TPU is the only mainstream desktop filament that makes parts which bend, compress, grip and take a hit without snapping. It is also the material that frustrates new printers most often, because a soft filament buckles the moment there is any gap in the filament path, and because it drinks moisture out of the air faster than almost any other plastic you will unbox.
That is the whole reason this guide exists. We ran a full set of 1.75mm TPU spools through the same workflow: unbox, dry, print, flex, repeat, and then we read what thousands of owners said after the fact. If you want the short answer, the OVERTURE TPU 95A is the one we would buy first, and the SUNLU TPU 95A is the one we would buy in a stack.
Below you will find the best TPU filament for flexible prints ranked by what actually matters on a real printer: diameter consistency, how forgiving the spool is, whether your extruder can feed it, and how it behaves after two hundred flex cycles. We also cover shore hardness in plain language, settings that work, and what each failure symptom is telling you. If moisture is your problem, our filament dryer guide is worth a look before you blame the filament.
Top 3 Picks for the Best TPU Filament in 2026
Three spools earned the right to sit at the top. Overture balances softness and toughness better than anything else we tested, SUNLU wins on value and high-speed capability, and ELEGOO is the one we would hand to someone printing flexible parts for the very first time.
OVERTURE TPU 95A
- Shore 95A balance of softness and resilience
- Patented clog-free formula dried 24 hours
- Excellent layer adhesion
- Works on consumer and industrial FDM
SUNLU TPU 95A
- High-speed up to 120mm/s
- Shore 95A impact and wear resistance
- Excellent layer adhesion
- Plus or minus 0.03mm tolerance
ELEGOO TPU 95A
- Stretches up to 5x original size
- Pre-dried and vacuum sealed
- Strict diameter tolerance
- Prints on generic TPU profiles
The Best TPU Filament Compared (October 2026)
Every spool below is 1.75mm TPU rated for FDM printers. The hardness and tolerance figures come from the manufacturer listings, and the speed recommendations are what our own test slices and owner reports used.
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| OVERTURE TPU 95A |
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| SUNLU TPU 95A |
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| ELEGOO TPU 95A |
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 Geeetech TPU 95A Clear Blue |
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 AMOLEN Rainbow TPU 95A |
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 Creality TPU 95A |
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 Siraya Tech Flex TPU 85A |
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 Sovol TPU 95A Clear Green |
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 Polymaker TPU 95A |
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 FilaBees Rainbow Candy TPU 95A |
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 YOUSU TPU 95A |
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 SUNLU TPU-Silk 98A |
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Shore Hardness Explained: What 95A, 90A and 85A Actually Feel Like
A lower number on the Shore A scale means a softer material. 95A is firm enough to hold a shape under load but still bends, and it behaves much closer to a normal filament in the extruder. 90A is noticeably rubbery, and anything at 85A or below is soft enough to compress with your thumb.
The practical translation: 95A is about as soft as a pencil eraser, 90A feels like a car tyre sidewall, and 85A is closer to a soft foam insert. That is why almost every 95A spool on the market prints on stock machines while 85A demands a direct drive extruder and a dry spool.
Hardness is not a quality score. Softer is not better for every job. If you are printing a phone case, a watch band or an RC tyre, softer is what you want. If you are printing a hinge, a bracket or a tool handle, 95A or even 98A will outlast a softer grade.
One more thing to watch for: a labelled 95A is not always a true 95A. Creality owners in particular report that the real stiffness can drift from the label, so if you are matching parts to a moulded rubber reference, test a small coupon first.
Why TPU Is Hard to Print, and What Actually Fixes It
There are three reasons, and all three have a fix.
It buckles instead of feeding. Rigid filament is pushed along a fixed path. TPU is elastic, so if there is any space for it to compress, it will. Direct drive extruders feed it cleanly, and Bowden tubes only work if you print slowly, constantly and with retraction disabled.
Retraction stretches it. Pulling TPU back into the hot end makes it stretch rather than retract, which leaves it under tension and leads to jams, star-sick walls or a print that suddenly starts laying down spider silk. Set retraction to zero and reduce any wipe or travel speed instead.
It absorbs moisture. TPU is hygroscopic. Damp filament bubbles, pops and stringies, and it produces walls with a foamy texture you can see under a sharp light. Dry the spool before the first print, seal it afterwards, and treat any re-drying routine as standard rather than optional.
The result is a short setup list: dry the filament, slow the outer perimeter down, disable retraction, raise nozzle temperature into the material’s published range, and give the first layer time. Every spool below lists its own numbers, so you can start from the manufacturer’s window rather than guessing.
1. OVERTURE TPU 95A – The Best All-Round Flexible Filament
OVERTURE TPU 95A Flexible 3D Printer Filament 1.75mm, 1kg Black
Shore 95A
24 hour pre-dried clog-free formula
Vacuum sealed foil bag
1 year warranty
Pros
- Softness that still handles abrasion
- Neat winding and reliable feeding
- Good bed adhesion on textured plates
- Matte true-black finish
Cons
- Needs temperature and speed tuning first
- A spliced section caused one jam
- Slight sheen rather than a matte rubber look
This is the spool we keep coming back to. The 95A here is a genuine balance point: soft enough to bend, twist and absorb impact, but tough enough that a printed tyre or gasket keeps its shape instead of collapsing. It carries a 4.7 average across 2259 reviews, the strongest combination in this guide.
It is also the one we would trust on a first attempt. The patented clog-free formula is pre-dried for 24 hours and vacuum sealed, so an unopened spool behaves predictably on the very first print, which is not something every flexible filament can claim.
Owners report that it feeds smoothly with consistent diameter and that the winding is tidy enough for automatic runout detection, which is a genuine advantage on Bambu A1 and P1S machines. Bed adhesion on a textured plate is good, and the matte black finish looks closer to moulded rubber than most flexible spools manage.
The honest drawback is that it does not print well out of the box on an untuned machine. Expect to spend a little material dialling in nozzle temperature and speed, and treat those early tests as the cost of the spool rather than a fault with it.
Who it suits
Anyone printing functional parts rather than display pieces. Model tyres, RC wheels, gaskets, bumpers and covers are where this filament earns its place, because it takes repeated bending and shock without going brittle.
It is a sensible first TPU spool for someone on a direct drive machine who wants the benchmark hardness that almost every other brand is measured against.
Who should skip it
If you are on a Bowden setup with a PTFE-lined tube and no direct drive, a firmer spool will save you a lot of failed prints. And if you need genuinely soft compression, 95A will feel too stiff no matter how well it prints.
2. SUNLU TPU 95A – Best Value for Everyday Flexible Parts
SUNLU TPU Filament 1.75mm,(1kg,Black,95a TPU)
Shore 95A
80-120mm/s high speed
Plus or minus 0.03mm
Vacuum sealed 1kg spool
Pros
- Forgiving to print with no clogs
- Excellent layer adhesion
- Grippy durable prints
- Works on default TPU profiles
Cons
- Stringing on travel-heavy models
- Spool can look loosely wound
This is the spool that keeps coming up in owner reports as the sensible buy. It carries a 4.6 average over 2675 reviews, it is rated for 80-120mm/s, and it feeds without the drama that softer grades bring to a home printer.
Two things stand out. The extrusion stays smooth at higher volumetric rates than most 95A spools manage, and the finished parts come out grippy and durable rather than slick, which matters if you are making feet, grips or tyres.
It also printed cleanly on default TPU profiles on Bambu machines in our own testing, which means fewer variables between the spool and the first layer. Recommended settings sit at 210-230C nozzle and 50-60C bed, and adhesion to the bed is good even at the lower end of that range.
Stringing on detailed models with lots of travel moves is the most common complaint, and that is normal TPU behaviour rather than a defect. Slow your travel speed and it largely disappears.
Who it suits
People printing a lot of flexible parts who want a spool that will not punish a busy extruder. Phone cases, grips, bumpers and covers all come out well, and the wear and oil resistance hold up in a workshop setting.
If you break a spool on a failed print, the material loss is small. That makes this a low-risk way to learn the settings for TPU.
Who should skip it
Softness seekers. This is a firm 95A, so it will not compress like an 85A part. Buy the Siraya Tech spool instead if squish is the whole point of the design.
3. ELEGOO TPU 95A – Best for a First Spool of Flexible Filament
ELEGOO TPU 3D Printer Filament 1.75mm Black 1KG, 95A Flexible
Shore 95A
Stretches up to 5x
Pre-dried and vacuum sealed
1kg black spool
Pros
- Plug-and-play on generic TPU profiles
- Very elastic and resists clogs
- Minimal stringing once dried
Cons
- Needs slower speeds than rigid filament
- High feeder tension can need loosening
Among the simplest spools here to get a good result from. It prints on a generic TPU profile without any slicer work, which removes the single biggest reason first-time TPU prints disappoint people.
Elasticity is the headline number here and it earns it. The filament stretches up to five times its original size before breaking, and owners report parts that bend hard without cracking at the fold.
It arrives pre-dried and vacuum sealed, so a fresh spool feeds cleanly. Once you have opened it, drying first is still worth doing, and the surface finish turns smooth and pliable afterwards with very little stringing.
The one hardware note that comes up repeatedly is feeder tension. On machines with a high-tension extruder, loosening the tension screw a quarter turn is the difference between clean feeding and a jam.
Who it suits
First-time TPU printers, especially on a Bambu A1 where the generic profile already gets you close. It also suits anyone who wants elastic parts without touching their slicer settings beyond the filament profile.
It handled bumpers, adapters and protective parts well in our testing, and the impact resistance suits anything that gets dropped.
Who should skip it
Anyone needing a very soft or a very clear part, and anyone whose extruder has an aggressive spring tension they cannot adjust. Check your machine before you order.
4. Geeetech TPU 95A – Best for Bowden Tubes and High-Confidence Brands
Geeetech TPU Filament 1.75mm, Shore 95A Flexible 3D Printer Filament with High Elasticity, 1KG (2.2lbs) Spool, Dimensional Accuracy ±0.03mm, Fits Most FDM Printers, Clear Blue
Shore 95A plus or minus 2
Plus or minus 0.03mm CCD inspected
24 hour pre-drying
1kg clear blue spool
Pros
- Feeds on direct drive and Bowden
- Strong interlayer adhesion
- Prints from the sealed spool without drying
- Recommended settings are clearly stated
Cons
- Loose winding can snag runout sensors
- Clear variants are less clear than the listing suggests
This is the most reviewed spool in the guide with 6529 reviews, and it is the one most often named when people ask for a TPU that will not fight a Bowden tube. The manufacturer recommends 180-210C nozzle, 50-70C bed and 20-40mm/s, which is a slow, forgiving window.
Diameter is inspected with CCD measuring and held to plus or minus 0.03mm, and the 24 hour pre-drying means a fresh spool prints without any prep work on our own test pieces.
Layer adhesion is the other strength. Printed walls come out smooth with clean interlayer bonding, which is what you want on functional parts like scooter tyres and phone cases that will be flexed repeatedly rather than just looked at.
Owners do report that the spool winding can look loosely tangled, and that it can snag on feeders with automatic runout detection. If your printer has that feature, check the spool before the first print.
Who it suits
Bowden printer owners, and anyone who wants the widest published speed and temperature window to work from. The 20-40mm/s range is forgiving, which is exactly what an untuned Bowden machine needs.
The review volume also makes it a safe first purchase for buyers who want to see a lot of long-term owner feedback before committing.
Who should skip it
People chasing clarity. The transparent variant is described by owners as less optically clear than the listing suggests, so pick this for structure and flexibility rather than looks.
5. AMOLEN Rainbow TPU 95A – Best for Colour-Changing Flexible Prints
AMOLEN TPU 3D Printer Filament, Transparent Rainbow TPU 1.75mm 1kg
Shore 95A multicolor
Plus or minus 0.02mm CCD
Stretches 3x length
USA-sourced raw material
Pros
- Rainbow colour change in one spool
- Glossy smooth finish
- Tightest tolerance in the group at 0.02mm
- Inspected winding
Cons
- Costs more than single-colour 95A
- Largest share of one-star reviews in the set
The reason to buy this spool is the colour. It shifts through a rainbow gradient along the length of the filament, so a single-spool print gets a multicolour finish without a multi-material setup, and the surface comes out glossy rather than the usual matte rubber.
Underneath the colour, the material is a solid 95A with a plus or minus 0.02mm tolerance, which is tighter than anything else in this roundup. It stretches up to three times its original length.
Owners report clean extrusion and no nozzle jamming, and the raw material is sourced in the USA, fully dried and vacuum sealed. Each spool also gets a manual winding inspection before it ships.
Drying before use is still recommended even so. The colour effect is the reason for the higher share of critical reviews, since expectations on a cosmetic filament run higher than on a plain black one.
Who it suits
Watch bands, phone grips, cosplay accessories and anything decorative where the finish matters more than mechanical performance. The high-gloss surface also hides layer lines better than matte flexible filaments.
If you want tighter extrusion accuracy than the ±0.03mm spools offer, this is the pick.
Who should skip it
Structural parts. The premium over a plain 95A spool buys colour and tolerance, not durability, so a gasket or a tyre is better served by a cheaper functional spool.
6. Creality TPU 95A – Best for Oil, Water and Solvent Contact
Creality TPU 95A Flexible 3D Printer Filament 1.75mm, 1kg Black
Shore 95A
Water oil solvent and UV resistant
Glossy surface
1kg black spool
Pros
- Good interlayer bonding
- Resists water oils and solvents
- Soft elastic and easy to print
- Available in multi-colour bundles
Cons
- Lowest average score in the group at 4.2
- Real stiffness can differ from the 95A label
This is the spool to look at when the part will meet oil, water, solvent or sunlight rather than simply sit on a desk. Creality lists resistance to wear, scratching, aging, water, oil, solvents and UV, and the material is described as nontoxic.
Owners like the combination of softness and toughness, and the interlayer bonding holds up well on printed seals and shoe parts.
It works on most FDM printers, which makes it a safe option if you have not committed to a brand-specific profile. The finish is glossier than most 95A spools, which some owners prefer and others do not.
The critical feedback is about consistency rather than failure. Users report that the actual stiffness can run softer than the labelled 95A, so if you are matching a part against a moulded rubber reference, print a small test coupon first.
Who it suits
Printed seals, gaskets, protective covers and shoe-related parts where chemical exposure is part of daily life. It is also a reasonable entry spool if you already own Creality hardware.
Multi-colour bundles are available if you want matching parts in several colours.
Who should skip it
Anyone who needs a precise durometer match, and anyone who wants the highest confidence in label accuracy. The 4.2 average is the lowest among the spools we cover, and the hardness drift is called out often enough to be worth knowing.
7. Siraya Tech Flex TPU 85A – Best for Genuinely Soft Rubber Parts
Siraya Tech Flex TPU 85A 3D Printer Filament, ISO 10993 Tested, Black, 1kg
Shore 85A soft
ISO 10993-10 -5 and -23 tested
High flow formulation
Aluminum resealable bag
Pros
- Smoother rubber feel than 95A
- Biocompatibility testing for skin contact
- High flow prints faster once tuned
- Strong tear and stretch resistance
Cons
- Direct drive required and PTFE tubes will not work
- Loose winding causes severe under-extrusion
- Needs 24-48 hours of drying
This is the softest spool in the guide and the one that behaves most like real rubber. At 85A it compresses under a thumb, and owners consistently describe it as the best 85A they have printed for seals, RC tyres and protective gear.
It is also the only spool here with published biocompatibility data. It is tested to ISO 10993-10, -5 and -23, which is the testing people look for when a part is going to touch skin for long periods, such as cosplay prosthetics or wearable straps.
The high flow formulation prints faster than a typical 95A once tuned, and the layer adhesion is strong. The sealed aluminum bag is moisture resistant and resealable, with a stated shelf life of up to three years.
None of that makes it beginner-friendly. It is not plug-and-play: a direct drive extruder, a bearing-based external spool holder, no PTFE-lined tube, and thorough drying are all required. Loosely wound rolls pull stretch into the path and cause severe under-extrusion.
Who it suits
Owners of direct drive machines who want genuine softness: gaskets, seals, RC tyres, protective gear, footwear experiments and skin-contact wearables. The ISO testing is the deciding factor for prosthetics and prosthetics-adjacent work.
If your printer cannot feed soft material, this spool will expose that quickly rather than slowly, which is better than discovering it after a long project.
Who should skip it
Anyone on a Bowden machine, and anyone unwilling to dry filament before printing. There are reports of persistent stringing and clogging even after long drying sessions, so it rewards a patient workflow and punishes a casual one.
8. Sovol TPU 95A – Best for Clear and Translucent Flexible Parts
Sovol 3D Printer TPU Filament, 95A Soft TPU Flexible Material, Clear Green
Shore 95A
Plus or minus 0.03mm
220C nozzle and 60mm/s
Wide spool hub
Pros
- Easy to print with no warping or bubbling
- Excellent layer bonding and gloss
- Mechanical winding on a wide hub
Cons
- Most written reviews cover the brand PETG not this TPU
- Translucent colours need thicker layers
The clear green here is the reason to consider this spool. Translucent TPU is difficult to print well because thin walls turn cloudy, and this one holds a clean glossy surface with strong layer bonding when you give it enough wall thickness.
Printing is straightforward. It runs at 220C nozzle, 50-70C bed and 60mm/s, and owners report no warping, deformation, odour, clogging or bubbling.
The spool itself is worth noting. It uses a larger inner hub for smoother feeding, and the winding is mechanical and tidy rather than loose, which matters on a soft material where snags turn into stretch.
The spool is pre-dried for 24 hours and vacuum sealed, and the diameter tolerance is plus or minus 0.03mm. It is also listed as compatible with 3D pens, which is unusual for a flexible spool.
Who it suits
Clear or translucent functional parts where you want to see through the geometry, such as protective covers, grips and phone accessories. Insoles, bands and drone parts are all listed as good fits.
It is a calm spool to run, with fewer variables than most flexible filaments.
Who should skip it
People who need a deep evidence base for this specific spool. Much of the written feedback attached to this listing covers the brand’s PETG line, so the TPU-specific signal is thinner here than elsewhere in the guide.
9. Polymaker TPU 95A – Best Diameter Accuracy for Gaskets and Seals
Polymaker TPU Filament 1.75mm 95A Flexible 0.75kg, Black
Shore 95A
Plus or minus 0.02mm accuracy
40-80mm/s range
0.75kg spool
Pros
- Plus or minus 0.02mm diameter accuracy
- Published speed and temperature ranges
- Smooth extrusion and strong layer adhesion
- Suited to gaskets and wearable parts
Cons
- Smaller 0.75kg spool than the 1kg standard
- Thinnest review base in the group at 212
Accuracy is the reason this one is here. The diameter is held to plus or minus 0.02mm, which is the same tight figure as the AMOLEN rainbow spool and tighter than the plus or minus 0.03mm spools, and that consistency is what stops a seal leaking and a fitted part from being loose.
It comes with a genuinely usable baseline: 40mm/s recommended, 40-80mm/s range, 210-230C nozzle and 25-60C bed. Published numbers are rare on flexible filament and they save a lot of trial and error.
Owners report smooth extrusion, strong layer adhesion and a clean finished surface, using the stated temperatures and speeds as a starting point without much adjustment. Gaskets, grips, covers and wearable components are the common uses.
Be aware of the format. This is a 0.75kg spool rather than the 1kg standard most of the list uses, so the effective cost per kilogram is higher and you will be reordering more often.
Who it suits
Fitted parts where dimensional accuracy decides whether the print works: gaskets, seals, snap fits and anything with a tolerance. The published speed range also makes it a good teaching spool for a new TPU setup.
If you print wearable components, the combination of accuracy and layer adhesion works in your favour.
Who should skip it
Buyers who prioritise a long review history, since 212 reviews is the smallest base here. The 4.6 average is high, but it rests on fewer experiences than the spools ranked above it.
10. FilaBees Rainbow Candy TPU 95A – Best Glossy Finish for Fashion Parts
FilaBees TPU Filament 1.75mm Rainbow Candy 95A Soft 3D Printer Filament
Shore 95A glossy
Candy colour shift
Clog-free dried formula
1kg spool
Pros
- Colour-shifting glossy finish
- Soft and durable 95A behaviour
- Good aging and scratch resistance
- Easy to print on standard FDM
Cons
- Needs 4-8 hours of drying at 60C before use
- Colour change barely shows on small prints
Where the AMOLEN spool shifts through a full rainbow, this one keeps a tighter candy colour change and a high gloss. The finish is the appeal, and it holds up well on watch bands, fashion parts and decorative pieces that sit in view.
The material underneath is a soft, durable 95A with high resilience and good aging and scratch resistance, so decorative parts do not need to be treated as fragile.
Printing is unremarkable in the best way. It uses a patented clog-free formula, arrives thoroughly pre-dried and vacuum sealed, and works across standard FDM machines without a brand-specific profile.
Two conditions come with it. The manufacturer asks for a 4-8 hour dry at 60C before use and airtight storage afterwards, and the colour transition needs a print with enough length or height to actually show.
Who it suits
Watch bands, phone grips, cosplay accessories and outdoor decorative prints where surface finish is the point. Gloss hides layer lines better than matte flexible filament, which helps small parts.
It is also a good second spool for anyone who has already dialled in a 95A material and now wants a different look.
Who should skip it
Anyone printing small, low-layer objects, where the candy shift will barely register. It is also a poor choice for a first flexible print, because the drying step is not optional with this formulation.
11. YOUSU TPU 95A – Budget Pick for Phone Cases and Cosmetic Parts
YOUSU TPU 95A Flexible 3D Printer Filament 1.75mm, Black, 1kg
Shore 95A
Tangle-free winding
Vacuum sealed with desiccant
Re-dry 50C for 7h
Pros
- Deep opaque black with a professional finish
- Tangle-free winding on a cardboard spool
- Strong tensile and wear resistance
- Good adhesion on PEI sheets
Cons
- Prints best near 208C rather than the listed 220C
- Slightly firmer than other 95A urethanes
- Needs slow speeds for clean walls
The finish is the standout here. A deep, clean, fully opaque black with no visible layer lines at normal layer heights, and owners consistently use it for phone cases, drone parts and camera protectors where appearance matters.
The cardboard spool is not an accident. It is convenient for high-temperature drying and it is wound tangle-free, which on a soft material removes one of the most common causes of a failed print.
Temperature is the thing to get right. Several users report the best surface and the least stringing near 208C rather than the 220C printed on the label, and rougher walls with more extrusion inconsistency at the higher figure.
The manufacturer recommends re-drying at 50C for seven hours after opening the vacuum-sealed bag, and states that sealed filament keeps its quality for one year.
Who it suits
Cosmetic parts where the black has to look right, and anyone working on a wide list of printer models. The listing covers Bambu Lab, Creality Ender-3 and K1, Anycubic Kobra, ELEGOO Neptune, Flashforge and Prusa.
It is also described as best on direct drive and workable on a well-adjusted Bowden machine, which makes it a reasonable first spool on a mixed fleet.
Who should skip it
People who want the softest possible feel. Some users find it slightly firmer than other 95A urethanes, and one reported they could not get consistent extrusion at all, so treat it as a spool to tune rather than a set-and-forget material.
12. SUNLU TPU-Silk 98A – Best for AMS Setups and Fast Decorative Prints
SUNLU TPU-Silk 3D Printer Filament, 98A TPU Filament 1.75mm, Glossy Silk Surface TPU Filament, Flexible TPU 3D Printing Filament, Dimensional Accuracy +/- 0.03mm, 1kg(2.2lbs) Spool, Burgundy Red
Shore 98A silk gloss
Up to 200mm/s
Plus or minus 0.03mm
Vacuum sealed 1kg spool
Pros
- Easiest TPU to print in this guide
- AMS-compatible stiffness
- Glossy silk finish in burgundy
- Up to 4x faster than ordinary TPU
Cons
- Firm rather than elastic
- Very stiff grades can crack when cold
- One report of an unsealed dusty spool
This is the spool to reach for when your printer uses an AMS or a similar multi-material feeder. Standard soft TPU jams in those systems, and the 98A hardness here is firm enough to feed reliably, which is the single biggest reason to buy it.
It is also the easiest TPU in the guide. Owners describe it as behaving closer to PLA, with a noticeably higher first-print success rate than 95A material and very little stringing.
Speed is the other advantage. The listing claims printing up to four times faster than ordinary TPU, with speeds to 200mm/s, and the recommended window is 210-220C nozzle, 50-60C bed and 50-100mm/s.
The burgundy red with a glossy silk surface looks excellent on display parts, and the material is strong to the touch rather than brittle. A larger nozzle temperature, up to 230C, smooths out extrusion if the surface needs it.
Who it suits
AMS owners, and anyone who wants fast decorative prints without fighting the material. Multi-colour prints that include a soft element are exactly where a 98A TPU earns its place.
It also works as a first flexible filament because the tolerance for error is far higher than with 95A.
Who should skip it
Anyone who needs real elasticity. Several reviewers describe it as a TPU and PLA hybrid with limited give, and very stiff grades can crack in cold conditions compared with rubber-like TPU. For compression and flex, choose 95A or 85A instead.
How to Choose TPU Filament for Your Printer and Project
Start with the extruder, not the hardness. The length and smoothness of the filament path sets your ceiling far more than the spool does, and choosing an 85A for a Bowden machine guarantees frustration.
If you have a direct drive extruder, you can run anything from 98A down to 85A. That is the full range, and it opens up gaskets, seals, insoles and wearables as real projects.
If you have a Bowden tube, aim for 95A or firmer and print slowly. The recommended window for most Bowden printing is 20-40mm/s, and Geeetech’s spool is specified for exactly that range. A PTFE-lined tube is the main enemy of soft material; if you can replace it with a hard tube or move to a direct drive setup, more spools open up.
If you use an AMS or similar multi-material feeder, most soft TPU will not feed. The SUNLU TPU-Silk at 98A is the option designed for it, and it is why a firmer grade exists at all.
Next, match hardness to the job:
Phone cases, covers, guards take 95A well. It survives drops, takes repeated flexing and prints on almost anything.
Gaskets and seals want compression, so 90A or 85A. That means a direct drive extruder and a properly dried spool.
Shoe insoles and footwear need genuine softness and skin contact, which points at the 85A spool with its published biocompatibility testing.
RC tyres, wheels and drone bumpers take abuse rather than fine detail. A durable 95A with strong layer adhesion handles this, and both the OVERTURE and SUNLU spools are regularly used for it.
Cosplay prosthetics and wearables need soft material that touches skin for long periods. Again, 85A with ISO 10993 testing is the appropriate choice, and it should be used with a skin-safe fabrication process rather than straight from the nozzle.
Multi-colour and decorative parts work at any hardness. Colour-changing and silk-finish spools add appearance rather than mechanical performance.
Finally, check three specifications before you buy. Diameter tolerance matters most, because plus or minus 0.03mm or tighter keeps extrusion stable. Pre-dried vacuum-sealed packaging matters because it decides whether your first print works. And published speed and temperature ranges matter because they save an evening of guesswork.
On materials that sit next to TPU, TPE behaves much the same way with a similar hardness range and is worth testing if a specific brand runs out. PEBA is a premium alternative with better elasticity and a higher price. Flexible PLA gives a small amount of give but will crack rather than stretch, so it suits appearance parts only, not functional ones.
TPU Print Settings and Drying Guide
Start from the spool’s own numbers. Every product here lists a nozzle range, a bed range and a speed range, and staying inside that window saves more failed prints than any slicer trick.
Most 95A spools sit between 190-230C nozzle and 30-70C bed. The faster formulations run 210-230C with speeds of 80-120mm/s, and the silk 98A spool goes to 200mm/s. For a Bowden machine, drop to 20-40mm/s and stay there.
Disable retraction. Instead of pulling filament back, slow the travel speed and reduce or remove the wipe. This single change resolves most TPU jams.
Slow the first layer and the outer perimeter rather than the whole model. Infill can run at speed, but the outer wall is where flex and stringing show up, and slowing it buys a visibly cleaner surface.
On drying, treat TPU like nylon rather than like PLA. A spool that is hygroscopic absorbs moisture from the air, and damp filament bubbles, pops, stringies and produces foamy-looking walls. Brands here quote 24 hours of pre-drying before packing, which covers a sealed spool, and then anything from 4-8 hours at 60C for the colour-changing spools, up to 24-48 hours for the 85A material.
Dry before the first print, seal the bag with desiccants afterwards, and dry again whenever a spool has been open in a humid room. If you do not own a dryer, our filament dryer guide covers the options across budgets.
TPU Troubleshooting: What Each Failure Symptom Means
Filament curls in the feeder or will not grip. The extruder cannot hold a soft material. Loosen the feeder tension spring and check that the drive gear is clean. On a Bowden setup, this is also the sign that you need a firmer grade.
Print starts well then turns into spider silk. This is underextrusion on a soft material, usually caused by stretch in the path. Dry the filament, disable retraction, slow down, and check that the spool is not loosely over-wound.
Popping, bubbling and rough foamy walls. Moisture. Dry the spool and store it sealed. This one is nearly always the filament rather than the printer.
Layer separation or cracks in the Z direction. Bed adhesion or under-temperature. Raise the nozzle a few degrees inside the published range, clean the bed, and check the first layer is squished properly rather than sitting on top.
Constant stringing between features. Travel speed and moisture together. Wipe the nozzle, drop travel speed, raise temperature slightly and dry the spool.
The part feels harder than expected. Check the labelled hardness. Many 95A spools read closer to a firm rubber, and Creality owners in particular report real stiffness varying from the label. Print a small coupon before committing to a large part.
Jams inside an AMS or multi-material feeder. Soft TPU does not feed reliably through those paths. Use a firmer 98A formulation designed for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which TPU filament is the most flexible?
The Siraya Tech Flex TPU 85A is the softest spool in this guide at Shore 85A, and it is the one we would choose for genuine rubber feel. It needs a direct drive extruder, an external spool holder and 24-48 hours of drying before it will feed reliably, so it is not the right choice for a Bowden machine or a first flexible print.
Is TPU 90A or 95A more flexible?
90A is softer than 95A. A lower number on the Shore A scale means a softer, more compressible material, so 90A bends and squashes more readily while 95A stays firm enough to hold a shape under load. Most general flexible parts work at 95A, and 90A or 85A becomes worth it when you need real compression in gaskets, seals or wearables.
Why is TPU so hard to print?
Three reasons. TPU is elastic, so it buckles instead of feeding when there is any gap in the filament path, which is why direct drive extruders work so much better than Bowden tubes. Retraction stretches the material rather than pulling it back, leaving it under tension. And TPU absorbs moisture quickly, so damp filament bubbles, pops and stringies. Dry the spool, disable retraction and slow down, and most of these problems disappear.
What filament sticks best to TPU?
Nothing needs to stick to TPU except the bed. The material bonds to itself through layer adhesion, so what matters is nozzle temperature and bed temperature staying inside the manufacturer’s range so the first layer squishes properly. Clean the bed, avoid a too-cool bed and give the first layer time to settle rather than adding adhesive.
Which TPU filament works with an AMS or multi-material feeder?
A firm 98A formulation. Most soft 95A and 85A TPUs will not feed reliably through an AMS path, which is why the SUNLU TPU-Silk 98A exists in this guide. It is stiff enough for the feeder and still prints as a flexible material, though several owners describe it as a TPU and PLA hybrid with limited give.
Our Verdict on the Best TPU Filament in 2026
The best TPU filament for flexible prints right now is the OVERTURE TPU 95A. It pairs a true 95A hardness with 24 hours of pre-drying, vacuum-sealed packaging and the strongest owner rating in this guide, and it handles functional work as well as cosmetic work.
Buy the SUNLU TPU 95A if you want speed and volume, ELEGOO if this is your first flexible spool, and the Siraya Tech Flex 85A only if you have a direct drive machine and a reason to need real softness. Whichever spool you choose, dry it first, disable retraction and print slowly until you know the material.