4 3D printing projects that need PETG, not PLA

Published Nov 4, 2026, 7:01 PM EST Sydney Butler is a technology writer with over 20 years of experience as a freelance PC technician and system builder and over a decade as a professional writer. He's worked for more than a decade in user education. On How-To Geek, he writes commerce content, guides, opinions, and specializes in editing hardware and cutting edge technology articles. Sydney started working as a freelance computer technician around the age of 13, before which he was in charge of running the computer center for his school. (He also ran LAN gaming tournaments when the teachers weren't looking!) His interests include VR, PC, Mac, gaming, 3D printing, consumer electronics, the web, and privacy. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Research Psychology with a minor in media and technology studies. His masters dissertation examined the potential for social media to spread misinformation. Outside of How-To Geek, he hosted the Online Tech Tips YouTube Channel, and wrote for Online Tech Tips, Switching to Mac, and Helpdesk Geek. Sydney also wrote for Expert Reviews UK. He also has bylines at 9to5Mac, 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, Tom's Hardware, MakeTechEasier, and Laptop Mag. Most people print using PLA filament, and some like to use ABS for its strength properties, but you don't hear much about the use of PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol-modified.) Yet, this material has many excellent qualities to recommend it. It has good UV resistance, which is a particular problem with ABS. So if you need your prints to be outside, PETG is a likely candidate. It can also withstand higher temperatures, so it's good for use in warmer spaces like inside a computer. PETG has better impact resistance than brittle PLA, and it also holds up better against solvents. Sometimes, PETG isn't just a nice option to have, but the only material you should be using, if the project demands it, as these do. Replacement parts and upgrades for your 3D printer It's not quite a self-replicating machine, but it's getting there! One thing people often forget about is that you can use your 3D printer to make parts for your 3D printer. Indeed, some printers come with optional extras, such as side spool holders, preloaded into the machine's memory. Ready to print out as soon as you load in some filament. Likewise, manufacturers like Prusa offer official part files for download, which you'll notice often recommend or require PETG as the filament type. Given its extra durability and heat resistance, it makes the most sense for a part that might move over and over or be subjected to temperatures that could cause PLA or ABS to slowly deform over time. Rugged storage cases with latches that need to flex PETG makes this one a snap Credit: muddymaker / Printables This is a great example of how a 3D-printed object doesn't have to be made all from the same material. In this case, you can print the latches separately from the rest of the box, so you can make them from PETG to handle the repeated twisting and flexing. With muddymakers rugged case seen above, some people print the entire thing in PETG, some do the latches only and choose a different material for the case, and might even choose to print the seal using TPU, which is a flexible printing filament. Best of all, when you print small connecting components or stressed pieces in PETG, it's easy enough to print them again, and these designs don't require remaking the whole thing every time a moving part breaks. Garden clips that snap around stakes and supports But can you print a green thumb? Credit: Rene Czerner Since PETG is more resistant to sunlight and water than most other common filament types, it's perfect for creating useful objects for your garden. Personally, I've printed planters, but serious gardeners who are nurturing plant growth will find something like Rene Czerner's Plant Support Clip infinitely useful. Sure, you can buy similar clips from the store, but printing them yourself is likely cheaper per clip. The main reason to go this route is that you can customize existing designs to better match your specific needs. At the very least, you can easily change the size of the print in any slicer with just a click or two. That said, ASA (Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate) is an even better option for sun and water resistance. However, it's much harder to work with and has nasty fumes, so it should only be used if PETG can't do the job. Spool supports that live inside a filament dryer It's getting hot in here... Credit: Scott / Printables What you see above is Scott's eSun eBox Hanging Spool Bearing Roller Filament Dryer, which is an example of a popular mod made to filament driers. In case you didn't know, unless you use a newly opened roll of filament within a few days to a week or two, it will absorb enough moisture to cause issues like stringing as well as popping and sizzling at the hot end. A filament drier box like the one above can fix the issue, and many are designed so you can actually pull filament directly from them using bottom-mounted internal bearings to let the spool roll. These hanging spool mods reduce rolling resistance and are a popular way to optimize printing directly from the drier. However, it's quite hot in there, so PETG makes the most sense; otherwise, the supports might deform, defeating the entire purpose of the mod! PETG is severely underrated It is true that PETG can be a little harder to work with than PLA, but once you've found the brand and specific filaments you like and dialed in your settings, it prints as reliably as anything else. PLA is still the filament to use in most cases, but it's a good idea to keep at least one roll of PETG in reserve for the day you realize that what you're trying to make needs that specific mix of durability and printability that PETG is famous for.