Material sheet · Flexible

TPU Filament: Flexible, Shore Hardness and How to Print It

The most widely used flexible filament. What its Shore hardness means, how far it stretches according to manufacturers and how to print it without jams.

Nozzle 220–240 °C 35 datasheets
Bed 50–60 °C 35 datasheets
Density 1.2 g/cm³ 29 datasheets
Tg -27 °C 4 datasheets
Drying 65 °C 12 datasheets
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TPU filament properties

Data taken from 36 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 · 35 datasheets
220–240 °C range 190–260
Bed temperature °C · 35 datasheets
50–60 °C range 0–90
Density g/cm³ · 29 datasheets
1.2 g/cm³ range 1–1.27
Glass transition (Tg) °C · 4 datasheets
-27 °C range -34–-20
HDT at 0.45 MPa °C · 3 datasheets
70 °C range 36–74
Vicat softening °C · 5 datasheets
110 °C range 98–140
Tensile strength MPa · 28 datasheets
30 MPa range 5–54
Tensile modulus MPa · 10 datasheets
37 MPa range 3–100
Elongation at break % · 36 datasheets
525 % range 150–1,000
Flexural strength MPa · 4 datasheets
6 MPa range 3–34
Flexural modulus MPa · 7 datasheets
50 MPa range 37–90
Shore hardness Shore A · 9 datasheets
70–95 Shore A range 1–98
Drying temperature °C · 12 datasheets
65 °C range 50–90
Drying time h · 9 datasheets
5 h range 1–8
Spain · 7 Europe · 19 US · 1 China · 9 Band: median of the declared values
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TPU filament temperature and print settings

Setting Typical value Range in datasheets
Nozzle 220–240 °C 190–260 °C
Bed 50–60 °C 0–90 °C
Print speed 20–45 mm/s 15–200 mm/s
Drying temperature 65 °C 50–90 °C
Drying time 5 h 1–8 h
Difficulty Medium Calls for a direct drive extruder, low speed and dry filament.
Enclosed printer Not needed 15 of 15 datasheets
Hardened nozzle Not needed 4 of 4 datasheets
Drying before printing 65 °C · 5 h Manufacturer values for spools that have absorbed moisture.
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TPU vs PETG, Nylon, and Polypropylene: comparison

SettingTPUPETGNylonPolypropylene
Nozzle temperature °C220–240230–260250–270222–248
Bed temperature °C50–6065–8085–10090–105
Density g/cm³1.21.271.110.93
Glass transition (Tg) °C-278066-31
HDT at 0.45 MPa °C706911580
Tensile strength MPa30485019
Tensile modulus MPa372,3111,9801,400
Elongation at break %5251113100
Drying temperature °C65659050

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

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Meters of TPU per spool

Spool weight1.75 mm2.85 mm
250 g87 m33 m
500 g173 m65 m
1 kg346 m131 m
3 kg1,039 m392 m

Calculated with the median density from the datasheets (1.2 g/cm³). Real spools can vary by a few meters because of diameter tolerance.

What is TPU filament

TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) is an elastomer: it bends, stretches and recovers its shape. It combines hard and soft segments in its structure, and the ratio between them sets how flexible each filament is. It is used for cases, gaskets, dampers, wheels, soles, bracelets and any part that has to absorb impacts or seal.

In the 36 datasheets analyzed it prints with the nozzle at 220–240 °C and the bed at 50–60 °C. What sets it apart is elongation at break: the median is 525 %, compared with a few percentage points for rigid filaments.

TPU Shore hardness: 95A, 85A and softer

TPU flexibility is expressed in Shore A hardness: the lower the number, the softer. The datasheets analyzed that declare it give values of 1–98 Shore A.

HardnessFeelTypical usesDifficulty
95AFlexible but firm, like a soleCases, wheels, dampersThe easiest to print
90A–85ASoft, bends easilyGaskets, bracelets, gripsMedium
Below 85AVery soft, like rubberSoft gaskets, tactile partsHigh, needs a tightly guided extruder

How to print TPU filament without jams

  • Direct drive extruder. In a Bowden system the soft filament compresses inside the tube and jams. With a direct drive extruder, 95A runs fine on almost any printer.
  • Low speed. The datasheet median is 20–45, far below rigid filaments. High-speed TPUs exist, but they also call for moderate flow rates.
  • Minimal or disabled retraction. Long retractions stretch the filament and cause jams.
  • Gentle extruder tension, so as not to crush the strand.
  • Clean bed. TPU sticks very hard to smooth PEI; a release agent such as glue stick keeps you from tearing up the surface.

How to dry TPU filament

TPU is hygroscopic: it absorbs moisture from the air and you notice it a lot when printing, with bubbles, strings and a rough surface. Datasheets that give drying settings suggest drying it at 65 °C, with times ranging from 1–8 h depending on the manufacturer. It is best to print it straight from a dry box.

TPU, TPE and other flexible filaments

TPE is the general family of thermoplastic elastomers and TPU is one of its types, the most resistant to abrasion and oils. There are also copolyester (TPC) and polyamide flexibles, more technical and less common on desktop printers. If a manufacturer sells "flexible PLA", it is really a blend that bends somewhat but does not behave like an elastomer.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about TPU filament

What temperature do you print TPU at?

The datasheet median is 220–240 °C at the nozzle and 50–60 °C at the bed. The declared nozzle range runs from 190–260 °C.

What does TPU 95A mean?

It is the Shore A hardness of the material. A 95A is flexible but firm and is the easiest to print. The lower the number, the softer the filament.

Can you print TPU with a Bowden extruder?

95A, yes, slowly and with little retraction, although it causes more problems. Softer TPUs need a direct drive extruder.

Library

Guides for better prints

Library guide Cost Calculator Grams, meters and cost of a part, using the real density of each material. Library guide Drying Filament Drying temperature and time for every filament. Library guide Printing Problems Warping, stringing, first layer and other failures, with their fixes.