Filament Settings Cheat Sheet
Starting temperatures, enclosure needs, drying settings and heat resistance for the common 3D printing filaments, in one table. These are starting points: brands and even colors vary, so print a temperature tower when you open a new spool and adjust from there.
Print Settings by Material
| Material | Nozzle | Bed | Enclosure | Drying | Heat resistance | Difficulty | Market avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLA | 190-220°C | 40-60°C | Not needed | 50-55°C, 4-8h | ~55°C | Easy | $20.76/kg |
| PETG | 230-250°C | 70-90°C | Optional | 60-65°C, 4-8h | ~70°C | Easy | $18.92/kg |
| ABS | 230-260°C | 100-110°C | Required | 65-80°C, 4-8h | ~90-100°C | Intermediate | $20.59/kg |
| ASA | 240-260°C | 100-110°C | Required | 65-80°C, 4-8h | ~90-100°C | Intermediate | $23.12/kg |
| TPU | 210-230°C | 30-60°C | Not needed | 65-75°C, 8-10h | varies by grade | Intermediate | $26.55/kg |
| Nylon | 240-270°C | 70-90°C | Strongly rec. | 70-80°C, 8-12h | ~80-180°C (varies by type and fiber fill) | Advanced | Prices |
| PCTG | 240-270°C | 70-90°C | Not needed (helps with large parts) | 60-65°C, 4-6h | ~75°C | Intermediate | Prices |
| PP | 220-250°C | 60-100°C (PP tape or PP sheet) | Recommended | Rarely needed; 50°C, 4h if damp | ~50-65°C | Advanced | Prices |
| PC | 250-290°C | 90-120°C | Required | 70-80°C, 6-8h (dry before every print) | ~110-120°C | Advanced | Prices |
Market averages are the mean price per kg across listings we track, .
How to Use These Numbers
Start in the middle of the nozzle range
Then move in 5°C steps. Stringing and oozing mean too hot; weak layer bonding, rough walls or clicking extruders mean too cold. Silk and high speed variants often want the top of the range.
Dry before you blame the settings
Wet filament strings, pops and prints weak no matter how well tuned the temperatures are. PETG, TPU, nylon and PC absorb moisture quickly; a filament dryer at the drying setting above fixes more "settings" problems than any slicer change.
Heat resistance is a ceiling, not a target
The heat resistance column is roughly where a part starts to soften under load. A PLA part in a hot car will deform well before a PETG or ASA part does, so pick the material for the hottest place the print will ever sit.
Full Guides for Each Material
Find the Right Filament at the Right Price
Once you know the material, compare every listing we track by price per kilogram, refreshed every 4 hours.
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