What Temperature for PLA Printing: Ideal Settings Explained

The ideal printing temperature for PLA filament is usually between 190°C and 220°C. The exact temperature depends on your printer and filament brand, but starting at 200°C is a good baseline for most PLA prints.

Syntax

When setting the temperature for PLA printing, you typically adjust two main settings on your 3D printer:

• Extruder temperature: The heat of the nozzle that melts the PLA filament, usually set between 190°C and 220°C.
• Bed temperature: The heat of the print bed that helps the print stick, often set between 50°C and 70°C or sometimes left off.

These settings are usually entered in your printer's control panel or slicing software before starting the print.

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Extruder temperature: 190°C - 220°C
Bed temperature: 50°C - 70°C (optional for PLA)

Example

This example shows how to set the temperature in a common slicing software like Cura for PLA printing:

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1. Open Cura and load your 3D model.
2. Select PLA as the material.
3. Set the nozzle temperature to 200°C.
4. Set the bed temperature to 60°C.
5. Start the print.

// These settings help the PLA filament melt properly and stick to the bed for a smooth print.

Output

No direct output; printer heats to 200°C nozzle and 60°C bed before printing.

Common Pitfalls

Common mistakes when setting PLA printing temperature include:

• Too low temperature: The filament may not melt well, causing poor layer adhesion and weak prints.
• Too high temperature: Can cause stringing, blobs, or even clog the nozzle.
• No heated bed or too cold bed: Prints may not stick well and can warp or detach during printing.

Always check your filament manufacturer's recommended temperature range and adjust slightly based on your printer's behavior.

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Wrong way:
Extruder temperature = 180°C (too low)
Bed temperature = 0°C (no heat)

Right way:
Extruder temperature = 200°C
Bed temperature = 60°C

Quick Reference

Setting	Recommended Range	Notes
Extruder Temperature	190°C - 220°C	Start at 200°C, adjust if needed
Bed Temperature	50°C - 70°C	Optional but helps with adhesion
Cooling Fan	On after first layer	Improves print quality
Print Speed	40-60 mm/s	Slower speeds improve quality

Key Takeaways

Set PLA extruder temperature between 190°C and 220°C, starting at 200°C.

Use a heated bed at 50°C to 70°C to improve print adhesion.

Avoid too low or too high temperatures to prevent weak prints or nozzle clogs.

Check filament manufacturer recommendations for best results.

Enable cooling fan after the first layer for better print quality.