Skip to content
Layer Lookup

ASA filament

Acrylonitrile styrene acrylate

ASA is the outdoor version of ABS. It has the same toughness and heat resistance but stands up to sunlight and weather without yellowing or turning brittle, which makes it the best common filament for parts that live outside.

109 ASA filaments from 66 brands, in 638 colours.

Share Facebook X Reddit Pinterest Email

At a glance

Our rating
Ease of printing
Toughness
Stiffness
Heat resistance
Outdoor and UV
Flexibility
  • Needs an enclosure
  • Needs ventilation

Typical settings

Median values across all ASA filaments. Always check the maker's recommendations for a specific filament.

Nozzle
235–260 °C
Bed
90–110 °C
Density
1.07 g/cm³
Max drying temperature
85 °C

Diameters: 1.75 mm (638 colours), 2.85 mm (76 colours)

Colours

Popular ASA filaments

Browse all 109

Top ASA brands

About ASA

Properties

  • Excellent UV and weather resistance: colours stay stable for years outdoors.
  • Tough and heat resistant, softening at around 95–100 °C, similar to ABS.
  • Matte finish straight off the printer, which hides layer lines well.
  • Shrinks as it cools, like ABS, so it needs warm, still air to print well.

Good for

  • Outdoor fittings, garden parts, signs and mounts
  • Car exterior parts such as badges, clips and mirror housings
  • Parts for sheds, boats, bikes and caravans
  • Anything that must survive sun and heat together

Less suited to

  • Open-frame printers, especially for large parts
  • Printing in living spaces without ventilation
  • Quick, casual prints where PLA or PETG would do

Printing tips

  • Nozzle around 240–260 °C and bed around 90–110 °C.
  • Print in an enclosure and keep part cooling low.
  • Use a brim on large or tall parts to stop corners lifting.
  • Ventilate. Like ABS, ASA gives off styrene-based fumes and fine particles. Print in a ventilated room or use a filtered enclosure.
  • Dry at around 60–80 °C if prints show bubbles or rough surfaces.

ASA questions

Is ASA good for outdoor use?

Yes. ASA is the best common filament for outdoor parts: it resists UV and weather and keeps its colour for years.

Is ASA better than PETG for outdoor use?

For long-term use in strong sun, yes. ASA is more UV stable and more heat resistant. PETG is easier to print and fine outdoors for many parts, especially out of direct sun. See PETG vs ASA.

What is the difference between ASA and ABS?

They print very similarly and have similar strength and heat resistance, but ASA resists UV and weather while ABS yellows and turns brittle outside. See ABS vs ASA.

Can ASA be used for car parts?

Yes, inside and out. It stays rigid to around 95–100 °C and handles sun on exterior parts such as badges, clips and mirror housings.

Does ASA need an enclosure?

For reliable results, yes. Small parts can work on an open printer in a warm, draught-free room, but larger parts warp or crack without one.

Is ASA safe to print indoors?

Only with good ventilation. It gives off fumes similar to ABS, including styrene. Print in a ventilated space away from where people spend time, or use an enclosure with a carbon and HEPA filter.

Is ASA stronger than PLA?

It is tougher and far more heat resistant. PLA can be stiffer but is brittle and softens at around 55–60 °C, so ASA is the better choice for functional parts that get hot or live outside.