PLA vs PETG: choosing your everyday filament

The two materials that will cover most of what you print — and where each one falls short.

PLA is the easiest material to print well: low warping, no enclosure required, and forgiving of imperfect cooling and speed settings.

PETG trades some of that ease for real toughness and moisture resistance, at the cost of stringing more easily and needing slightly more tuning.

If a part just needs to look good on a shelf, PLA is usually the right default. If it needs to survive being dropped, sat on, or left in a hot car, PETG is the safer choice.

Neither material tolerates prolonged outdoor UV exposure well — for that, look at ASA instead.