PLA, PETG & TPU Pellets for 3D Printing: Buying Guide (2026)

Short answer: 3D printing pellets are the raw plastic granules that filament is made from. Fed straight into a pellet extruder, they cost less per kilo than filament and suit large-format printing, filament making and moulding. Choose PLA for easy, low-heat parts, PETG for tough and clear parts, TPU for flexible parts, ABS for high-heat parts and recycled PET (rPET) when recycled content matters. Eolas Prints supplies virgin PLA, PETG, TPU and ABS pellets plus 100% recycled rPET, and ships from Spain worldwide.

What are 3D printing pellets?

Pellets (also called granules or granulate) are small beads of thermoplastic. Filament is pellets that have been melted, drawn into a 1.75 mm or 2.85 mm strand and wound onto a spool. A pellet-fed printer skips that step: a screw extruder melts the granules and deposits the plastic directly. This is called fused granulate fabrication (FGF) or, at the bigger end, large-format additive manufacturing (LFAM).

• Cost: pellets are usually cheaper per kilo, which matters most at high volume.
• Throughput: screw extruders move far more material per hour than a filament hotend.
• Trade-off: you need a pellet extruder, a dryer and dry storage. A standard filament printer cannot use pellets.

What are pellets used for?

Pellet-fed and large-format 3D printers

Desktop pellet extruders, pellet heads on gantry or robot-arm systems and industrial LFAM machines all run on granules. Complete FGF printers such as the PioCreat G5 Ultra, MS01 and G12 take 2–5 mm pellets; extruder heads such as the Dyze Design Pulsar, systems from Pollen AM and 3DGence, and custom builds use them too. Our pellet 3D printer buying guide compares the three PioCreat machines, with payback figures.

Making your own filament

Bench-top single-screw extruders turn pellets into filament, a popular route for makers, schools and labs that want custom colours or blends. A consistent diameter depends on dry pellets, steady temperatures, a good puller and controlled cooling.

Moulding and research

Pellets are the standard input for injection moulding and for lab work such as compounding, material testing or developing a formulation. Our PLA pellets are listed for injection moulding systems as well as pellet printers.

Which pellet material for which job?

Virgin PLA pellets: the easiest to print

Virgin PLA pellets are the easiest place to start. Polylactic acid is made from renewable plant starch and is biodegradable under industrial composting conditions. It prints at 190–220 °C on a 0–60 °C bed, barely warps and gives a good surface finish, so it suits prototypes, models and large display pieces. Its limit is heat: PLA softens above roughly 55–60 °C under load. Our PLA pellets are dye-free virgin material with no regrind or recycled content, and the raw pellet material is food-contact safe (this applies to the feedstock, not to printed parts).

PETG pellets: tough, clear and more heat-resistant

PETG pellets sit between PLA and ABS. PETG prints without warping on open machines, handles heat (about 70–80 °C heat deflection under light load), moisture and mild chemicals better than PLA, and is tougher on impact. Ours are colourless virgin PETG, so parts can come out very clear after light sanding and polishing. Print at 230–250 °C on a 70–85 °C bed, with a release agent or textured sheet on PEI. As with PLA, the raw pellet material is food-contact safe. See our PETG, TPU and ASA settings guide for tuning tips.

TPU pellets: flexible parts

TPU pellets are for parts that bend, seal or absorb impact. Ours are virgin TPU at Shore 93A, the firmer end of flexible, similar to a shoe sole. Typical uses are protective covers, flexible hinges, anti-vibration mounts and wearable components; the material is skin-safe and suitable for wearable applications. Print at 220–240 °C on a 30–60 °C bed at moderate speeds. Direct screw extruders handle TPU much better than Bowden-style pellet systems.

ABS pellets: heat resistance and acetone smoothing

ABS pellets are the choice when parts will see real heat. Our virgin ABS has a VICAT softening point of 106 °C and a heat deflection temperature of 83 °C (at 0.45 MPa), for jigs near heat sources, electrical housings and automotive brackets. It can be smoothed and bonded with acetone. It is also the most demanding of the five: print at 230–250 °C on a 90–110 °C bed in an enclosure (at least 40–50 °C), and ventilate or filter the styrene fumes.

rPET pellets: recycled content

Recycled PET (rPET) pellets are made from 100% post-consumer recycled bottles. They print almost exactly like PETG (230–250 °C nozzle, 70–85 °C bed) and suit functional parts up to about 70 °C under light load. They come as 2–3.5 mm spheres in a translucent light blue, with slight colour variation between batches. The raw pellet material is food-contact safe, and a REACH statement can be downloaded from the product page.

PLA vs PETG vs TPU vs ABS vs rPET pellets compared

Drying and storing pellets

Moisture is the most common reason pellet prints fail: wet pellets bubble, string and give weak, rough parts.

• PETG and rPET: dry at 65–70 °C for 4–6 hours.
• TPU: dry at 70–80 °C for 4–6 hours.
• ABS: also absorbs moisture; around 80 °C for a few hours is common practice, but check the datasheet.
• PLA: less sensitive; if needed, dry at a low temperature (typically around 45–55 °C) so the pellets do not soften and stick.

Size your dryer to your throughput, as a large-format printer can use pellets faster than a small dryer can dry them. Between jobs, reseal bags with desiccant or use airtight containers. Still stringing? See our guide to fixing stringing and oozing.

Pellet size and extruder compatibility

• Pellet dimensions: small desktop screws need small granules; large-format machines are more tolerant. Our rPET pellets are 2–3.5 mm spheres. If your extruder has a tight size limit, ask us about the material you have in mind.
• Consistency: uniform pellets flow evenly; mixed sizes and dust can bridge in the hopper or cause flow pulses.

Virgin vs recycled pellets: which to choose?

Our PLA, PETG, TPU and ABS pellets are virgin material: new polymer with no regrind or recycled content. Our rPET pellets are made from 100% post-consumer recycled bottles. rPET and PETG are close relatives, both based on polyethylene terephthalate, and print almost identically, so for PET-type parts the choice is a real one.

• Choose virgin when consistency matters: the same colour and processing behaviour from batch to batch, colourless clarity, or tightly tuned settings for filament making and research. For food-contact projects, the raw PLA and PETG pellet material is food-contact safe, with declarations available on request.
• Choose recycled rPET for sustainability and large-format printing: it costs less than our PETG pellets, producing it uses roughly 60% less energy than making new PET from petroleum feedstock, and it helps meet recycled-content requirements in tenders and ESG reporting. Expect slight colour variation between batches.

Tips for buying pellets in bulk

• Test before you scale. Start with a 1 kg bag to dial in temperatures, screw speed and drying.
• Plan drying and storage. Bulk only saves money if the material stays dry.
• Ask for documents early. REACH statements are available for all five materials (on request, or as a download for rPET), and food-contact declarations for PLA and PETG on request.
• Ask about big bags. All five materials are available in bulk big bags on request; contact us with the material and volume.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between pellets and filament?

Pellets are the raw granules of a plastic; filament is the same plastic drawn into a 1.75 mm or 2.85 mm strand. Pellets need a pellet (screw) extruder, but usually cost less per kilo and allow much higher throughput.

Which pellets should I choose for a pellet 3D printer?

Virgin PLA for easy, low-warp prototypes and display parts; virgin PETG for tougher, clearer parts that see moderate heat or moisture; TPU for flexible parts; ABS for high-temperature parts; recycled rPET when you need recycled content or a lower cost per kilo than PETG.

Do PETG, TPU and ABS pellets need drying?

Yes. They absorb moisture and print with bubbles and stringing when wet. Dry PETG and rPET at 65–70 °C and TPU at 70–80 °C for 4–6 hours. For ABS, around 80 °C for a few hours is common; check the datasheet.

What does virgin PLA pellets mean, and why does it matter?

Virgin PLA pellets are made from new polymer with no regrind or recycled content. That gives more consistent colour and processing from batch to batch, which helps when you fine-tune a pellet printer, make filament or run research. Eolas Prints' PLA, PETG, TPU and ABS pellets are virgin; rPET is 100% recycled.

Are PLA and PETG pellets food safe?

The raw PLA, PETG and rPET pellet material sold by Eolas Prints is food-contact safe, but this applies to the feedstock, not to printed parts. A printed part for food contact needs a stainless-steel nozzle, a food-safe sealant and your own assessment of the use.

Can I buy pellets in bulk, and do you ship outside Spain?

Yes. Eolas Prints sells PLA, PETG, TPU, ABS and rPET pellets in 1 kg bags, with bulk big bags on request. Orders ship from Spain worldwide.

Which pellet 3D printer can I use with these pellets?

Any printer with a pellet (screw) extruder that accepts your pellet size. Eolas Prints sells the PioCreat G5 Ultra, MS01 and G12, which take 2–5 mm pellets; PioCreat lists PLA, PETG, ABS and TPU for the G5 Ultra and G12. Our pellet 3D printer buying guide compares the three machines.