PP print settings
Polypropylene · Advanced
PP (Polypropylene) prints at 220-250°C with the bed at 85-100°C. An enclosure helps but is not essential. Drying is rarely necessary.
Chemically inert, fatigue resistant, and the best material available for living hinges. It also refuses to stick to almost every build surface, which is the whole difficulty.
Settings at a glance
Ranges are typical manufacturer-published figures for this material class, not measurements we took. Always start with your filament maker’s own numbers where they differ. The price is an indicative street price for a 1 kg spool, not a live quote.
Good for
- Living hinges that flex thousands of times
- Chemical containers and lab fittings
- Automotive trim clips
- Food-adjacent parts
Avoid for
- PEI and glass beds
- Large flat parts
- Anything needing dimensional precision
The problem people actually hit
It will not stick. The standard answer is packing tape or a polypropylene-specific sheet, because PP bonds to itself and to very little else. Bed temperature alone will not fix it.
Drying
Mildly hygroscopic. Dry at 60-70C for 4 hours if it has been open a while.
Buying PP
PP is carried by relatively few brands, so sourcing is a real part of the job rather than an afterthought. Reliable options exist from selected manufacturers, but do not expect the choice of colours you get with PETG. Typical street price is $40-80 per 1 kg spool.
Check before you order
- Diameter 1.75mm unless your printer takes 2.85mm. Check before ordering, not after.
- Published diameter tolerance. ±0.02mm is good, ±0.05mm is loose and shows up as inconsistent extrusion.
Specialist suppliers
Deep engineering-material catalogue and published spec sheets, including grades general retailers do not stock.
Specialist stockist with strong coverage of nylon and carbon-fibre filled materials.
Named because they stock this class of material and publish specifications. We have no commercial relationship with either, and these are ordinary links.
Not sure this is the right material? Compare all materials.
PP questions
- What temperature do you print PP at?
- PP prints at a nozzle temperature of 220-250C with the bed at 85-100C. Start at the lower end of the nozzle range and raise it in 5C steps until layers bond cleanly.
- Does PP need an enclosure?
- An enclosure is recommended but not essential for PP. It mainly helps with larger parts and draughty rooms.
- Do you need to dry PP?
- Mildly hygroscopic. Dry at 60-70C for 4 hours if it has been open a while.
- What is PP good for?
- PP suits living hinges that flex thousands of times, chemical containers and lab fittings, automotive trim clips, food-adjacent parts. Avoid it for PEI and glass beds, large flat parts, anything needing dimensional precision.
- How much does PP cost?
- A 1 kg spool of PP typically sells for $40-80. That is an indicative street price rather than a live figure, so check the retailer for today's cost.
PP or PETG?
PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol) prints at 220-250°C with a 70-85°C bed and needs no enclosure. The usual step up from PLA. Tougher, more heat resistant, still printable without an enclosure. The trade is stringing and fussier bed adhesion.
Read the PETG settings guide →After the print
The workshop steps that matter most for PP.