Strength has more than one axis, so the strongest filament depends on the load. Nylon leads on wear and heat. ABS and ASA lead on rigidity. PETG is the toughest easy print. PLA+ is the weakest here.
How the materials rank
The table ranks five strong filaments on the axes that matter. Nylon leads strength and heat. PETG leads ease.
| Property | Nylon | ABS | ASA | PETG | PLA+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall strength | High | High | High | Medium | Low |
| Wear and friction | High | Medium | Medium | Medium | Low |
| Heat resistance | 180 °C | High | 93 °C HDT | 68 °C HDT | Low |
| Ease of print | Hard | Hard | Hard | Medium | Easy |
| Best for | Gears, wear | Rigid parts | Outdoor parts | Tough parts | Light parts |
Why nylon is strongest
Nylon slides with little friction and resists wear, so it survives moving and loaded parts that destroy other filaments. 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.
The rest of the field
ABS and ASA are strong and rigid, and the Polymaker ABS sheet lists a tensile of 33.3 MPa. ASA adds UV resistance. PETG is the toughest easy print, with a heat deflection of 68 °C. PLA+ is tougher than PLA but the weakest of this group.
Frequently asked
Which 3D printer filament is the strongest?
Is nylon stronger than ABS?
What is the strongest easy-to-print filament?
How strong is PLA+?
For head-to-head, see PETG versus ABS or PETG versus nylon. For another angle, read strongest 3D printer filament.
Related guides
Related
Sources & methodology
6 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
- 05Prusament PETG Technical Datasheetaccessed 2026-07-06Tier 1
- 06All3DP All 3D Printing Filament Types Explainedaccessed 2026-06-29Tier 2