PLA
What is PLA+ and is it better than PLA?
First in this ranking: eSUN 3D PLA+.
- Nozzle190–230 °C
- Bed50–70 °C
- Speed—
- Dry—
- Density1.23 g/cm³
Ranked filaments
| Rank | Filament | Material | Nozzle | Bed | Price / kg | Datasheet | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | eSUN 3D PLA+eSUN PLA+, a brand the consensus names. Listed nozzle 190–230 °C and bed 50–70 °C. Not a universal PLA+ formula. | PLA+ | 190–230 | 50–70 | — | — | |
| 2 | Overture PLA PlusOverture PLA Plus. Listed nozzle 190–230 °C and bed 35–60 °C. The bed range is not the same as eSUN’s. | PLA+ | 190–230 | 35–60 | — | — | |
| 3 | SUNLU PLA+SUNLU PLA+, named in the consensus. This record does not list nozzle or bed temperatures. | PLA+ | — | — | — | — | |
| 4 | Polymaker Polylite PLAPlain PLA from a brand the consensus also names. Listed nozzle 190–230 °C. The comparison is brand and formula, not the plus character. | PLA | 190–230 | 25–60 | — | Datasheet |
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When to use which material
Use PLA+ when you want that manufacturer’s tougher PLA and you have a temperature range for the exact product. Use PLA when the plus sign is the only difference you were sold. Polymaker is named in the consensus and its plain PolyLite PLA is the honest comparison spool. PLA print setup still applies to both. A plus sign does not fix a dirty plate.
Temperatures and settings
eSUN PLA+ lists 190–230 °C and a bed of 50–70 °C. Overture PLA Plus lists 190–230 °C and a bed of 35–60 °C. SUNLU PLA+ lists neither. Do not borrow eSUN’s bed for the SUNLU spool. There is no impact or elongation column, so “slightly tougher” cannot be turned into a percentage.
Failure modes
People compare two plus spools and blame the printer when the formulas differ. People also expect PLA+ to survive a hot car. It is still PLA for heat and UV. That failure belongs on the outdoor page. A blank temperature row that gets filled from “typical PLA+” is the data failure this site is built to avoid.
Caveats
PLA+ is not a defined material. Brand matters more than the label. Often slightly tougher is as far as the consensus goes. Polymaker PLA Pro exists, lists 210–230 °C, and is filed as PLA, not PLA+. It is not ranked above PolyLite here because the consensus did not name PLA Pro as the plus equivalent.
Where this sits in the catalog
eSUN PLA+ versus Overture PLA Plus and eSUN PLA+ versus SUNLU PLA+ are the label-versus-label pairs. eSUN, SUNLU, Overture, and Polymaker are the brand pages. The strength guide ranks eSUN PLA+ behind PA6-CF and PETG, which is the right scale for “slightly tougher.”
Pros and cons
Pros
- The page refuses a single PLA+ spec, which is what the consensus says the label is worth.
- eSUN and Overture still have listed ranges, so a real profile is possible for those two.
Cons
- SUNLU PLA+ is a recommended name with no temperatures in this import.
- There is no shared toughness number. Often slightly tougher is the community description, not a test on these spools.
Printer considerations
- Do not copy an eSUN PLA+ profile onto SUNLU PLA+ and assume the temperatures transferred. SUNLU’s row is blank.
- A tougher PLA is still PLA for heat and sunlight. The outdoor guide is the check if the part leaves the room.
- The printer filter compares listed temperatures. A blank SUNLU row stays not determined.
What the community says
The consensus is that PLA+ is marketing with no standard. It is often slightly tougher, and the brand matters more than the label. The names attached to that advice are eSUN PLA+, SUNLU PLA+, and Polymaker. It is not a defined material.
- Community source, r/FixMyPrint u150hn
- Community source, r/3Dprinting 177v9mr
- Community source, r/FixMyPrint x5ly22
- Community source, r/FixMyPrint vz3bvj
- Community source, r/3Dprinting t81zr7
Sources & notes
Accessed 14 October 2026.
- PolyLite PLA technical data sheet datasheet
- Polymaker PLA Pro technical data sheet datasheet
- Community source, r/FixMyPrint u150hn reddit
- Community source, r/3Dprinting 177v9mr reddit
- Community source, r/FixMyPrint x5ly22 reddit
- Community source, r/FixMyPrint vz3bvj reddit
- Community source, r/3Dprinting t81zr7 reddit
Related questions
- What filament should a beginner use?Beginners
- How do I get good PLA prints?PLA
- What filament should I use for a strong part?Strength
Questions
Should I buy PLA+ instead of PLA for a first printer?
Buy a known brand. The plus is not the specification. eSUN PLA+ is a reasonable spool because that product has a listed temperature range. The label alone is not.
Is PolyLite PLA a PLA+?
No. It is filed as PLA. It is on this page because Polymaker is one of the brands the consensus says to care about, as a contrast with the plus label.