ABS vs PC
How ABS and PC compare, from typical settings across every filament we list.
Short answer
Choose PC when you need the most strength and heat resistance a desktop printer can manage, and your printer reaches around 260–300 °C. Choose ABS for tough, heat-resistant parts that are easier to print and finish.
- ABS is easier to print; PC is tougher, stiffer, more heat resistant and better outdoors.
- PC typically prints about 35 °C hotter at the nozzle.
- PC typically prints about 10 °C hotter on the bed.
- ABS is less dense, so a 1 kg spool holds about 54 m more 1.75 mm filament.
- There are 151 ABS filaments in 1,021 colours, and 47 PC filaments in 131 colours.
At a glance
Our rating, out of 5| ABS | PC | |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of printing | Easier to print | |
| Toughness | Tougher | |
| Stiffness | Stiffer | |
| Heat resistance | More heat resistant | |
| Outdoor and UV | Better outdoors | |
| Flexibility | ||
| Setup | Needs an enclosure, Needs ventilation | Needs an enclosure, Dry before printing, Needs ventilation |
| ABS | PC | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene | Polycarbonate |
| Filaments listed | 151 | 47 |
| Brands | 72 | 27 |
| Colours | 1,021 | 131 |
| Nozzle temperature | 230–260 °C | 260–300 °C |
| Bed temperature | 90–110 °C | 100–120 °C |
| Density | 1.04 g/cm³ | 1.20 g/cm³ |
| Length of 1 kg (1.75 mm) | about 400 m | about 346 m |
| Max drying temperature | 80 °C | 75 °C |
Temperatures are medians across each material's filaments, rounded to 5 °C. Always check the maker's settings for a specific filament.
Brands that make both
25 brands make both ABS and PC; these have the most of each.
ABS vs PC questions
Is PC stronger than ABS?
Yes. Polycarbonate is stronger, stiffer and more impact resistant, and handles higher temperatures (around 110–140 °C against around 95–100 °C for ABS).
Can my printer print PC if it prints ABS?
Not always. PC needs a nozzle of around 260–300 °C, usually from an all-metal hotend, and a hotter bed. Many printers that handle ABS cannot reach those temperatures.
Which is easier to print?
ABS. Both need an enclosure, but PC prints hotter, warps more and must be kept dry.
What about PC-ABS?
A blend of the two: tougher and more heat resistant than ABS, but easier to print than pure PC. It is a good choice if your printer struggles with PC.