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PLA print settings Polylactic Acid

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 (all brands)
180–230 °C
Bed (all brands)
25–65 °C
Enclosure
Not needed
Cooling fan
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 a dated source.

PLA settings by brand

FilamentMaterialNozzleBedMax speedEnclosureSource
Prusament PLAPrusament PLA 200–220 °C 40–60 °C ≤ 200 Not needed src Achecked 2026-06-10
Polymaker PolyTerra PLAPolymaker PLA 190–230 °C 25–60 °C ≤ 70 Not needed src Achecked 2026-06-10
Polymaker PolyMax PLAPolymaker PLA 190–230 °C 25–60 °C ≤ 60 Not needed src Achecked 2026-06-10
Bambu Lab PLA BasicBambu Lab PLA 190–230 °C 35–45 °C ≤ 300 Not needed src Achecked 2026-06-10
eSUN PLA+eSUN PLA 210–230 °C 45–60 °C ≤ 100 Not needed src Achecked 2026-06-10
HATCHBOX PLAHATCHBOX PLA 180–220 °C 50–60 °C n/p Not needed src Bchecked 2026-06-10
SUNLU PLA+SUNLU PLA 200–230 °C 50–60 °C n/p Not needed src Bchecked 2026-06-10
SUNLU PLA MetaSUNLU PLA 185–210 °C 50–65 °C ≤ 100 Not needed src Bchecked 2026-06-10

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.