What Is ABS Filament? Properties, Uses and Risks
ABS is a tough, heat-resistant filament that warps, shrinks and releases fumes. Learn what it is, what it is used for, and when to choose ASA or PETG instead.
By Sepehr Sabbagh-pour · Published 12 October 2026 · 6 min read
ABS filament is a tough, heat-resistant 3D printing plastic made from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. It suits strong functional parts and can be smoothed with acetone, but it warps, shrinks and releases fumes while printing, so it needs an enclosure and ventilation. This research-based explainer covers what ABS is and when to use it.
What is ABS filament made of?
ABS stands for acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. Wikipedia describes it as a terpolymer: styrene and acrylonitrile polymerized in the presence of polybutadiene, with proportions that can vary from 15% to 35% acrylonitrile, 5% to 30% butadiene and 40% to 60% styrene. Each part contributes something. In general terms the mix gives rigidity, toughness and impact resistance, which is why ABS has been the main plastic in Lego bricks since 1963.
Prusa's knowledge base calls it a tough, heat-resistant material for mechanically stressed parts, and notes that ASA is its successor.
ABS filament properties at a glance
The figures below come from Prusa's ABS knowledge base article and Wikipedia. Other makers publish slightly different numbers, so use the range printed on your own spool.
| Property | What the source says |
|---|---|
| Toughness | High toughness and mechanical resistance (Prusa) |
| Heat resistance | Good; glass transition temperature about 105 °C, general service range about -20 to 80 °C (Wikipedia) |
| Nozzle temperature | 255 °C recommended (Prusa) |
| Bed temperature | 100 °C recommended, adjustable from 80 to 110 °C; larger objects need more (Prusa) |
| Warping | Significant (Prusa) |
| Shrinkage | Roughly 1 to 2%, so test prints are advised (Prusa) |
| UV resistance | None to poor; outdoor parts turn yellowish and more brittle (Prusa) |
| Post-processing | Sands wet or dry, glues well, smooths with acetone vapor (Prusa) |
| Enclosure | Recommended (Prusa) |
What is ABS filament good for?
ABS is good for inexpensive technical parts that need heat and mechanical resistance, and for parts you want to smooth with acetone. Prusa lists examples such as car parts, phone parts and Lego-style bricks. Typical uses include brackets, enclosures for electronics, clips, tool handles and jigs that sit in warm places.
- Toughness. It resists knocks better than PLA, which Prusa describes as brittle.
- Higher heat tolerance. A glass transition near 105 °C leaves more headroom than PLA, though you should keep real working temperatures well below that.
- Easy finishing. Prusa says it can be sanded, glued and smoothed with acetone vapor.
- Low cost. Prusa calls it an inexpensive option for technical parts.
What are the downsides of ABS filament?
The main downsides of ABS are significant warping, shrinkage, fumes and poor UV resistance. Prusa lists all four as cons, and Wikipedia confirms that ABS warps because it shrinks as it cools.
- Warping. Corners lift and large flat parts curl. Prusa recommends printing inside an enclosure with a higher ambient temperature. Without one, it suggests enabling the draft shield in PrusaSlicer. Wikipedia lists enclosures, adhesives and brims or rafts as common fixes. See how to fix warping.
- Cracking between layers. Cooling too fast can split layers. See how to fix ABS cracking.
- Shrinkage. Prusa warns of roughly 1 to 2% shrinkage, so parts with tight fits need test prints.
- No UV resistance. Prusa says outdoor ABS parts turn yellowish and more brittle over time.
- Odor and fumes. See the next section.
Is ABS filament safe to print?
Prusa advises printing ABS in a well-ventilated room because it releases fumes that could pose a health risk, and it lists potentially dangerous styrene fumes among the cons. Wikipedia notes that 3D printing can produce ultrafine particles, and that concerns about their health effects have been raised. Avoid creating a draft across the print while ventilating, because that harms results.
This site does not give health or safety advice. Follow your printer maker's and filament maker's guidance on ventilation and enclosures, and read 3D printer safety basics for the general precautions that institutions such as universities publish.
Do you need an enclosure to print ABS?
An enclosure is strongly recommended for ABS. Prusa recommends printing inside one with a higher ambient temperature, and says the heated air helps prevent the warping that ABS is known for. Prusa also cautions that plastic parts inside the printer, such as a fan shroud, can deform in the heat. If you only have an open-frame printer, read enclosed vs open-frame 3D printers before buying ABS.
ABS vs ASA vs PETG: which should you choose?
Choose ABS for indoor technical parts that need toughness and acetone smoothing, ASA if the part goes outdoors, and PETG if you want an easier material without an enclosure. Prusa says ASA is more UV resistant, warps less and does not smell as much as ABS, though it still releases potentially dangerous fumes and its main disadvantage is warping.
| Filament | Best for | Main catch |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | Indoor technical parts, acetone smoothing | Warps, fumes, no UV resistance |
| ASA | Outdoor parts | Still warps and needs ventilation |
| PETG | Tough parts without an enclosure | Strings, bridges poorly |
For detail, see ASA vs ABS, ABS vs PETG, and what is PETG. If layers split on an ABS print, fixing layer separation covers the usual causes.
What settings does ABS filament use?
Prusa recommends a nozzle at 255 °C and a bed at 100 °C, adjustable between 80 and 110 °C, on a smooth or powder-coated PEI sheet with a glue stick. Treat these as a starting point and follow the label on your spool. Our full guide to ABS print settings goes through temperature, fan, speed and bed adhesion in more detail.
Frequently asked questions
What is ABS filament?
ABS filament is a 3D printing plastic made from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, a terpolymer of styrene, acrylonitrile and polybutadiene. Prusa describes it as tough and heat-resistant, suited to mechanically stressed parts and to parts that will be smoothed with acetone. Wikipedia gives a glass transition temperature of about 105 °C and notes ABS has been the main plastic in Lego bricks since 1963. The trade-offs are significant warping, roughly 1 to 2% shrinkage, potentially dangerous fumes and no UV resistance. Because of that, Prusa recommends printing it in an enclosure in a well-ventilated room, starting from about 255 °C on the nozzle and 100 °C on the bed.
What is ABS filament used for?
ABS filament is used for inexpensive technical parts that need toughness and some heat resistance, and for parts that will be smoothed with acetone vapor. Prusa lists examples such as car parts, phone parts and Lego-style bricks. In practice that means brackets, electronics housings, clips, jigs and tool handles that stay indoors, since Prusa says ABS has no UV resistance and outdoor parts turn yellowish and more brittle over time. It can also be sanded wet or dry and glued, which makes finishing easier than with some other plastics. For parts that go outside, Prusa points to ASA, its more UV-resistant successor.
Is ABS filament toxic?
Prusa says ABS releases fumes while printing that could pose a health risk, and it lists potentially dangerous styrene fumes among the material's disadvantages. Wikipedia adds that 3D printing can produce ultrafine particles and that concerns about their health effects have been raised. For that reason Prusa advises printing ABS in a well-ventilated room, while avoiding a draft across the print, which harms results. This site does not give health or safety advice, so follow the guidance from your printer maker and filament maker on enclosures, ventilation and handling, and read general 3D printer safety guidance from institutions before you start printing ABS.
Do you need an enclosure to print ABS?
An enclosure is strongly recommended. ABS shrinks as it cools, and Wikipedia notes it is known to warp for that reason; enclosures, adhesives and brims or rafts are the common fixes. Prusa recommends printing inside an enclosure with a higher ambient temperature, and says that without one you should enable the draft shield in PrusaSlicer under skirt and brim to reduce warping. Prusa also warns that plastic parts inside a hot enclosure, such as a fan shroud, can deform. Small, flat parts may print acceptably in an open-frame printer, but large parts are likely to warp or split without enclosed heat.
Is ABS or ASA better?
It depends on where the part will live. Prusa says that compared with ABS, ASA is more UV resistant, warps less and does not smell as much, so ASA is the better choice for outdoor parts. ABS has no UV resistance, and Prusa notes outdoor ABS parts turn yellowish and more brittle over time. For indoor technical parts the two are similar: both need an enclosure and ventilation, and Prusa still lists warping as ASA's main disadvantage. ABS is often cheaper, and Prusa says it can be smoothed with acetone vapor, like ASA. If you only need an indoor bracket, ABS is fine; for sunlight, choose ASA.
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