The strongest 3D printer filament depends on the load. Nylon leads on strength, wear, and heat. ABS and ASA are strong and rigid. PLA+ is the weakest here but the easiest to print.
How the strong filaments rank
The table ranks four strong filaments. Nylon leads strength and wear. PLA+ leads ease.
| Property | Nylon | ABS | ASA | PLA+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall strength | High | High | High | Low |
| Wear and friction | High | Medium | Medium | Low |
| Heat resistance | High | High | High | Low |
| Ease of print | Hard | Hard | Hard | Easy |
| Best for | Gears, wear | Rigid parts | Outdoor parts | Light parts |
Why nylon is the strongest
Nylon resists wear and slides with little friction, so it survives moving and loaded parts. The Polymaker PolyMide CoPA datasheet rates its heat resistance to 180 °C. The cost is printing difficulty: nylon needs drying, a heated chamber, and a hardened nozzle.
ABS, ASA, and PLA+
ABS and ASA are strong and rigid, and the Polymaker ABS sheet lists a tensile of 33.3 MPa. ASA adds UV resistance. PLA+ is the weakest of this group but the easiest to print, and the eSUN PLA+ datasheet lists a tensile up to 53 MPa and an IZOD impact of 5.5 kJ/m².
Frequently asked
What is the strongest 3D printer filament?
Is nylon the strongest filament?
What is the strongest easy-to-print filament?
How strong is ABS?
For the broader ranking, read which filament is strongest. For head-to-head, see PETG versus nylon or PETG versus ABS.
Related guides
Related
Sources & methodology
5 citations · reviewed 2026-07-09- 01Polymaker PolyMide CoPA (Nylon) Technical Data Sheetaccessed 2026-07-09Tier 1
- 02Polymaker PolyLite ABS Product Information Sheetaccessed 2026-07-09Tier 1
- 03Prusament ASA Technical Datasheetaccessed 2026-07-09Tier 1
- 04eSUN PLA+ Technical Data Sheetaccessed 2026-07-06Tier 1
- 05All3DP All 3D Printing Filament Types Explainedaccessed 2026-06-29Tier 2