ABS and ASA are the next step up from PLA and PETG. Both handle much more heat, and ASA also resists sunlight. The catch: they shrink as they cool, so they warp on open printers.
About this guide: Temperatures come from Prusa’s official filament material guide and Prusament ASA data. Checked in October 2026. “Check price” links go to the official store and may be affiliate links, which never changes the advice.
Side by side
| ABS | ASA | |
|---|---|---|
| Nozzle temperature | 230–255 °C | 220–275 °C (Prusament ASA: 260 °C) |
| Bed temperature | 95–110 °C | 90–110 °C (Prusament ASA: 110 °C) |
| Enclosure | Recommended | Recommended |
| UV and weather resistance | Degrades outdoors | Very good, made for outdoor parts |
| Heat resistance | High | High, Prusament ASA shows no deformation up to about 93 °C |
Which one should you use?
- ASA for anything that lives outside or in the sun: garden parts, car exterior parts, outdoor mounts.
- ABS for indoor parts that need heat resistance and toughness, and when you want to smooth the surface with acetone.
How to print them without warping
- Use an enclosed printer. Prusa notes that even at a 110 °C bed, ASA prints can shrink and warp without an enclosure.
- Keep drafts away and keep the door closed during the print.
- Use glue stick. Prusa’s guide lists glue stick for these materials on several sheet types.
- Ventilate. Both give off fumes. A printer with a filter, or a well-ventilated room, is a good idea.
Need a printer for ABS and ASA? See the best enclosed 3D printers.
Frequently asked questions
Can I print ABS or ASA without an enclosure?
Small parts, sometimes. Prusa recommends an enclosure for both and a bed of at least 100 °C, because the parts warp when the air around them is much cooler than the plastic. Bambu Lab ties cracks between layers to the same fast cooling. On an open printer, Prusa suggests turning on the draft shield in PrusaSlicer, which prints a wall around the part to keep warm air in, and keeping drafts away from the printer.
Owners of open-frame printers commonly report that anything beyond small parts lifts at the corners or splits along a layer. ABS guides report that a plain box around the printer, holding in the printer’s own heat, is enough for most ABS parts without a separate heater. Prusa says ASA warps less than ABS. See our enclosed 3D printer picks and ABS vs ASA.
Sources: Prusa Knowledge Base, Bambu Lab Wiki.
Is ASA easier to print than ABS, and are the fumes a problem?
A little easier. Prusa describes ASA as a successor to ABS that is more UV resistant, warps less and smells less, which is why ASA is the usual choice for parts that live outdoors. Both still need a hot bed (Prusa uses 100 °C for ABS and 105–110 °C for ASA) and do best in an enclosure.
Prusa says both release styrene-related fumes and should be printed in a well-ventilated room. Air the room without blowing across the printer, because a draft over the part causes warping. ABS also shrinks about 1–2% as it cools, according to Prusa, so print a test piece before you print anything that has to fit. See ABS vs ASA.
Sources: Prusa Knowledge Base.