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MaterialsUpdated March 2026

Best ABS Filament Brands (2026): Ranked for Strength, Warp Resistance & Value

ABS is harder to print than PLA but still the go-to material for heat-resistant, impact-tough functional parts. We ranked the top ABS filament brands for 2026 by warp resistance, layer adhesion, surface finish, and cost — plus a cost-per-gram breakdown for your ABS prints.

Quick Picks (2026)

Best overall: eSUN ABS+ — £16–£22/kg

Best warp resistance: Polymaker PolyLite ABS — £18–£24/kg

Best budget: Sunlu ABS — £13–£18/kg

Best for enclosures: Prusament ASA — £24–£30/kg

Best dimensional accuracy: HATCHBOX ABS — £20–£26/kg

Best high-temp: Bambu Lab ABS — £22–£28/kg

Full Comparison Table (2026)

Brand	Price/kg	Cost/gram	Best For	Rating
eSUN ABS+	£16–£22	£0.016–£0.022	Overall quality + value	⭐ 4.7/5
Polymaker PolyLite ABS	£18–£24	£0.018–£0.024	Warp resistance	⭐ 4.6/5
HATCHBOX ABS	£20–£26	£0.020–£0.026	Dimensional accuracy	⭐ 4.6/5
Bambu Lab ABS	£22–£28	£0.022–£0.028	High-temp & enclosed printers	⭐ 4.5/5
Prusament ASA	£24–£30	£0.024–£0.030	Outdoor UV resistance	⭐ 4.7/5
Overture ABS	£15–£20	£0.015–£0.020	Budget reliability	⭐ 4.4/5
Sunlu ABS	£13–£18	£0.013–£0.018	Cheapest per kg	⭐ 4.3/5
Creality ABS	£14–£19	£0.014–£0.019	High-speed printing	⭐ 4.3/5

Prices based on UK market averages, March 2026. Use the ABS cost calculator to enter your exact spool price.

ABS Printing Tips: Beating Warping

ABS warps because it contracts significantly as it cools. An enclosure is almost mandatory — it keeps the ambient temperature around 40–50°C which dramatically reduces layer separation and corner lift.

Recommended print settings (ABS)

🌡️ Nozzle: 230–250°C
🛏️ Bed: 100–110°C (PEI or ABS slurry)
🏠 Enclosure: strongly recommended — 40–50°C ambient
💨 Part cooling fan: off or minimal (max 20%)
🐌 First layer speed: slow (20–25mm/s)
📐 Brim: 5–10mm recommended for large parts

ABS fumes contain styrene — always print in a ventilated space or use an enclosure with a HEPA/activated carbon filter. This is not optional for extended print sessions.

ABS vs ASA: Which Should You Use?

Property	ABS	ASA
UV resistance	❌ Yellows outdoors	✅ Excellent
Heat resistance	~95°C HDT	~98°C HDT
Warp tendency	Moderate–high	Similar to ABS
Price/kg	£14–£28	£20–£35
Fumes	Styrene (ventilate!)	Similar — ventilate
Best use	Indoor functional parts	Outdoor/garden parts

In-Depth Brand Reviews

eSUN ABS+

Price: £16–£22/kg | Cost/g: £0.016–£0.022 | Rating: 4.7/5

eSUN ABS+ is the most popular ABS variant for good reason. The + formulation adds impact modifiers that reduce warping by around 20% compared to standard ABS, making it significantly more forgiving in semi-enclosed printers. Layer bonding is excellent and the surface finish sands and paints cleanly.

Reduced warping vs standard ABS — less brim needed
Good layer bonding for structural parts
Acetone smoothable for a near-injection-moulded finish
Wide colour range including transparent variants
230–245°C nozzle, 95–110°C bed

Verdict: Best all-round ABS for most use cases. If you're just starting with ABS, start here.

Polymaker PolyLite ABS

Price: £18–£24/kg | Cost/g: £0.018–£0.024 | Rating: 4.6/5

Polymaker's PolyLite ABS uses their proprietary warp-reduction chemistry. In enclosed printers (Bambu P1S, Voron, Bambu X1C) it prints almost as reliably as PETG. Diameter tolerance is ±0.03mm — tighter than most ABS brands — which means consistent extrusion on long print runs.

Best warp resistance of any ABS we tested
±0.03mm diameter tolerance
Works well in semi-enclosed setups
Slightly higher price but fewer failed prints pays off

Verdict: Best choice if warping has been your main ABS frustration.

Prusament ASA

Price: £24–£30/kg | Cost/g: £0.024–£0.030 | Rating: 4.7/5

Technically ASA rather than ABS, but we include it here because it's the top recommendation for any outdoor or UV-exposed application. Prusament's tight quality control (±0.02mm tolerance) means consistent extrusion across an entire spool — critical for long functional prints.

UV stable — no yellowing or embrittlement outdoors
~98°C heat deflection temperature
±0.02mm tolerance — Prusa's quality standard
More expensive, but worth it for outdoor parts

Verdict: Best for outdoor, garden, and automotive parts. Not the cheapest but avoids the UV degradation problem entirely.

FAQ

Do I need an enclosure to print ABS?

Not strictly required, but strongly recommended. Without an enclosure, large ABS parts will almost always warp. A simple cardboard box or DIY enclosure reduces ambient airflow enough to make a significant difference.

Is ABS safe to print indoors?

ABS releases styrene fumes during printing. Always ensure good ventilation — open a window, use an enclosure with filtration, or print in a dedicated space. Short print sessions in a ventilated room are generally fine; extended unventilated printing is not recommended.

What is ABS+ vs standard ABS?

ABS+ (also called ABS Pro by some brands) adds impact modifiers and sometimes rubber tougheners to the standard ABS formula. This reduces warping, improves layer bonding, and generally makes it more beginner-friendly while retaining ABS's key properties.

Can I use ABS on an Ender 3 or Bambu A1?

An Ender 3 can print ABS but the open frame makes warping very likely on larger parts. A Bambu P1S or X1C with their sealed enclosures handle ABS much more reliably. The A1 is open-frame and not well suited to ABS.