PLA, PETG, ABS, and TPU: which prints more expensively?

Spool price is not enough

The same volume in PLA, PETG, ABS, or TPU yields different grams and scrap. Density changes grams; warp or adhesion risk changes waste. Cheap PLA can beat high-scrap ABS.

Density and grams

PLA ≈ 1.24 g/cm³, PETG ≈ 1.27, ABS ≈ 1.04, TPU ≈ 1.21. ABS is lighter so the material line drops, but bed heat and warp raise waste. PETG holds moisture; drying is labor and scrap.

Typical spool range

Hobby PLA is usually cheaper than PETG; TPU and carbon-filled spools cost more. The brand list is a starting point — replace kg price with your invoice or the quote shows the default’s margin, not yours.

When to use which

Display figures and prototypes: PLA. Outdoor and moisture: PETG. Heat: ABS/ASA. Flex: TPU. The wrong material inflates returns, not just cost.

How to compare in the calculator

Picking a type shows only that type’s brands and density. Run the same STL once in PLA and once in PETG for a two-line quote.

How to compare materials in a workshop

Do not compare sticker prices directly. An 800 g PETG spool at 720 TRY equals 900 TRY/kg; against 1 kg PLA at 750 TRY, PETG material is about 20% dearer for the same grams. Drying, a slower profile, and string cleanup may add more. Record package weight, normalized kg price, density, and average scrap in separate columns.

Price alone can also pick the wrong polymer. Reprinting an outdoor part made from cheap PLA may cost more than choosing PETG or ASA first. TPU increases machine hours through low speed; ABS/ASA raises chamber and bed energy; carbon-filled filament adds hardened-nozzle wear.

Save brand, purchase date, and batch with the quote to measure drift on repeat work. Pricing the same model in two materials with notes on strength, environment, and lead time keeps the discussion from focusing only on the lowest number.