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PCTG filament

Polycyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate glycol

PCTG is a close cousin of PETG with better toughness and clarity. It prints much like PETG, without needing an enclosure, but survives impacts better and often prints clearer, making it a good upgrade for tough functional and transparent parts.

26 PCTG filaments from 13 brands, in 151 colours.

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At a glance

Our rating
Ease of printing
Toughness
Stiffness
Heat resistance
Outdoor and UV
Flexibility
  • No enclosure or special setup needed

Typical settings

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

Nozzle
230–260 °C
Bed
70–90 °C
Density
1.23 g/cm³
Max drying temperature
Not listed

Diameters: 1.75 mm (151 colours)

Colours

Popular PCTG filaments

Browse all 26

Top PCTG brands

About PCTG

Properties

  • Very tough and impact resistant, more so than PETG.
  • Heat resistance similar to PETG, softening at around 70–80 °C.
  • Good clarity: clear grades can print more transparent than PETG.
  • Good chemical resistance and low warping.

Good for

  • Functional parts that take knocks or drops
  • Clear covers, light diffusers and visible containers
  • Brackets, clips and housings where PETG is not quite tough enough

Less suited to

  • High-heat parts (use ASA, ABS or PC)
  • Fine decorative detail, where PLA is crisper

Printing tips

  • Nozzle around 240–270 °C and bed around 70–90 °C; it usually runs a little hotter than PETG.
  • Treat it like PETG: moderate cooling, tuned retraction, and a textured or glue-coated bed so parts release cleanly.
  • Dry at around 65 °C if it has absorbed moisture.

PCTG questions

What is the difference between PCTG and PETG?

Both are glycol-modified polyesters and print in a similar way. PCTG is tougher, more impact resistant and often clearer; PETG is cheaper and more widely available. See PETG vs PCTG.

Is PCTG stronger than PETG?

It is tougher. PCTG survives impacts and drops better, which matters more than raw strength for most functional parts.

Does PCTG need an enclosure?

No. Like PETG, it warps very little and prints well on open printers.

Can PCTG be used outdoors?

Yes, for most parts, much like PETG. For parts in strong sun all year, ASA is more UV stable.

Is PCTG good for clear prints?

Yes. Clear PCTG can print more transparent than PETG, which makes it a good choice for covers and light diffusers.

Is PCTG heat resistant?

About the same as PETG, softening at around 70–80 °C. For hotter parts, use ASA, ABS or PC.