# What filament should I use for cosplay armor?

Print cosplay armor in PETG if it will be worn or travel in a car, use PLA for a shell that stays cool and will be sanded, and use TPU only for straps and joints.

Match the filament to the piece. A helmet that rides in a car is not the same part as a wall-art pauldron, and TPU is a third part entirely.

Updated 2026-10-14. Sources accessed 2026-10-14. Use case: Cosplay.

## Ranked filaments

| Rank | Filament | Nozzle | Bed | Price per kg |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Prusament PETG | 240–260 °C | 70–90 °C | Not listed |
| 2 | Polymaker Polylite PLA | 190–230 °C | 25–60 °C | Not listed |
| 3 | Polymaker PolyMax PLA | 190–230 °C | 25–60 °C | Not listed |
| 4 | Prusament TPU 95A | 220–240 °C | 55–75 °C | Not listed |

## What the community says

r/3Dprinting cosplay threads split the suit by job. PETG is the go-to for parts that must not break and must not ride in a hot trunk. PLA is accepted for greeblies and for armor that will be painted, with an explicit warning about cars and sunlight. TPU is the flexible armor and the straps. ABS shows up only with a ventilation caveat. Carbon-filled grades are discouraged for pieces that get sanded against skin.

## Sources

- [PETG, Prusa Knowledge Base](https://help.prusa3d.com/article/petg_2059) (manufacturer)
- [PLA, Prusa Knowledge Base](https://help.prusa3d.com/article/pla_2062) (manufacturer)
- [Prusament PETG technical data sheet](https://www.prusa3d.com/file/3464616/prusament-petg-technical-data-sheet.pdf) (datasheet)
- [Best filament for cosplay, r/3Dprinting](https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/1reri3a/best_filament_for_cosplay/) (reddit)
- [Ignoring cost, what is the best filament for cosplay armor?, r/3Dprinting](https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/1coo1q6/ignoring_cost_what_is_the_best_filament_for/) (reddit)

HTML: https://filamentfacts.com/answers/cosplay