PLA vs PA12
How PLA and PA12 compare, from typical settings across every filament we list.
- PLA is easier to print and stiffer; PA12 is tougher, more heat resistant, better outdoors and more flexible.
- PA12 typically prints about 45 °C hotter at the nozzle.
- PA12 typically prints about 30 °C hotter on the bed.
- PA12 is less dense, so a 1 kg spool holds about 77 m more 1.75 mm filament.
- There are 880 PLA filaments in 8,714 colours, and 50 PA12 filaments in 90 colours.
At a glance
Our rating, out of 5| PLA | PA12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of printing | Easier to print | |
| Toughness | Tougher | |
| Stiffness | Stiffer | |
| Heat resistance | More heat resistant | |
| Outdoor and UV | Better outdoors | |
| Flexibility | More flexible | |
| Setup | No enclosure or special setup needed | Dry before printing |
| PLA | PA12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Polylactic acid | Nylon 12 (polyamide 12) |
| Filaments listed | 880 | 50 |
| Brands | 145 | 26 |
| Colours | 8,714 | 90 |
| Nozzle temperature | 190–230 °C | 240–270 °C |
| Bed temperature | 50–70 °C | 80–100 °C |
| Density | 1.24 g/cm³ | 1.01 g/cm³ |
| Length of 1 kg (1.75 mm) | about 335 m | about 412 m |
| Max drying temperature | 55 °C | 70 °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 PLA and PA12; these have the most of each.
- Spectrum 36 PLA · 1 PA12
- SUNLU 33 PLA · 1 PA12
- Eryone 30 PLA · 3 PA12
- eSUN 3D 26 PLA · 2 PA12
- Polymaker 24 PLA · 1 PA12
- Add-North 17 PLA · 5 PA12
- Bambu Lab 19 PLA · 1 PA12
- Fiberlogy 13 PLA · 7 PA12
- PrimaCreator 18 PLA · 2 PA12
- ROSA3D Filaments 18 PLA · 1 PA12
- Professional LAB 14 PLA · 1 PA12
- FilamentPM 12 PLA · 2 PA12