete. On price, PLA is the cheaper today: an established 1 kg spool costs a median of £15.99 per kg, against £21.99 for TPU. We track 4,021 PLA and 483 TPU listings. The cheapest single listings are £6.39 per kg (PLA) and £11.50 per kg (TPU).
| PLA | TPU | |
|---|---|---|
| Listings tracked | 4,021 | 483 |
| Cheapest per kg today | £6.39 | £11.50 |
| Median per kg today 1 kg spools, 100+ reviews |
£15.99 | £21.99 |
| Ease of printing | Easiest: prints cool on an open printer with a brass nozzle | Moderate: must be printed slowly, and suits direct-drive extruders far better than Bowden |
| Heat resistance | Low: softens from about 55°C | Moderate: copes with more warmth than PLA, but is chosen for flexibility, not heat |
| Enclosure needed | No | No |
| Typical uses | Models, toys, ornaments and prototypes | Phone cases, gaskets, grips, tyres and anything that has to bend |
| Main drawback | Softens in a hot car or a sunny window | Slow to print, and difficult on Bowden extruders |
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 TPU?
Buy PLA for anything that should hold its shape. Buy TPU only for parts that must flex or grip: phone cases, gaskets, feet and tyres. Choose 95A hardness for a first spool, since it is the easiest grade to print, and check whether your printer has a direct-drive extruder before ordering.
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 TPU listings today
| Product | Material | Weight | Rating | Price | Per kg | Deal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 SUNLU 4KG TPU Filament TPU 95A 1.75mm Black, Flexible 3D Printer Filament |
TPU | 4 kg | 5.0 out of 5 (1 Amazon ratings) | £45.99 | £11.50 | 8% below |
 JAYO TPU 95A 3D Printer Filament 1.75mm,1.1KG Black |
TPU | 1.1 kg | 4.5 out of 5 (80 Amazon ratings) | £12.74 | £11.58 | 15% below |
 Amazon Basics TPU 3D Printer Filament, 1.75 mm, Red, 1 kg Spool (2.2 lbs) |
TPU | 1 kg | 4.3 out of 5 (945 Amazon ratings) | £12.10 | £12.10 | Warehouse · 17% under new |
 OVERTURE 2KG Bundle Flexible TPU 95A 3D Printer Filament 1.75mm, Black*2 |
TPU | 2 kg | 4.5 out of 5 (343 Amazon ratings) | £25.49 | £12.75 | 22% below |
 ERYONE High Speed Filament TPU 1.75mm +/- 0.03mm,3D Printing Filament,Rapid TP |
TPU | 1 kg | 4.5 out of 5 (75 Amazon ratings) | £12.99 | £12.99 | — |
All 483 TPU listings, ranked by £/kg
Questions people ask
Is PLA or TPU filament cheaper per kilogram in the UK?
PLA filament is cheaper per kilogram than TPU 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 21.99 pounds for TPU across 111. The cheapest single listings are 6.39 pounds per kilogram for PLA and 11.50 pounds for TPU.
Is PLA easier to print than TPU?
Yes, PLA is easier to print than TPU. PLA is the easiest filament to print: it prints cool on an open printer with a standard brass nozzle. TPU has to be printed slowly, and direct-drive extruders handle it far better than Bowden ones.
Which copes better with heat, PLA or TPU filament?
TPU copes better with heat than PLA. PLA softens from about 55°C. TPU copes with more warmth than PLA, but it is chosen for flexibility rather than heat resistance.
Do you need an enclosed 3D printer for PLA or TPU?
No, neither PLA nor TPU needs an enclosed 3D printer. PLA does not need an enclosure. TPU does not need an enclosure.
Guides
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Printing with TPU: what to know before you buy
Flexible filament is genuinely different to print. Shore hardness explained, why direct drive matters so much, and the settings that separate success from a nest of spaghetti.
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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.