TPU 93A vs D53 vs D60: Which Flexible Filament Should You Use?

TPU 93A is the softest and most rubber-like of the three, D53 is a firmer, semi-flexible grade, and D60 UV Resistant is the firmest and the one to use outdoors. Choose 93A for grips, gaskets and bumpers that need to squash; D53 for tough parts that flex but hold their shape, such as clips and living hinges; and D60 for marine, garden and other parts that live in the sun.

Last updated 7 October 2026. Print settings come from our product pages and the Eolas Prints profiles built into OrcaSlicer.

Key facts

• Hardness order: 93A (softest) → D53 → D60 (firmest).
• Two scales: Shore A measures soft materials and Shore D harder ones. Shore 93A sits roughly in the low 40s on the D scale, so both D53 and D60 are clearly firmer.
• Printing: all three print at 220–240 °C on a 50–60 °C bed, slowly, with minimal retraction.
• Extruder: a direct-drive extruder is recommended for 93A and D53; D60 also runs on short Bowden setups under 400 mm.
• Outdoors: only D60 is certified UV resistant, with hydrolysis and microbial resistance.

Side-by-side comparison

Values are our recommended ranges; fine-tune with a temperature tower on your printer. Full profiles are built into OrcaSlicer and the other slicers listed in our slicer profile index.

Shore hardness explained

Shore hardness is measured by pressing a standard indenter into the material. The A scale is used for rubbers and soft plastics, the D scale for harder elastomers and plastics. The scales overlap but are not the same, so a higher number on the A scale does not mean a material is harder than one on the D scale. As a rough guide, a car tyre tread is around 70A and a street skateboard wheel is in the high 90s A – about where the D scale takes over. Every Eolas Prints TPU is above the tyre, and D53 and D60 are firmer than the skateboard wheel.

TPU Flex 93A – the softest, most versatile grade

TPU Flex 93A is our classic flexible filament: soft enough to squash and grip, tough enough to survive repeated bending. It is the right choice for most flexible parts – phone cases, feet for furniture and electronics, gaskets, bumpers, vibration dampers and handles. It needs the slowest volumetric flow of the three, so print slowly and keep the filament path tight. TPU Transition has the same 93A hardness with a gradient colour effect.

TPU Flex D53 – firm, tough and semi-flexible

TPU Flex D53 sits between soft TPU and rigid plastics. Parts bend under load and spring back, but they keep their shape and do not feel rubbery. Use it for snap-fit clips, living hinges, protective covers, cable strain reliefs and wear pads where 93A would be too floppy and PETG too brittle. Print slowly (10–20 mm/s) with a direct-drive extruder.

TPU Flex D60 UV Resistant – firmest and built for outdoors

TPU Flex D60 UV Resistant is the firmest and most outdoor-capable grade. It is certified UV resistant and adds hydrolysis and microbial resistance and flexibility in the cold, which makes it ideal for marine and nautical accessories, garden fittings, outdoor seals and impact guards. Because it is stiffer, it also feeds more easily: short Bowden setups under 400 mm work. Read more in TPU D60 for outdoor 3D printing.

Which TPU should I choose?

• It must squash, seal or grip: 93A.
• It must flex but keep its shape: D53.
• It will live outdoors or near water: D60 UV Resistant.
• You have a Bowden printer: D60 on a short Bowden tube; otherwise upgrade to direct drive for 93A and D53.
• You want a softer feel from a firmer grade: use fewer walls and a low, gyroid infill – infill changes the feel as much as the grade does.

How to print TPU successfully

Six settings that matter for every Eolas Prints TPU grade.

1. Dry the spool at 50–60 °C for 4–8 hours if it has been open for more than a few days – see our drying and storage guide.
2. Load it from the external spool holder, not through an AMS or other filament-switching unit.
3. Select the matching Eolas Prints TPU profile in your slicer.
4. Print slowly: start at the low end of the speed range and keep volumetric flow within the profile limit.
5. Use minimal retraction (0–2 mm) and turn off z-hop to reduce stringing and jams.
6. Print on a clean PEI plate at 50–60 °C; use glue stick as a release agent on very smooth plates.

Frequently asked questions

Is TPU D53 softer than TPU 93A?

No. Shore A and Shore D are different scales: 93A is roughly equivalent to the low 40s on the D scale, so D53 is firmer than 93A, and D60 is firmer still.

Which Eolas TPU is the most flexible?

TPU Flex 93A. It is the softest and most rubber-like of our three grades.

Which TPU is best for outdoor use?

TPU Flex D60 UV Resistant. It is certified UV resistant and resists hydrolysis, microbes and cold.

Can I print TPU on a Bowden printer?

D60 UV Resistant works on short Bowden setups under 400 mm. For 93A and D53 we recommend a direct-drive extruder.

Can I use Eolas TPU in a Bambu Lab AMS?

No. Load it on the external spool holder. See Eolas filament in multi-colour systems for other units.

Why is my TPU stringing?

Usually moisture or too much retraction. Dry the spool, reduce retraction to 0–2 mm and lower the nozzle temperature by 5 °C.

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 flexible filaments: TPU Flex 93A | TPU Flex D53 | TPU Flex D60 UV Resistant | TPU Transition. More tips: how to print with TPU and best print settings for PETG, TPU & ASA.