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PC filament

Polycarbonate

PC (polycarbonate) is one of the strongest and most heat-resistant filaments you can print on a desktop machine. It is very tough and can be clear, but it needs high temperatures, an enclosure and dry filament to print well.

47 PC filaments from 27 brands, in 131 colours.

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At a glance

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

Typical settings

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

Nozzle
260–300 °C
Bed
100–120 °C
Density
1.20 g/cm³
Max drying temperature
75 °C

Diameters: 1.75 mm (131 colours), 2.85 mm (12 colours)

Colours

Popular PC filaments

Browse all 47

Top PC brands

About PC

Properties

  • Very strong and impact resistant, the same family of plastic used in safety glasses and machine guards.
  • High heat resistance, softening at around 110–140 °C depending on the grade.
  • Can be transparent, though printed parts are usually translucent rather than glass-clear.
  • Absorbs moisture and shrinks as it cools, so it warps without the right setup.
  • Often blended (PC-ABS, PC-PBT) or fibre-filled to make it easier to print.

Good for

  • Strong functional parts under load or impact
  • Parts exposed to heat, such as lamp housings and parts near motors
  • Light covers and diffusers
  • Tooling, jigs and protective covers

Less suited to

  • Printers that cannot reach around 260–300 °C at the nozzle
  • Open printers or cold rooms
  • Detailed decorative prints, where PLA does better

Printing tips

  • Nozzle around 260–300 °C and bed around 100–120 °C. Check your hotend is rated for these temperatures.
  • Print in an enclosure, with little or no part cooling.
  • Dry the filament before printing, often at 70–80 °C or higher; wet PC bubbles and loses strength.
  • Use a brim and a suitable bed surface; PC can bond very strongly to some sheets.
  • Ventilate the room, as with any high-temperature engineering plastic.

PC questions

Can my printer print polycarbonate?

Only if it reaches around 260–300 °C at the nozzle (usually an all-metal hotend), around 100–120 °C at the bed and ideally has an enclosure. Many recent enclosed printers can; most basic open printers struggle.

Is PC the strongest filament?

It is one of the strongest and most heat resistant you can print on a desktop machine. For wear and moving parts, nylon can perform better; specialist materials such as PEI go further but need industrial printers.

Is polycarbonate heat resistant?

Yes. PC softens at around 110–140 °C depending on the grade, well above ABS and ASA.

Is printed PC see-through?

Clear PC prints translucent rather than glass-clear, because layer lines scatter light. For easier clear prints, PCTG is a good alternative.

PC or ABS: which should I use?

Use PC when you need the most strength and heat resistance and your printer can handle it. ABS prints at lower temperatures and is easier to work with. See ABS vs PC.

Can PC be used outdoors?

Plain PC can yellow and weaken in long-term sunlight unless it is UV stabilised. For outdoor parts, ASA is the more reliable choice.