PETG is the material to choose when a part has to be tougher than PLA: when it will sit in a hot car, get knocked about, live outdoors or be exposed to water. You can now order it through our instant quote alongside PLA, TPU and resin.
Upload your model for an instant price
Choose PETG, a colour and the infill, and the price appears straight away. Prices include GST, and shipping is a flat $15 per order anywhere in Australia, free on orders of $80 or more.
What PETG is
PETG is a close relative of the plastic used for drink bottles. It prints almost as easily as PLA but is tougher, less brittle and handles heat much better: PLA starts to soften at around 55 to 60°C, PETG at around 80°C. It also shrugs off water and many everyday chemicals. For more background on the material itself, see PETG in 3D printing.
We print PETG on our FDM printers, up to 250 x 250 x 250 mm.
What PETG is good for
- Car parts. Clips, brackets, covers and mounts that have to survive a hot dashboard or engine bay surrounds.
- Outdoor parts. Garden, boat, caravan and camping fittings that see sun and rain.
- Functional parts that take a knock. Brackets, enclosures, hinges and housings where PLA might crack.
- Replacement parts. Broken clips, knobs and fittings for appliances and furniture. See 3D printed replacement parts.
- Clear parts. Light covers, diffusers, lampshades and windows in clear PETG let the light through.
- Prototypes that need to work. Test fits and working models closer to the finished product. See prototypes and functional parts.
Strengths and limits
PETG bends a little before it breaks, where PLA tends to snap, and it keeps its shape in heat that would warp PLA.
There are limits worth knowing before you order:
- Size. PETG parts can be up to 250 x 250 x 250 mm. For bigger parts, PLA goes up to 400 x 400 x 450 mm.
- Fine detail. Very small text and sharp details come out slightly softer than in PLA, and PETG can leave fine strings between separate parts. For tiny detailed parts, resin is a better fit.
- Clear is translucent, not glass. Clear PETG lets light through but is not see-through like glass, because of the printed layers.
- Not for food. Printed PETG is not certified food-safe: the layers trap bits that are hard to clean.
If your part does not need heat or impact resistance, PLA is the cheaper choice and gives a finer finish.
PETG colours
PETG comes in black, white, grey and clear.
Choosing infill for PETG
You can set infill anywhere from 0% to 100% in 5% steps; the default is 20%. For brackets, clips and anything that takes a load, 40% or more is a sensible start. Our infill percentage guide explains the setting in more detail.
How PETG pricing works
A PETG part is priced on the plastic that is actually printed, so the price depends on its size and infill. PETG costs more than standard PLA. As an example, a 20 mm cube at 20% infill is about $1.50 in PETG, compared with $1.00 in black PLA. Printed solid (100% infill), the same cube is about $3.82 in PETG and $2.55 in black PLA.
The minimum price is $1 per part, and bulk discounts apply from 10 copies of the same part. Prices include GST, and shipping is a flat $15 per order, free on orders of $80 or more.
Getting your file ready
Upload an STL, 3MF, OBJ or STEP file up to 600 MB. If the file will not open, or the part is bigger than 250 x 250 x 250 mm, email it to quotes@3dprinting.zone for a free manual quote.
To compare PETG with the other materials we sell, see our 3D printing materials guide, and PLA, PETG, ABS, nylon or TPU: choosing the right material for functional parts.
Frequently asked questions
Is PETG stronger than PLA?
It is tougher. PLA is stiff but can snap; PETG bends a little first, so it survives knocks and clips that flex better. It also handles heat much better than PLA.
Can PETG go in a hot car?
Yes, in most cases. PETG softens at around 80°C, well above PLA’s 55 to 60°C, so dashboard and interior parts usually hold their shape. For parts right next to an engine or exhaust, ask us first.
Is PETG waterproof and UV resistant?
PETG does not absorb water and is fine outdoors in Australian weather for most uses, though like most plastics it fades slowly in strong sun over the years.
How big can a PETG part be?
Up to 250 x 250 x 250 mm. Bigger parts can often be printed in PLA (up to 400 x 400 x 450 mm), or split into pieces.
Can I get a PETG part in colour?
PETG comes in black, white, grey and clear, one colour per part. Multicolour printing is available in PLA; see multicolour 3D printing.
Do you ship PETG parts Australia-wide?
Yes. Shipping is a flat $15 per order anywhere in Australia, free on orders of $80 or more.