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3D Printing Filaments
Filament showdown

ABS vs ASA: which filament should you use?

Per-kg price, temperatures, food contact and a worked cost example for the same part printed in ABS and ASA. Plus a verdict on the five dimensions that matter when picking between them.

Specs side by side

ABS

Typical price
~$22.00/kg
Print temperature
230–260 °C
Bed temperature
100–110 °C
Enclosed chamber
Recommended
Food-safe
No
Difficulty
★★★★☆

ASA

Typical price
~$30.00/kg
Print temperature
240–260 °C
Bed temperature
100–110 °C
Enclosed chamber
Recommended
Food-safe
No
Difficulty
★★★★☆

Same part, different filament

50 g part, 6 h print time on a Bambu Lab A1 (the reference printer at 130 W) with 8% failure rate. Only the filament price changes between columns.

ABS

  • Filament$1.10
  • Energy$0.14
  • Unit Cost$1.50
  • Final Consumer Price$6.53

ASA

  • Filament$1.50
  • Energy$0.14
  • Unit Cost$1.93
  • Final Consumer Price$8.41

Verdict by dimension

  • Cheaper per kg

    ABS

    ABS averages $22.00/kg vs $30.00 for ASA — every gram you print costs less.

  • Easier to print

    Tie

    Both filaments land within the noise threshold for this dimension.

  • Lower print temperature

    Tie

    Both filaments land within the noise threshold for this dimension.

  • Open-frame friendly

    Tie

    Both filaments land within the noise threshold for this dimension.

  • Food contact

    Tie

    Both filaments land within the noise threshold for this dimension.

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