PLA print settings

The default beginner filament: prints cool, almost no warping, no enclosure needed. Plant-derived. Great detail and easy bed adhesion; the trade-off is low heat resistance (parts soften around 50–60 °C) and brittleness under sustained load — keep finished PLA parts out of hot cars and direct sun.

Nozzle

180–230°C

across 8 brands

Bed

25–65°C

across 8 brands

Enclosure

Not needed

Part cooling

high

Starting points, not gospel. PLA settings vary by brand, printer and slicer — run a temperature tower on each new spool. Every per-brand number below is the manufacturer's own published recommendation, with its source grade and the date checked.

PLA settings by brand

PLA — manufacturer-recommended settings
Filament	Nozzle	Bed	Max speed	Enclosure	Source
Prusament PLAPrusament	200–220°C	40–60°C	≤ 200 mm/s	Not needed	srcAchecked 2026-06-10
Polymaker PolyTerra PLAPolymaker	190–230°C	25–60°C	≤ 70 mm/s	Not needed	srcAchecked 2026-06-16
Polymaker PolyMax PLAPolymaker	190–230°C	25–60°C	≤ 60 mm/s	Not needed	srcAchecked 2026-06-16
Bambu Lab PLA BasicBambu Lab	190–230°C	35–45°C	≤ 300 mm/s	Not needed	srcAchecked 2026-06-10
eSUN PLA+eSUN	210–230°C	45–60°C	≤ 100 mm/s	Not needed	srcAchecked 2026-06-10
HATCHBOX PLAHATCHBOX	180–220°C	50–60°C	n/p	Not needed	srcBchecked 2026-06-10
SUNLU PLA+SUNLU	200–230°C	50–60°C	n/p	Not needed	srcBchecked 2026-06-10
SUNLU PLA MetaSUNLU	185–210°C	50–65°C	≤ 100 mm/s	Not needed	srcBchecked 2026-06-10

Swipe the table sideways to see every column

SourcesrcA data sheetsrcB manufacturer pagesrcC reputable mirror

Click any filament for the full spec sheet and source link. n/p = not published by the manufacturer.

What PLA is good (and bad) for

Good for

Prototypes and visual models
Toys, figurines, miniatures
Indoor display pieces
Anything where heat resistance does not matter

Avoid for

Car interiors / outdoor sun exposure
Functional parts under sustained load or heat
Enclosures around hot electronics

Drying & storage

PLA absorbs moisture slowly. Drying is optional unless the spool is old or printing rough/popping; 45–55 °C for 4–6 h then keep sealed with desiccant.

Bed adhesion

Bonds well to clean PEI, glass with glue stick, or textured plates. A heated bed is helpful but optional.

Heat resistance

Low. Glass transition ~55–60 °C; unmodified PLA parts deform in a hot car or direct summer sun.

Compare PLA with other materials

PLA FAQ

What temperature do you print PLA at?

Across the 8 PLA filaments in this database, manufacturers recommend nozzle temperatures of 180–230 °C and bed temperatures of 25–65 °C. Exact values are per-brand (see the table); always run a temperature tower on a new spool.

Does PLA need an enclosure?

No. PLA prints fine without an enclosure.

How do you dry PLA?

PLA absorbs moisture slowly. Drying is optional unless the spool is old or printing rough/popping; 45–55 °C for 4–6 h then keep sealed with desiccant.

How heat-resistant is PLA?

Low. Glass transition ~55–60 °C; unmodified PLA parts deform in a hot car or direct summer sun.