TPU is the material to choose when a part needs to bend, squash or grip rather than hold rigidly still. It is a flexible, rubber-like plastic, and you can now order it through our instant quote alongside PLA and resin.
Upload your model for an instant price
Choose TPU, a colour, the size and 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 TPU is
TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) is a flexible plastic that behaves a lot like rubber. A TPU part can be bent, squeezed or stretched a little and will spring back to its shape. It also stands up well to knocks and rubbing. For more background on the material itself, see TPU in 3D printing.
We print TPU on our FDM printers, the same kind of machine we use for PLA, so the build size is the same: up to 400 x 400 x 450 mm.
What TPU is good for
- Grips and handles. Soft covers for tools, bars and knobs that are more comfortable to hold.
- Seals and gaskets. Parts that need to press against a surface and close a gap.
- Bumpers and feet. Pads that soak up knocks and stop things sliding or scratching.
- Phone cases and covers. Cases that flex to fit over a device and protect it from drops.
- Straps and bands. Parts that wrap around something and need to bend every time they are used.
- Cosplay parts that need to bend. Pieces that sit against the body, move with a costume or need to survive being bumped. See cosplay 3D printing.
- Replacement parts. Worn rubber feet, stoppers and covers that are no longer sold. See 3D printed replacement parts.
Strengths and limits
Where a thin PLA part might snap when flexed, a TPU part usually bends and recovers. It is also tough against impact and abrasion.
There are limits worth knowing before you order:
- Fine detail. Sharp edges, small raised text and tiny features do not come out as crisply as they do in PLA. For small, finely detailed parts, resin or PLA is a better fit.
- Overhangs. Steep overhangs and long bridges are harder to print cleanly in a flexible material. Our guide to designing for FDM explains how to design around them.
- Thin walls. Very thin sections flex a lot. If a part needs to keep its shape, make the walls thicker or raise the infill.
- Stringing. TPU can leave fine strands between separate parts of a print, which may need trimming.
If your part needs to stay rigid, standard PLA is the better and cheaper choice.
TPU colours
TPU comes in black, blue, white, skin, grey, red, green and orange.
Choosing infill for TPU
Infill changes how a TPU part feels, not just how strong it is. You can set it anywhere from 0% to 100% in 5% steps, and the default is 20%. Lower infill gives a softer, more squashable part. Higher infill gives a firmer, heavier part that flexes less. Our infill percentage guide explains the setting in more detail.
How TPU pricing works
A TPU part is priced by the weight of plastic that is actually printed, so the price depends on its size and infill. TPU costs more than standard PLA. As an example, a 20 mm cube at 20% infill is about $1.48 in TPU, compared with $1.00 in black PLA. Printed solid (100% infill), the same cube is about $3.78 in TPU and $2.55 in black PLA.
The minimum price is $1 per 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 400 x 400 x 450 mm, email it to quotes@3dprinting.zone for a free manual quote.
To compare TPU with the other materials we sell, see our 3D printing materials guide. For how it stacks up against PETG, ABS and nylon, read PLA, PETG, ABS, nylon or TPU: choosing the right material for functional parts.
Frequently asked questions
How flexible is TPU?
It bends, squashes and springs back like rubber. How flexible a particular part feels depends on its wall thickness and infill: thin walls and low infill give a soft part, while thick walls and high infill give a firmer one.
What is the largest TPU part you can print?
400 x 400 x 450 mm, the same as PLA.
Is TPU more expensive than PLA?
Yes, somewhat, because it costs more per gram. Upload your file to see the exact price, including GST.
Can TPU print fine detail?
Not as well as PLA or resin. Small text, sharp corners and steep overhangs are harder in a flexible material. TPU suits parts where flexibility matters more than crisp detail.
How soon will my TPU order be printed?
For weekday orders, we normally start printing the same day if the colour is in stock. If it is not, it can take up to 3 business days for the material to arrive.