Which is cheapest: PLA, PETG, or ABS?

PLA is almost always the cheapest per kg. PETG runs roughly 15 to 30 percent more than equivalent PLA from the same brand. ABS varies the most: from premium brands it can be the priciest of the three, but discounted house-brand ABS is often cheaper than mid-tier PETG.

Is PETG worth the extra cost over PLA?

For decorative prints, prototypes, and indoor parts, no. PLA prints cleaner, costs less, and is plenty strong. PETG earns the premium when the part needs to flex without snapping, sit in a hot car, hold liquids, or survive UV outdoors. If none of those apply, PLA is the better value.

Why is ABS sometimes cheaper than PETG?

ABS demand has fallen as PETG and ASA have eaten into its use cases. Retailers discount slower-moving ABS stock to clear it, so deal prices can dip below PETG. The raw material cost is similar, but the inventory math is not.

Can I print PETG and ABS on the same printer as PLA?

PETG yes, on almost any modern bed-slinger or core-XY printer, as long as your hotend can hit 230 to 250 C. ABS technically yes, but in practice you need an enclosure to prevent warping and to keep fumes contained. Without one, ABS is a frustrating and often wasted purchase.

Which filament is strongest for the money?

PETG offers the best strength-per-dollar for most functional parts. It is tougher than PLA, easier to print than ABS, and cheaper than nylon or PC. For high-impact or high-temperature parts, ABS or ASA pull ahead, but you pay for it in printer setup, not just spool price.

Which is best for outdoor parts?

Not PLA. PLA softens in hot sun and degrades under UV. PETG handles outdoor use reasonably well for a year or two. ABS and ASA are the right call for parts that need to live outside long-term. Pay the premium once, instead of reprinting in PLA every summer.

Do I need an enclosure for PETG or ABS?

PETG prints fine in the open on most printers. ABS effectively requires an enclosure to avoid warping, layer separation, and cracked prints. Factor enclosure cost into your decision: if you do not have one and do not want to build one, ABS is not actually the cheap option it looks like on the listing page.

Is cheap PLA worth buying, or should I pay more for a known brand?

Budget PLA from established sellers is usually fine for prototyping and visual prints. Where brand premiums earn their keep is tighter diameter tolerance, cleaner winding (fewer tangles), and drier packaging. For a printer you trust, mid-range PLA is the sweet spot. For a finicky printer or a part that has to look perfect, paying up is cheaper than reprinting.

How much does shipping change the real $/kg?

A lot, on single spools. A $17/kg spool with $8 shipping is really $25/kg. Multi-spool orders and free-shipping thresholds change the picture fast. Always compare the delivered price, which is what SpoolIndex's price-per-kg figure reflects when retailer data allows.

When does a multipack actually save money?

When the per-kg price beats the cheapest single spool of equivalent quality, and when you will actually use the colors. A 4-pack at $14/kg is not a deal if two of the spools are colors you will never load. Check the pack-view price-per-kg against single-spool deals before committing.

PLA vs PETG vs ABS: Cost and Use-Case Guide (2026)

PLA is almost always the cheapest of the three, PETG sits in the middle, and ABS swings the widest. But the right pick is the one that matches your part, not just the lowest sticker price per kg.

If you are buying filament for an FDM printer, PLA, PETG, and ABS are the three materials you will compare first. They cover the vast majority of hobbyist and small-shop prints, they are stocked by every major retailer, and they are usually the cheapest options in any given brand's lineup. The question is rarely whether to use one of them. It is which one, and at what price. On a typical week across the retailers SpoolIndex tracks, mainstream PLA lands in the $14 to $22 per kg range, PETG in roughly $18 to $28 per kg, and ABS anywhere from $18 to $32 per kg. Premium brands sit above those bands, and budget house-brands sometimes dip below. ABS swings the widest because demand is lower than PLA and PETG, so retailers discount it harder to move stock. The cost gap is not arbitrary. PLA is the easiest of the three to manufacture, dries the least often, and sells in the highest volume, so per-kg prices stay competitive. PETG needs better drying and tighter extrusion control, which costs the manufacturer more. ABS is older chemistry that prints in lower volumes today, so brand premium and shipping weight matter more than raw resin cost. There are also hidden costs. A cheap PLA that prints clean and rarely fails is the best value on the page. A cheaper ABS that warps off the bed every third print, or a PETG that arrives wet and needs a 6-hour dry cycle, can quietly cost more than the premium spool next to it. Enclosure, ventilation, and drying gear are part of the real price of any material that needs them. The practical rule is simple. Pick the material by what the part has to do, then find the cheapest credible spool in that material. Going the other way around, picking the cheapest spool and hoping it suits the job, is how most filament gets wasted.

FAQ

Which is cheapest: PLA, PETG, or ABS?: PLA is almost always the cheapest per kg. PETG runs roughly 15 to 30 percent more than equivalent PLA from the same brand. ABS varies the most: from premium brands it can be the priciest of the three, but discounted house-brand ABS is often cheaper than mid-tier PETG.
Is PETG worth the extra cost over PLA?: For decorative prints, prototypes, and indoor parts, no. PLA prints cleaner, costs less, and is plenty strong. PETG earns the premium when the part needs to flex without snapping, sit in a hot car, hold liquids, or survive UV outdoors. If none of those apply, PLA is the better value.
Why is ABS sometimes cheaper than PETG?: ABS demand has fallen as PETG and ASA have eaten into its use cases. Retailers discount slower-moving ABS stock to clear it, so deal prices can dip below PETG. The raw material cost is similar, but the inventory math is not.
Can I print PETG and ABS on the same printer as PLA?: PETG yes, on almost any modern bed-slinger or core-XY printer, as long as your hotend can hit 230 to 250 C. ABS technically yes, but in practice you need an enclosure to prevent warping and to keep fumes contained. Without one, ABS is a frustrating and often wasted purchase.
Which filament is strongest for the money?: PETG offers the best strength-per-dollar for most functional parts. It is tougher than PLA, easier to print than ABS, and cheaper than nylon or PC. For high-impact or high-temperature parts, ABS or ASA pull ahead, but you pay for it in printer setup, not just spool price.
Which is best for outdoor parts?: Not PLA. PLA softens in hot sun and degrades under UV. PETG handles outdoor use reasonably well for a year or two. ABS and ASA are the right call for parts that need to live outside long-term. Pay the premium once, instead of reprinting in PLA every summer.
Do I need an enclosure for PETG or ABS?: PETG prints fine in the open on most printers. ABS effectively requires an enclosure to avoid warping, layer separation, and cracked prints. Factor enclosure cost into your decision: if you do not have one and do not want to build one, ABS is not actually the cheap option it looks like on the listing page.
Is cheap PLA worth buying, or should I pay more for a known brand?: Budget PLA from established sellers is usually fine for prototyping and visual prints. Where brand premiums earn their keep is tighter diameter tolerance, cleaner winding (fewer tangles), and drier packaging. For a printer you trust, mid-range PLA is the sweet spot. For a finicky printer or a part that has to look perfect, paying up is cheaper than reprinting.
How much does shipping change the real $/kg?: A lot, on single spools. A $17/kg spool with $8 shipping is really $25/kg. Multi-spool orders and free-shipping thresholds change the picture fast. Always compare the delivered price, which is what SpoolIndex's price-per-kg figure reflects when retailer data allows.
When does a multipack actually save money?: When the per-kg price beats the cheapest single spool of equivalent quality, and when you will actually use the colors. A 4-pack at $14/kg is not a deal if two of the spools are colors you will never load. Check the pack-view price-per-kg against single-spool deals before committing.

The short version: PLA for almost everything indoor, PETG when the part needs to be tougher or live near heat or water, ABS or ASA only if you have an enclosure and the part genuinely needs it. Within whichever material you pick, optimize on delivered price per kg, not sticker price. SpoolIndex tracks current $/kg across retailers so you can skip the manual comparison. Use the material filters to narrow to PLA, PETG, or ABS, then sort by price per kg. Pack-view shows whether multipacks are actually cheaper than the best single-spool deal that day. A note on incentives: SpoolIndex earns affiliate commissions on some outbound clicks, but rankings are based on observed price and value, not on which retailer pays the most. The cheapest credible spool wins the top of the list regardless of who is paying us.