If you’ve ever wondered how strong different types of PLA really are, you’re in the right place. Today, we’re putting four different types of Elegoo PLA to the test—PLA, PLA Plus, Matte PLA, and Rapid PLA Plus—to see how much force it takes to break each one.
No fancy tricks, no gimmicks—just a straightforward test using a custom-designed bridge and a force gauge to see which filament holds up the best under pressure.
The Filaments We’re Testing
Before we dive into the results, let’s talk about the materials. Each filament has different properties and applications:
PLA (Polylactic Acid) is the standard go-to filament for most 3D printing projects. It’s great for figurines, toys, and decorative items. It’s not the strongest, so I expected this one to break first.
PLA Plus is a step up from standard PLA, with additives that make it stronger and less brittle. It’s often used for functional parts like brackets and enclosures.
Rapid PLA Plus is similar to PLA Plus but optimized for faster printing. It’s supposed to have better layer adhesion, which might help in this test.
Matte PLA is known for its smooth, layer-hiding finish. But does that smooth surface make it weaker? My guess was that it would perform somewhere between standard PLA and PLA Plus.
How We Tested the Filaments
To keep the test consistent, I designed a bridge-style test piece and printed it in each of the filaments using the same settings:
• Wall count: 4
• Infill: 15% (grid pattern)
We then placed each bridge into a vise and applied force to the center using a gauge, measuring how much pressure it took to snap.
Breaking PLA – The Results
Let’s get straight to the numbers. Here’s how much force each filament withstood before breaking:
PLA – 37 Newtons (8.3 lbf)
PLA Plus – 39 Newtons (8.8 lbf)
Rapid PLA Plus – 39 Newtons (8.8 lbf)
Matte PLA – 41 Newtons (9.2 lbf)
Key Takeaways
PLA held up better than expected. While it was the weakest, it still withstood a decent amount of force.
PLA Plus performed as expected. It was stronger than standard PLA, as advertised.
Rapid PLA Plus matched PLA Plus. The faster print speed didn’t seem to affect its strength negatively.
Matte PLA was the biggest surprise. It outperformed PLA Plus, which I did not expect!
What Does This Mean for Your 3D Prints?
For general prints, PLA is fine. If you’re making figurines, display models, or low-stress parts, regular PLA works great.
If you need durability, go with PLA Plus. It’s slightly stronger and less brittle, making it a better choice for functional parts.
Rapid PLA Plus is solid for fast prints. No major loss in strength compared to PLA Plus, so if speed is a factor, it’s a good option.
Matte PLA is surprisingly strong. If you want both aesthetics and durability, it’s a great pick.
Final Thoughts & What’s Next
I was genuinely surprised by some of these results, especially how well Matte PLA held up. I’ll be running more tests with different designs to see if the results hold across different stress points.
Let me know in the comments what other tests you’d like to see—maybe next time, we’ll go even bigger!
Special Thanks
A big thanks to Elegoo for sending us these filaments to test. This was not a sponsored video—they just provided the filament so we could run the experiments.