The key differences at a glance:
- Strength: PETG is stiffer and handles hard impacts better. Nylon is tougher and flexes without breaking.
- Wear resistance: nylon barely wears down in moving parts. PETG wears out faster under friction.
- Printability: PETG prints easily on almost any printer. Nylon needs to be dried thoroughly and printed in an enclosed printer.
- Moisture sensitivity: nylon absorbs moisture extremely quickly. PETG is much less sensitive to this.
- Chemical resistance: nylon is highly resistant to oils and fuels. PETG is better against acids, bases, and water.
- Price: Nylon can easily be four times more expensive than PETG.
Need a quick choice: nylon or PETG?
Choose nylon if your part is subject to wear, sliding, or repeated bending, comes into contact with oils or fuels, or if you are making a functional prototype that requires both strength and flexibility. Keep in mind that you need to keep the filament dry and preferably print in an enclosed printer.
Choose PETG if your part needs to be sturdy and rigid, withstand an impact, be waterproof or food-safe, or if you just want a reliable material that’s easy to print. For most everyday functional prints, PETG is the practical choice.
Will your print be sitting outside in direct sunlight? Neither is ideal. In that case, you’re better off looking at ASA. Read more about that in the 3 best 3D printing materials for outdoor use, or compare them directly in ASA vs. PETG and nylon vs. ASA.
Still not sure? Use our material selection guide or let us take a look with a free printability check.
The key differences explained
Both are strong filaments, but "strong" means something different for each. Here are the five points that will determine your choice.
1. Strength and flexibility
This is where most of the confusion lies. PETG is stiffer and more solid upon direct impact; it has high impact resistance. Nylon is more flexible and tougher under repeated stress: it bends and springs back without cracking.
In terms of numbers, the flexural modulus of nylon is higher (around 7,000 - 13,100 PSI (Pounds per Square Inch) compared to about 5,000 - 7,250 PSI for PETG, according to manufacturer material data), whereas PETG excels in resistance to a single impact.
What does that mean for you? Printing something that needs to bend or wear down repeatedly, like a hinge or a gear? Then nylon wins. Does the part primarily need to withstand a hard knock or just stay stiffly in place? Then PETG is the better choice.
2. Wear resistance
Nylon is the clear winner here. Thanks to its low friction and high toughness, it barely wears down, even when two parts slide against each other day in and day out. That is exactly why guides, bearings, and gears in machinery are often made of nylon.
PETG wears down faster in these types of abrasive, moving applications. For a fixed part without movement, it doesn't matter, but as soon as friction is involved, choose nylon.
3. Printability
PETG wins by a landslide when it comes to ease of printing. It adheres well, barely warps, and doesn't require an enclosed printer. The biggest challenge is stringing, which you can solve with your retraction settings.
Nylon is much more demanding. It absorbs moisture so quickly that you almost always need to dry it first: 8 to 12 hours at 70–80°C in a filament dryer. After that, you print at 240–270°C with a bed temperature of 70–90°C, preferably in an enclosed environment to prevent warping.
PETG is more forgiving with a print temperature of 230–250°C and a bed around 70–80°C. Have little experience or no drying solution? Then PETG is a lot more relaxed to print.
4. Moisture sensitivity
Both materials absorb moisture, but nylon is an outlier here. It is one of the most hygroscopic filaments available and can absorb enough water in just two days of exposure to open air to ruin a print.
PETG is more sensitive than PLA, but nowhere near as extreme as nylon. In practice, this means: nylon requires strict storage in a dry box, while PETG can be stored just fine in a sealed bag with some silica gel.
5. Chemical resistance
Which material is more resistant to chemicals depends on which chemicals. Nylon is strong against oils, greases, and fuels, making it ideal for parts in machinery, tools, or vehicles.
PETG is better at resisting acids and bases and is also water-repellent. Will your print come into contact with lubricants or fuel? Choose nylon. Is it for water or a cleaning environment with acids? Then PETG is the safer choice.
Frequently asked questions about nylon and PETG
Is nylon stronger than PETG?
It depends on the type of strength. Nylon is stronger when it comes to wear and repeated bending because it is tough and flexible. PETG is stiffer and better at resisting a single hard impact. For moving or abrasive parts, nylon wins; for rigid structural parts, PETG wins.
Is PETG or nylon easier to print?
PETG is clearly easier to print. It adheres well to the bed, barely warps, and prints perfectly without an enclosure. Nylon is more demanding: it needs to be dried beforehand, requires higher temperatures, and prints best in an enclosed environment.
Can you print nylon on a standard printer?
You can, but you need a printer that can handle high temperatures (240–270°C) and ideally has an enclosure. You also need to dry the filament before use. Without those preparations, you are almost guaranteed a failed print. PETG works on virtually any FDM printer without any extra requirements.
Which filament is best for functional parts?
Both are suitable, but for different functions. For parts that wear, slide, or move, choose nylon. For sturdy, rigid parts like housings, brackets, and mounts, choose PETG. Still unsure about your specific part? Request a free printability check .
Is nylon water-resistant?
Nylon isn't ideal for wet environments. It absorbs moisture from the air and swells slightly, which affects dimensional accuracy and strength. PETG is water-repellent, making it the better choice for parts that come into contact with water.
Get your part printed in nylon or PETG
Do you know which material you want? Upload your STL file to our 3D print price calculator and calculate the cost instantly. Both nylon and PETG are available.
Don't have a file yet, or want advice on the right material for your project? Request a free printability check and we'll take a look with you.
