Pla vs Pla Plus Filament: Which One Should You Buy?

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PLA vs PLA Plus Filament: The Short Answer

PLA Plus is PLA with improved toughness. The SUNLU PLA+ 2.0 listing says its filament is more resistant to brittleness and cracking than standard PLA+ filament, and the ELEGOO PLA Plus listings say PLA Plus offers improved mechanical properties over standard PLA, with increased impact strength and toughness. Standard PLA, as in the SUNLU PLA listing, is described as reliable, versatile and easy to use, with excellent layer adhesion. For a model that sits on a shelf, standard PLA fits the job. For a functional part that gets handled, PLA Plus fits better, because the listings claim stronger and more durable prints.

Speed separates the two SUNLU filaments in these listings. The SUNLU PLA listing recommends a print speed of 50-100mm/s. The SUNLU PLA+ 2.0 listing recommends a print speed of 100-300mm/s and says printing speeds of up to 300mm/s are supported. The ELEGOO PLA Plus listings give no print speed figure, so no speed claim is made for those filaments here. Diameter does not separate them: all 4 filaments in this guide list a diameter of 1.75mm and a dimensional accuracy of +/- 0.02mm.

What PLA Does Well

Standard PLA is the easy starting point in these listings. The SUNLU PLA filament lists a nozzle temperature of 200-230°C, a bed temperature of 50-65°C, and a print speed of 50-100mm/s. It lists neat winding, with a spool diameter of 8.00 inches, a spool width of 2.50 inches, and a spool hub hole diameter of 2.20 inches. The listing says the filament has no clogs, bubbles or tangles, and that layer adhesion is excellent. It is listed as compatible with almost all 1.75mm FDM printers.

That ease matters for models and decorative items, where a clean print matters more than toughness. The SUNLU PLA listing describes the filament as ideal for beginners and experienced users, and as reliable, versatile and easy to use. No toughness claim is made for this standard PLA filament beyond layer adhesion, so it is not the pick in this guide for a part that needs impact strength.

What PLA Plus Changes

PLA Plus keeps the same diameter and accuracy, and changes toughness and, in one listing, speed. The SUNLU PLA+ 2.0 listing recommends a nozzle temperature of 205-220°C, a bed temperature of 50-60°C, and a print speed of 100-300mm/s. It lists vacuum packaging, neat winding, and a spool diameter of 195mm, a spool width of 57mm, and a spool hub hole diameter of 63mm for a 1KG spool. It also lists a warranty of 1 year in the spec table.

The ELEGOO PLA Plus listings claim the same kind of change without giving settings figures. They list high toughness, increased impact strength, strong layer adhesion, low warp and shrinkage, and vacuum sealing after drying before packaging. They list neat winding through full mechanical winding and manual inspection, and compatibility with common 1.75mm FDM printers, including Neptune series, P1P, P1S, Ender series and Kobra series printers. No nozzle temperature, bed temperature or print speed figure is given in the ELEGOO listings, so those settings are Not stated for those filaments.

For more filament comparisons, see our PLA vs PETG filament guide and our FDM vs resin 3D printer guide.

The Gear: 4 Filaments Compared

Ranked by toughness and pack value in the listings, the SUNLU PLA+ 2.0 4-pack comes first. It is a Black 4-pack of 4KG in total, with 1KG spools, a dimensional accuracy of +/- 0.02mm, and a print speed of up to 300mm/s. It lists vacuum packaging, neat winding, and a nozzle temperature of 205-220°C with a bed temperature of 50-60°C. It is the only filament in this guide with a warranty figure in the data, at 1 year.

Next is the ELEGOO PLA+ Black 4KG filament. It comes as 4pcs of 1kg spools, with a diameter of 1.75mm and a dimensional accuracy of +/- 0.02mm. It lists high toughness, increased impact strength, neat winding, strong layer adhesion, low warp and shrinkage, and vacuum sealing. It gives no nozzle temperature, bed temperature or print speed figure, so those settings are Not stated for this filament.

Next is the ELEGOO PLA+ White 1KG filament. It lists the same toughness, accuracy, winding and vacuum sealing claims as the ELEGOO Black filament, with a diameter of 1.75mm and a dimensional accuracy of +/- 0.02mm. It comes as a 1kg spool, listed as 2.2lbs in the title. It gives no nozzle temperature, bed temperature or print speed figure, so those settings are Not stated for this filament.

Last is the SUNLU PLA Black 1KG filament, the standard PLA baseline in this guide. It lists a diameter of 1.75mm, a dimensional accuracy of +/- 0.02mm, and a spool diameter of 8.00 inches with a spool width of 2.50 inches. It recommends a nozzle temperature of 200-230°C, a bed temperature of 50-65°C, and a print speed of 50-100mm/s. It makes no PLA Plus toughness claim, so it ranks below the PLA Plus filaments for functional parts.

Settings Compared

Filament	Nozzle	Bed	Speed
SUNLU PLA Black 1KG	200-230°C	50-65°C	50-100mm/s
SUNLU PLA+ 2.0 Black 4KG	205-220°C	50-60°C	100-300mm/s
ELEGOO PLA+ Black 4KG	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated
ELEGOO PLA+ White 1KG	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated

Use the settings from the listing for the filament you buy, not settings from another filament. The SUNLU listings give full settings ranges, while the ELEGOO listings give no settings figures. Diameter and accuracy are the same across all 4 filaments in this guide, at 1.75mm and +/- 0.02mm.

Which One Should You Buy?

Buy PLA Plus when the part will be handled or used as a functional part. The SUNLU PLA+ 2.0 4-pack fits that need with a toughness claim, a speed of up to 300mm/s, and 4KG in total. The ELEGOO PLA+ Black 4KG fits that need with a toughness claim and 4pcs of 1kg spools, while the ELEGOO PLA+ White 1KG fits a smaller job with the same toughness claims in a single 1kg spool.

Buy standard PLA when the job is a model or a decorative item and toughness is not the main need. The SUNLU PLA Black 1KG filament fits that job with a nozzle temperature of 200-230°C, a bed temperature of 50-65°C, and a print speed of 50-100mm/s. It lists neat winding and excellent layer adhesion, with compatibility for almost all 1.75mm FDM printers.

FAQ: lasers and CNC

What is the difference between PLA and PLA Plus filament?

PLA Plus is described in these listings as tougher than standard PLA, with improved impact strength and toughness. The SUNLU PLA+ 2.0 listing also claims more resistance to brittleness and cracking than standard PLA+ filament. Standard PLA is described as reliable and easy to use, with excellent layer adhesion. Both types in this guide list a diameter of 1.75mm and a dimensional accuracy of +/- 0.02mm.

Can PLA Plus print on the same printers as PLA?

Yes, for the filaments in this guide. All 4 filaments list a diameter of 1.75mm and compatibility with FDM printers. The SUNLU listings say almost all 1.75mm FDM printers, and the ELEGOO listings say common 1.75mm FDM printers.

What print settings do the listed filaments recommend?

The SUNLU PLA filament recommends a nozzle temperature of 200-230°C, a bed temperature of 50-65°C, and a print speed of 50-100mm/s. The SUNLU PLA+ 2.0 filament recommends a nozzle temperature of 205-220°C, a bed temperature of 50-60°C, and a print speed of 100-300mm/s. The ELEGOO filaments give no settings figures, so those settings are Not stated for those filaments.

Is PLA Plus stronger than PLA?

According to the listings, yes. The SUNLU PLA+ 2.0 listing says its filament is more resistant to brittleness and cracking, and the ELEGOO listings say PLA Plus offers increased impact strength and toughness over standard PLA. Those are maker claims from the listings, not measured results in this guide.

How much filament comes in each pack?

The SUNLU PLA filament comes as a 1KG spool. The SUNLU PLA+ 2.0 filament comes as a 4-pack of 4KG in total. The ELEGOO PLA+ Black filament comes as 4pcs of 1kg spools, for 4KG in total. The ELEGOO PLA+ White filament comes as a 1kg spool.

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