How to Dry and Store 3D Printer Filament: Temperatures and Times for PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA and TPU

Dry PLA at 45–50 °C for 4–6 hours, PETG at 65–70 °C for 4–6 hours, ABS and ASA at 60–70 °C for about 4 hours, and TPU at 50–60 °C for 4–8 hours. Dry any spool that has been open for more than a few days, then store it sealed with desiccant. PETG and TPU absorb moisture fastest, so they benefit most.

Last updated 7 October 2026. Temperatures for PETG UV Resistant and our TPU range are the values published on our product pages; the others are the settings we use in-house.

Key facts

• Why dry: plastics absorb water from the air. In the hot end it turns to steam, causing popping, stringing, bubbles and weak layers.
• Most sensitive: PETG and TPU. Least sensitive: PLA.
• Never exceed the softening point: PLA softens around 55–60 °C, so keep it at 50 °C or below or the filament can fuse on the spool.
• Our spools ship vacuum-packed – the clock starts when you open the bag.
• Store below about 20 % relative humidity in an airtight box or bag with silica gel.

Drying temperatures and times for Eolas Prints filaments

If your dryer cannot reach the upper value, use the lower temperature for the longer time. Check that the spool itself is rated for the temperature before going above 65 °C.

Signs your filament is wet

• Popping, crackling or hissing from the nozzle, sometimes with visible steam.
• More stringing and oozing than usual, even with tuned retraction.
• Small bubbles, pits or a rough, dull surface on parts that should be glossy.
• Weak, brittle parts and poor layer adhesion.
• PLA that snaps when you bend it, or breaks inside a feeder or AMS.

If you see these symptoms, dry the spool before you start changing slicer settings. Our guide to fixing stringing and oozing covers the other causes.

How to dry a spool of filament

Six steps for a dedicated filament dryer, an AMS 2 Pro or AMS HT, or a similar heated dryer.

1. Check the material and look up its drying temperature in the table above.
2. Remove any cardboard sleeve or label that could deform, and place the spool in the dryer.
3. Set the temperature and time. For PETG use 65–70 °C for 4–6 hours; for TPU 50–60 °C for 4–8 hours.
4. Keep the lid closed for the whole cycle so the humid air is vented out.
5. Print straight from the dryer, or let the spool cool inside a sealed bag or box.
6. Store it with fresh silica gel and a hygrometer so you can see when the humidity rises again.

Which dryer should I use?

• Dedicated filament dryer: the simplest option. Pick one that reaches at least 70 °C if you print PETG.
• Bambu Lab AMS 2 Pro: dries up to 65 °C – ideal for PLA, PETG and TPU between or during prints. See Eolas filament in multi-colour systems.
• Bambu Lab AMS HT: dries up to 85 °C – suits ABS, ASA and PETG.
• Kitchen oven: a last resort. Many ovens overshoot at low settings; check with a separate thermometer and never leave it unattended.

How to store filament

• Airtight first: a sealed box or zip bag matters more than the amount of desiccant.
• Silica gel: use indicating silica gel and regenerate or replace it when it changes colour.
• Print from a dry box: a box such as the Prusa USS Drybox mounts on the spool holder and feeds the filament out through a slot, so the spool never sits in room air.
• Tuck the end in: clip the filament end into the spool edge so it cannot unwind or tangle.
• Keep spools out of sunlight and away from heaters.

Material-specific tips

• PLA: usually prints fine straight from a fresh bag. Dry it if it starts snapping or stringing.
• PETG: the most common source of moisture problems. Dry it before every long or multi-colour print. Learn more in how to print with PETG.
• ABS and ASA: less sensitive, but moisture makes the surface rough and increases warping risk. Dry before long enclosed prints.
• TPU: absorbs water quickly and strings heavily when wet. Keep it in a dry box while printing – see TPU 93A vs D53 vs D60.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to dry new filament?

Usually not. Eolas Prints spools are vacuum-packed after production. Dry a spool when it has been open for more than a few days, or straight away if you see signs of moisture.

Can I dry filament too much?

Drying at the right temperature for longer than needed does no harm. Too high a temperature does: it can soften the filament and fuse the windings together.

How long does dried filament stay dry?

In an airtight box with silica gel, weeks to months. In open room air, PETG and TPU can pick up enough moisture to print badly within a few days, depending on your climate.

Can I dry PLA at 65 °C like PETG?

No. PLA starts to soften around 55–60 °C and the filament can stick to itself on the spool. Keep PLA at 45–50 °C.

Does drying fix brittle PLA?

Often, yes – brittleness is commonly caused by moisture. If a dried spool still snaps easily, the filament may simply be old or stressed from tight bends.

Can I print directly from a dryer?

Yes, and it is the best way to print PETG and TPU on long jobs. Many dryers and the Bambu Lab AMS 2 Pro and AMS HT let you dry while printing.

About the author
Sergio Peciña is a qualified Electrical & Electronics Engineer and Eolas Prints' Technical Design Engineer, with over 10 years of experience in 3D printing. He founded the maker spaces at the University of La Rioja and IDIVAL Santander. Every Eolas Prints filament is manufactured in-house in Cantabria, Spain, to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards.

Shop Eolas Prints filaments: PLA | PETG | ABS | ASA | TPU – ISO-certified, made in Spain. More help: our troubleshooting & calibration hub.