Best ABS and ASA filament
Quick answer
The Creality ABS 1 kg spool ($17.99, $17.99 per kilogram) is a reasonable first ABS spool for indoor parts. For anything left outdoors, the OVERTURE ASA 1 kg spool ($23.39, $23.39 per kilogram) is UV and weather resistant in a way plain ABS is not.
Polymaker ABS Filament Black 1KG 1.75mm, Heat Resistant, Strength
Polymaker ABS is the cheapest per kilogram of the plain ABS spools here at $17.10, with no compromise on the material itself for indoor, heat-resistant parts.
The three tiers
Beginner: Best first ABS spool
someone with an enclosed or semi-enclosed printer trying ABS for the first time- Beginner pick
Creality ABS Filament 1.75mm, Black, 1-Pack (1 kg)
$17.99 Check pricePrices change often
Creality ABS at $17.99 per kilogram is a mainstream spool from the same brand as many entry-level enclosed printers, which removes one variable while a first-time ABS printer is already tuning bed temperature, first-layer adhesion and enclosure airflow. ABS tolerates higher temperatures than PLA or PETG before softening, which is the main reason to choose it over an easier material.
Not for: anyone printing on a fully open-frame printer with no enclosure at all; ABS warps badly from ordinary room drafts and cools unevenly without one
Intermediate: Best value
a printer who already knows ABS works for their setup and wants the lowest ongoing per-kilogram cost- Intermediate pick
Polymaker ABS Filament Black 1KG 1.75mm, Heat Resistant, Strength
$17.10 Check pricePrices change often
Polymaker is a well-established filament brand and this 1 kg spool is priced at $17.10 per kilogram, the cheapest plain ABS compared here. The listing states heat resistance and strength as its selling points, consistent with what ABS is generally chosen for: functional parts that see warmth, like housings near electronics or under-hood automotive brackets.
Not for: anyone who needs a part left outdoors in direct sun for extended periods; plain ABS is not UV stabilized and will fade and become brittle with sustained sun exposure
Expert: Performance ceiling for outdoor parts
someone printing brackets, enclosures or fixtures that will sit outside or in a sunny window long-term- Expert pick
OVERTURE ASA Filament 1.75mm, UV & Weather Resistant, 1kg White
$23.39 Check pricePrices change often
OVERTURE ASA is listed as UV and weather resistant, the specific property plain ABS lacks. ASA has a published density of 1.07 grams per cubic centimeter, close to ABS at 1.04, so the two print in a similar temperature range and need the same enclosure setup, but ASA holds up outdoors where ABS discolors and turns brittle over time.
Not for: anyone printing purely indoor parts. Do not buy ASA over ABS if a part will never see direct sun or outdoor weather; ASA costs more per kilogram for a UV resistance benefit that goes unused indoors.
| Spool | Material | Price | Price per kg | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creality ABS 1 kg | ABS | $17.99 | $17.99 | First ABS spool, indoor parts |
| Polymaker ABS 1 kg | ABS | $17.10 | $17.10 | Lowest cost, heat-resistant indoor parts |
| OVERTURE ASA 1 kg | ASA | $23.39 | $23.39 | UV and weather resistant outdoor parts |
What is the actual difference between ABS and ASA?
ABS and ASA are chemically related and share most mechanical properties: both are more heat resistant than PLA or PETG, both shrink as they cool and need an enclosure to print without warping, and both release fumes that require ventilation, not just an enclosure, to manage safely. The meaningful difference is UV stability. ASA was developed specifically to resist the yellowing and embrittlement that plain ABS suffers under sustained sunlight.
If a part will spend its life indoors, plain ABS does the same job as ASA for less money. If a part will sit in a window, a car, or outside, ASA is the material actually engineered for that use.
Why does ABS need a heated enclosure to print without warping?
ABS shrinks more as it cools than PLA does, and it shrinks unevenly if the printer's internal air temperature is inconsistent, which is exactly what happens on an open-frame printer near a door, a window, or an air vent. That uneven cooling pulls the corners of a large or tall print up off the bed mid-print, a failure called warping, and it is the single most common reason a first ABS print fails.
What ventilation does an ABS or ASA print actually need?
Heated ABS and ASA release volatile organic compounds and ultrafine particles into the air around the printer. An enclosure keeps that print thermally stable but also holds those fumes near the printer and near anyone in the room, which is why an enclosure alone is not a safety solution. Venting the enclosure to an exhaust fan and duct that leads outside, or running a dedicated fume extractor with a real filter, is what actually removes the fumes rather than just trapping them.
How we chose
This roundup is researched from catalog listings and manufacturer-published specifications, not from in-person testing. Every product named is checked against PrintFarmCalc's own catalog of verified Amazon listings, and every price-per-kilogram figure is calculated from the listed pack weight and price.
ABS and ASA share this page because they print in a similar temperature range, need the same enclosure and ventilation setup, and are chosen for the same reason: heat resistance beyond what PLA or PETG offers. The deciding factor between the two materials themselves is simply whether the finished part will ever see direct sun or outdoor weather.
Buying tips
Do I need an enclosure for ABS or ASA?
Yes, for consistent results. Both materials shrink noticeably as they cool, and an open-frame printer exposed to room drafts cools unevenly, which shows up as corners lifting off the bed, a defect called warping. An enclosure keeps the internal air temperature stable around the print, which is the single biggest factor in getting ABS or ASA to finish without warping.
Does an enclosure replace the need for ventilation?
No, and this is the most commonly missed safety point. An enclosure traps heat to prevent warping, but it also traps the volatile organic compounds and ultrafine particles that ABS and, to a lesser extent, ASA release when heated. An enclosure concentrates those fumes around the printer rather than removing them; it is not a substitute for an exhaust fan or a fume extractor venting outside or through a filter.
How much filament comes on a 1 kg spool of ABS or ASA?
ABS has a published density of about 1.04 grams per cubic centimeter, ASA about 1.07. At a standard 1.75 mm diameter, that works out to roughly 400 meters of usable filament per kilogram for ABS and about 389 meters for ASA, both longer per kilogram than PLA or PETG because both materials are less dense.
Is ASA always worth the extra cost over ABS?
Only for parts exposed to sun or outdoor weather. ASA and ABS print in a similar way and cost a similar amount per kilogram at the lower end, so the choice comes down to end use, not print difficulty. Paying more for ASA on a part that lives inside a drawer is money spent on a property the part will never need.
Other options worth knowing about
- ELEGOO
ELEGOO ABS 3D Printer Filament 1.75mm Black 1KG Strong Layer Adhesion
$16.99 Check pricePrices change often
Safety
Common questions
Do I need an enclosure to print ABS?
Yes, in almost all cases. ABS shrinks unevenly as it cools if exposed to room drafts, which causes the corners of a print to lift off the bed, called warping. An enclosure keeps the air around the print at a stable temperature, which is the main fix for warping. A cardboard box or a purpose-built enclosure both work; consistent internal temperature is what matters.
Does an enclosure make ABS or ASA fumes safe to breathe?
No. An enclosure traps heat to stop warping, but it also traps the volatile organic compounds and ultrafine particles the plastic releases when heated, concentrating them around the printer rather than removing them. Real ventilation, an exhaust fan ducted outside or a fume extractor with a filter, is what actually clears those fumes; an enclosure alone does the opposite.
Is ASA worth buying instead of ABS?
Only if the finished part will see direct sunlight or outdoor weather. ASA was developed for UV resistance, so it resists the yellowing and brittleness that plain ABS develops in the sun over time. For an indoor part, plain ABS gives the same heat resistance for a lower price per kilogram, since ASA's main advantage goes unused indoors.
Why does my ABS print warp off the bed?
ABS shrinks as it cools, and it shrinks unevenly when the air around the print is not a stable temperature, which happens on an open-frame printer near a draft. That uneven cooling pulls corners up off the bed mid-print. An enclosure that keeps the internal air warm and stable, plus strong bed adhesion, is the standard fix for warping.
How much filament is on a 1 kg spool of ABS compared to PLA?
ABS has a published density of about 1.04 grams per cubic centimeter, lower than PLA at 1.24. At a standard 1.75 mm diameter, a 1 kg ABS spool yields roughly 400 meters of usable filament, noticeably more length than the roughly 335 meters on a 1 kg PLA spool, because ABS is the less dense material.