Material
PETG
Printer
Ender 3

Short answer

Ender 3 PETG settings are not the same as PLA. PETG wants a hotter nozzle, a warmer bed, less cooling, and more retraction to offset the Bowden tube. Start at a 235 to 240 C nozzle and an 85 to 90 C bed, keep the hot end under 240 C to protect the PTFE liner, and dry the filament before you print.

01 Starting PETG settings for the Ender 3

These are starting points for a stock Ender 3 with a Bowden extruder and the original PTFE-lined hot end. The nozzle and bed temperatures and the cooling follow the Prusa PETG guide; the retraction baseline and the speed cap come from the PrusaSlicer Creality printer profile; the speed tuning and the wider retraction range are Marqilo recommendations. Treat them as a first print, then tune.

Starting PETG settings for a stock Creality Ender 3
SettingRecommendedWhy
Nozzle temp235 to 240 C235 C is a safe start; stay at or under 240 C to protect the stock PTFE liner.
Bed temp85 to 90 CPETG needs a warm bed; the Prusa profile sets 85 C for the first layer and 90 C after.
Retraction5 to 7 mmThe PrusaSlicer Ender 3 default is 5 mm. PETG strings more than PLA, so tune within 5 to 7 mm for stringing.
Part coolingOff, then 30 to 50%Run the fan off for the first 2 to 3 layers, then 30 to 50 percent. Too much cooling weakens layer adhesion.
First layer235 C, 85 C bed, 20 mm/sSlow and warm. A hot first layer and a slow speed give PETG time to bond to the sheet.
Print speed40 to 50 mm/sMarqilo starting point; the slicer caps speed at 100 mm/s. Drop the first layer and outer walls to 25 to 30 mm/s.

02 How to adjust PETG settings

  1. Prep the bed

    Wipe the glass or PEI with isopropyl alcohol and level for a light paper drag at all four corners. PETG bonds hard to smooth PEI, so a thin glue-stick layer stops it from chipping the sheet on removal.

  2. Dry the filament

    PETG absorbs moisture and strings when wet. Dry it at 60 to 65 C for 4 to 6 hours, or it will hiss, pop, and print cloudy.

  3. Set the temperatures

    Nozzle to 235 C and bed to 85 C is a safe start that melts PETG cleanly and keeps the hot end under the PTFE limit.

  4. Back the cooling off

    Turn the part fan off for the first 2 to 3 layers, then set it to 30 to 50 percent. Full cooling from layer one weakens PETG layer adhesion.

  5. Tune retraction for stringing

    Start at 6 mm retraction. If fine hairs appear between moves, add distance in small steps until the strings clear.

03 What goes wrong

Most Ender 3 PETG problems come down to three things: wet filament, too little retraction, or a bed that is too cold. Dry the PETG, lift retraction toward 6 to 7 mm, and keep the bed at 85 C or above, and most bad prints clear up. The stringing guide has the full cause-and-fix breakdown.

Frequently asked

Can a stock Ender 3 print PETG?
Yes. Use a 235 to 240 C nozzle and an 85 to 90 C bed, keep cooling low, and add retraction. You do not need an all-metal hot end as long as you stay near the bottom of the PETG range.
Why is my PETG stringing on the Ender 3?
It is usually wet filament, too little retraction, or a nozzle temp that is too high. Dry the PETG first, set retraction to about 6 mm, and drop the nozzle toward 235 C.
Do I need a glue stick for PETG?
On smooth PEI or glass, yes. PETG can bond so hard it chips the surface when the print comes off. A thin glue-stick layer works as a release agent.

For the printer side, the Ender 3 guide covers the machine itself, and the PETG filament page explains the material in depth.

Related guides

Related

Cross-reference

Sources & methodology

5 citations · reviewed 2026-07-10
  1. 01Prusa Knowledge Base, PETG (nozzle and bed temperatures, cooling, stringing)accessed 2026-06-29Tier 1
  2. 02Bambu Lab PETG Usage Guide (wiki): PETG drying and flow valuesaccessed 2026-06-29Tier 1
  3. 03Polymaker PETG Technical Data Sheet (TDS V2.0 PDF)accessed 2026-06-29Tier 1
  4. 04Creality Wiki: Ender series documentation and hardwareaccessed 2026-06-29Tier 1
  5. 05Prusament PETG Technical Datasheet (TDS PDF): nozzle and bed temperaturesaccessed 2026-06-29Tier 1
How we vetted this: every claim traces to a tiered source, Tier 1 (manufacturer, slicer, standards) first. Read the full sourcing and conflict-of-interest policy.