Best TPU Filament Brands (2026): Ranked for Flexibility, Durability & Printability
TPU is the go-to material for flexible, impact-resistant prints — phone cases, gaskets, grips, and hinges. But not all TPU is equal. We ranked the top brands for 2026 by shore hardness consistency, printability at speed, and value — plus a TPU print cost calculator.
Quick Picks (2026)
Best overall: eSUN TPU 95A — £18–£24/kg
Best for high-speed printing: Bambu Lab TPU 95A HF — £28–£34/kg
Best budget: Sunlu TPU — £15–£20/kg
Best hardness consistency: Polymaker PolyFlex TPU95 — £22–£28/kg
Best for Bowden setups: Sainsmart TPU — £16–£22/kg
Most flexible: NinjaTek Cheetah 95A — £30–£38/kg
Full Comparison Table (2026)
| Brand | Shore | Price/kg | Cost/gram | Best For | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| eSUN TPU 95A | 95A | £18–£24 | £0.018–£0.024 | Overall quality + value | ⭐ 4.7/5 |
| Bambu Lab TPU 95A HF | 95A | £28–£34 | £0.028–£0.034 | High-speed direct drive | ⭐ 4.7/5 |
| Polymaker PolyFlex TPU95 | 95A | £22–£28 | £0.022–£0.028 | Hardness consistency | ⭐ 4.6/5 |
| NinjaTek Cheetah 95A | 95A | £30–£38 | £0.030–£0.038 | Premium reliability | ⭐ 4.6/5 |
| Sainsmart TPU | 95A | £16–£22 | £0.016–£0.022 | Bowden-compatible | ⭐ 4.4/5 |
| Overture TPU | 95A | £15–£21 | £0.015–£0.021 | Budget + reliability | ⭐ 4.4/5 |
| Sunlu TPU | 95A | £15–£20 | £0.015–£0.020 | Cheapest per kg | ⭐ 4.3/5 |
| Creality Hyper TPU | 95A | £18–£24 | £0.018–£0.024 | High-speed printing | ⭐ 4.4/5 |
Prices based on UK market averages, March 2026. Use the TPU cost calculator to enter your exact spool price.
TPU Printing Tips: Getting Consistent Results
TPU's flexibility is what makes it useful and difficult at the same time. On a Bowden setup, the filament can buckle in the tube. Direct drive extruders handle it far better — this is one case where hardware genuinely matters.
Recommended print settings (TPU 95A)
- 🌡️ Nozzle: 220–240°C
- 🛏️ Bed: 30–60°C (PEI or smooth PEI sheet)
- 🐌 Print speed: 20–40mm/s (slow is reliable — fast requires HF variants)
- 💨 Part cooling fan: on, 50–100%
- 🔄 Retraction: minimal (0.5–1.5mm direct drive) or off entirely
- ⚙️ Extruder: direct drive strongly preferred over Bowden
Too much retraction on TPU causes grinding and jams. If you're getting clogs, reduce retraction first before adjusting temperature.
Shore Hardness Guide: Which TPU Do You Need?
| Shore Rating | Feel | Best Applications |
|---|---|---|
| 85A | Very soft — like a rubber band | Compression gaskets, soft grips |
| 95A | Soft but firm — like a shoe sole | Phone cases, bumpers, hinges, wheels |
| 98A | Semi-rigid — like a hard eraser | Functional parts needing slight flex |
| TPU 45D | Rigid-flexible hybrid | Structural parts needing impact resistance |
Most hobbyist TPU is 95A — the most printable and versatile hardness for general use.
In-Depth Brand Reviews
eSUN TPU 95A
Price: £18–£24/kg | Cost/g: £0.018–£0.024 | Rating: 4.7/5
eSUN TPU 95A is the benchmark for value TPU. Consistent shore hardness across spools, reliable layer bonding, and it handles direct drive printers at 30–40mm/s without issue. It's not the fastest TPU on the market but it's forgiving, widely available, and significantly cheaper than premium options.
- Consistent 95A hardness spool-to-spool
- Good layer bonding — parts flex without delaminating
- Works reliably on Bambu, Prusa MK4, Ender 3 (direct drive)
- Not recommended for Bowden setups without modifications
Verdict: Best starting point for TPU. Reliable, affordable, widely available.
Bambu Lab TPU 95A HF
Price: £28–£34/kg | Cost/g: £0.028–£0.034 | Rating: 4.7/5
The HF (High Flow) variant is designed specifically for high-speed printing on Bambu printers. At 100mm/s+ it outperforms every other TPU we tested. If you're on a Bambu X1C or P1S and want to print flexible parts at speed without babysitting, this is the one. The premium price is justified by dramatically faster print times.
- Prints at 80–120mm/s reliably on Bambu printers
- Excellent surface finish on flexible parts
- More expensive — best justified when time savings matter
- Works best with Bambu's own profiles
Verdict: Best TPU for Bambu owners who print flexible parts regularly.
Polymaker PolyFlex TPU95
Price: £22–£28/kg | Cost/g: £0.022–£0.028 | Rating: 4.6/5
Polymaker's PolyFlex is the most dimensionally consistent TPU we've tested. If you're making parts where the exact softness/firmness matters — like custom grips or precise gaskets — the hardness consistency across a spool is noticeably tighter than competitors.
- Tightest shore hardness consistency of any TPU tested
- Good for functional parts where flex characteristics matter
- Prints cleanly at 25–35mm/s on direct drive
- Limited colour range vs eSUN
Verdict: Best when hardness consistency is critical — gaskets, seals, precision grips.
FAQ
Can I print TPU on a Bowden printer like the Ender 3?
It's possible but difficult. TPU tends to buckle in Bowden tubes, especially at normal print speeds. You'll need to slow right down (15–20mm/s), minimise retraction, and accept more failed prints. A direct drive upgrade (like the Creality Sprite extruder) makes a significant difference.
What shore hardness is best for phone cases?
95A is the standard for phone cases — firm enough to hold its shape, soft enough to absorb impacts. 85A is too floppy for most case designs. 98A starts to feel more like rigid plastic.
Why does my TPU keep jamming?
Usually one of three causes: retraction too high (reduce to 0.5–1mm on direct drive, or disable entirely), print speed too fast (drop to 25–30mm/s), or temperature too low (try 235–240°C). TPU jams are almost always settings-related, not material defects.
Is TPU food safe?
The raw TPU polymer is generally considered food-safe, but layer lines in FFF prints create crevices that trap bacteria. For food contact applications, use medical-grade TPU with a sealed or coated surface. Don't use printed TPU for food storage without proper post-processing.