Material sheet · Specialty

Glow-in-the-Dark Filament: Parts That Shine in the Dark

PLA or PETG with pigments that store light and give it back in the dark. What the datasheets say and how to print it without damaging the nozzle.

Nozzle 195–235 °C 4 datasheets

Bed 42–52 °C 4 datasheets

Density 1.25 g/cm³ 4 datasheets

Tg 59 °C 2 datasheets

Drying 52 °C 2 datasheets

Glow-in-the-dark filament properties

Data taken from 4 datasheets from manufacturers in Spain, Europe, the United States and China, reviewed on October 26, 2026. The shaded bar marks the median of the declared values and each colored tick is a different datasheet. The scales are the same across the whole library, so you can compare materials at a glance.

Nozzle temperature °C · 4 datasheets

195–235 °C range 185–255

Bed temperature °C · 4 datasheets

42–52 °C range 0–80

Density g/cm³ · 4 datasheets

1.25 g/cm³ range 1.23–1.27

Glass transition (Tg) °C · 2 datasheets

59 °C range 55–63

HDT at 0.45 MPa °C · 3 datasheets

55 °C range 55–55

Vicat softening °C · 2 datasheets

55 °C range 54–56

Tensile strength MPa · 4 datasheets

36 MPa range 26–60

Tensile modulus MPa · 3 datasheets

2,030 MPa range 1,950–3,500

Elongation at break % · 4 datasheets

9 % range 6–58

Flexural strength MPa · 4 datasheets

70 MPa range 64–83

Flexural modulus MPa · 3 datasheets

2,300 MPa range 1,880–2,640

Drying temperature °C · 2 datasheets

52 °C range 50–55

Drying time h · 1 sheet

8 h range 8–8

Spain · 0 Europe · 2 US · 0 China · 2 Band: median of the declared values

Glow-in-the-dark filament temperature and print settings

Setting	Typical value	Range in datasheets
Nozzle	195–235 °C	185–255 °C
Bed	42–52 °C	0–80 °C
Print speed	45–155 mm/s	40–250 mm/s
Drying temperature	52 °C	50–55 °C
Drying time	8 h	8–8 h

Difficulty Medium Prints like its base, but wears down the nozzle.

Hardened nozzle Required 2 of 2 datasheets

Drying before printing 52 °C · 8 h Manufacturer values for spools that have absorbed moisture.

Glow in the dark vs PLA, PETG, and Silk PLA: comparison

Setting	Glow in the dark	PLA	PETG	Silk PLA
Nozzle temperature °C	195–235	192–230	230–260	210–230
Bed temperature °C	42–52	40–60	65–80	50–60
Density g/cm³	1.25	1.23	1.27	1.22
Glass transition (Tg) °C	59	61	80	59
HDT at 0.45 MPa °C	55	56	69	55
Tensile strength MPa	36	50	48	50
Tensile modulus MPa	2,030	2,865	2,311	2,600
Elongation at break %	9	8	11	10
Drying temperature °C	52	50	65	50

Medians from each material's datasheets. Click a material to see its full range.

Meters of Glow in the dark per spool

Spool weight	1.75 mm	2.85 mm
250 g	83 m	31 m
500 g	166 m	63 m
1 kg	333 m	125 m
3 kg	998 m	376 m

Calculated with the median density from the datasheets (1.25 g/cm³). Real spools can vary by a few meters because of diameter tolerance.

What is glow-in-the-dark filament

It is a plastic, usually PLA, with phosphorescent pigments that absorb light and slowly emit it in the dark. It is used for signs, switches that are easy to find at night, toys and decoration. The 4 datasheets analyzed print it with the nozzle at 195–235 °C and the bed at 42–52 °C.

Why it wears down the nozzle

Phosphorescent pigments are hard mineral particles. Over full spools they wear down brass and the nozzle loses diameter. If you are going to print a lot, use a hardened nozzle.

How to make it glow brighter

Thick walls and high infill: more material, more glow.
Charge with intense light, ideally ultraviolet, before turning off the light.
White or light base: dark colors dampen the effect.

FAQ