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PP filament

Polypropylene

PP (polypropylene) is a light, flexible and chemically resistant plastic, the same material used in food tubs and bottle caps. It is excellent for living hinges and containers, but it is one of the hardest common filaments to get to stick to the bed.

28 PP filaments from 19 brands, in 50 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 PP filaments. Always check the maker's recommendations for a specific filament.

Nozzle
210–240 °C
Bed
80–100 °C
Density
0.90 g/cm³
Max drying temperature
60 °C

Diameters: 1.75 mm (48 colours), 2.85 mm (3 colours)

Colours

Popular PP filaments

Browse all 28

Top PP brands

About PP

Properties

  • Very light: one of the least dense filaments, so you get more length per kilogram.
  • Tough and fatigue resistant: thin sections can flex thousands of times, ideal for living hinges.
  • Excellent chemical resistance to acids, bases and many solvents.
  • Shrinks and warps noticeably as it cools.
  • Very low surface energy, which is why almost nothing sticks to it, including the print bed.

Good for

  • Living hinges, flip lids and snap-fit boxes
  • Containers and parts exposed to chemicals
  • Lightweight parts where weight matters

Less suited to

  • Stiff, precise parts
  • Parts that need gluing or painting
  • First-time engineering prints: bed adhesion takes some setting up

Printing tips

  • Nozzle around 220–250 °C and bed around 80–100 °C.
  • Bed adhesion is the main challenge. PP sticks well to PP, so a sheet of polypropylene packing tape or a dedicated PP build plate works best.
  • Use a brim and reduce part cooling to limit warping.
  • An enclosure helps on larger prints.

PP questions

Is PP good for living hinges?

Yes. It is the best common filament for them, because thin sections can bend thousands of times without cracking.

Why won't PP stick to my print bed?

Polypropylene has very low surface energy, so it does not bond to most surfaces. Printing onto polypropylene packing tape or a dedicated PP build plate is the most reliable fix.

Is printed PP food safe?

Not reliably. Polypropylene is widely used for food containers, but printed parts have layer lines that trap bacteria, and colourants vary. Only rely on a filament the maker certifies as food contact safe.

Is PP dishwasher safe?

More so than most filaments. Polypropylene handles dishwasher heat far better than PLA or PETG, so parts keep their shape. Layer lines can still trap residue, so do not rely on printed PP for food contact.

Is PP chemical resistant?

Yes, very. It resists acids, bases and many solvents, which makes it good for containers and parts exposed to chemicals.

Is PP hard to print?

It is harder than PLA or PETG, mainly because of bed adhesion and warping. With the right bed surface, a brim and low cooling, it prints well.