Best TPU Filament in 2026: Top Flexible Filaments Compared
TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) is the go-to flexible filament for 3D printing, and it’s also one of the most frustrating materials to print. The filament bends, the extruder struggles to grip it, it strings everywhere, and your first few prints will probably look like they went through a paper shredder.
But once you get it dialed in, TPU opens up a world of functional prints that rigid filaments can’t touch. Phone cases that actually absorb drops. Drone bumpers that flex on impact. Shoe insoles, gaskets, seals, watch bands, RC car tires — anything that needs to bend without breaking.
I’ve gone through over 30 spools of various TPU brands over the past two years. Some were great. Some were barely printable. Here’s what I’d actually buy with my own money.
Quick Picks
| Best For | Filament | Shore Hardness | Price/kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | NinjaTek NinjaFlex | 85A | ~$46 |
| Budget | Overture TPU | 95A | ~$22 |
| Easiest to Print | SainSmart TPU | 95A | ~$25 |
| Softest | NinjaTek Chinchilla | 75A | ~$48 |
| Engineering | Polymaker PolyFlex TPU95 | 95A | ~$30 |
| Best Value | eSUN TPU 95A | 95A | ~$23 |
Understanding Shore Hardness
Before we get into specific filaments, you need to understand Shore hardness because it determines everything about how the filament prints and performs.
Shore A is the scale used for flexible materials. Lower number = softer. Here’s a real-world reference:
- 75A: Soft rubber band, very flexible. Difficult to print.
- 85A: Pencil eraser, moderately flexible. Printable but needs a direct drive extruder.
- 95A: Shopping cart wheel, semi-flexible. The easiest TPU to print — works on most printers.
- 98A: Hard rubber sole, slightly flexible. Almost as easy to print as PETG.
Most TPU filaments on the market are 95A. That’s the sweet spot between flexibility and printability. If you’re new to TPU, start with 95A. Don’t try 85A on a Bowden setup — you’ll jam the extruder within the first 10 minutes.
1. NinjaTek NinjaFlex 85A — Best Overall
Price: ~$46/kg | Shore Hardness: 85A | Print Temp: 225-235°C
NinjaFlex is the OG of flexible filaments. NinjaTek has been making TPU since before most current 3D printer companies existed, and it shows. The filament quality is exceptionally consistent — tight diameter tolerance (±0.02mm), smooth surface, and reliable spool winding.
At 85A, NinjaFlex is noticeably softer than 95A alternatives. Phone cases flex easily in your hand, gaskets compress and seal properly, and wearables have genuine comfort flex. The difference between 85A and 95A is immediately obvious when you hold both prints.
Printing notes: You need a direct drive extruder. No exceptions. Print at 225°C, 20-25mm/s, with retraction either disabled or set to 0.5mm max. The filament is soft enough that aggressive retraction will buckle it inside the extruder. I run zero retraction on my Prusa MK4 and manage stringing with post-processing (a heat gun on low for 2 seconds cleans it right up).
The catch: It’s expensive at $46/kg, and 85A is harder to print than 95A. But if you need genuine flexibility — not just “slightly bendy” — NinjaFlex delivers.
Verdict: The best TPU if flexibility is your primary requirement and you have a direct drive printer.
2. Overture TPU 95A — Best Budget
Price: ~$22/kg | Shore Hardness: 95A | Print Temp: 210-230°C
Overture has built a reputation as the Amazon basics of 3D printing filament — decent quality, hard to beat on price. Their TPU 95A continues that tradition. It’s not the most premium filament on this list, but at $22/kg, it’s half the price of NinjaFlex.
The dimensional accuracy is good (±0.03mm), and the spool winding is clean. I’ve printed about 8 spools of Overture TPU across various colors without a single spool tangle — which is more than I can say for some premium brands.
Printing notes: Standard 95A settings. 220°C, 30mm/s, 1mm retraction on direct drive. It handles slightly faster speeds than softer TPUs, and I’ve pushed it to 40mm/s on a Bambu Lab P1S without issues. Layer adhesion is solid.
The catch: Color selection is limited compared to NinjaTek. The black and white are great, but some translucent colors can look streaky. And at 95A, it’s semi-flexible — functional, but noticeably stiffer than 85A options.
Verdict: The best TPU if you’re printing functional parts and don’t want to spend premium prices. Excellent value.
3. SainSmart TPU 95A — Easiest to Print
Price: ~$25/kg | Shore Hardness: 95A | Print Temp: 215-235°C
SainSmart’s TPU has a slightly different formulation that makes it flow more predictably than most competitors. It’s less sticky, strings less, and feeds through the extruder with fewer hiccups. If you’re printing TPU for the first time, this is probably where you should start.
I first tried SainSmart TPU on an Ender 3 with a Bowden setup (not recommended for TPU in general), and it actually worked at 15mm/s with a Bowden tube upgrade. No other 95A filament I tested managed that reliably. On direct drive printers, it’s practically effortless.
Printing notes: 225°C seems to be the universal sweet spot. Retraction at 1-1.5mm, speed 25-35mm/s. It handles retraction better than NinjaFlex, so stringing is less of an issue even with conservative settings.
The catch: Some users report that SainSmart TPU is slightly stiffer than other 95A brands — it might be closer to 96-97A in practice. For most applications this doesn’t matter, but if you need maximum flexibility at 95A, Overture or eSUN feel softer.
Verdict: The most forgiving TPU filament. Best choice for beginners or printers with less-than-ideal extruder setups.
4. NinjaTek Chinchilla 75A — Softest Printable TPU
Price: ~$48/kg | Shore Hardness: 75A | Print Temp: 215-225°C
Chinchilla is for when you need prints that feel like actual rubber. At 75A, this is about as soft as you can go with consumer FDM printing. Parts printed in Chinchilla feel like gummy bears — seriously soft and stretchy.
This filament exists for specific applications: soft-touch grips, comfortable wearables, vibration dampening mounts, and anything that needs to deform significantly under light pressure.
Printing notes: Direct drive only, and a constrained filament path is critical. Print at 215°C (lower than most TPU), 15-20mm/s maximum, and absolutely zero retraction. The filament is so soft that any retraction will compress it like an accordion inside the extruder. Use Z-hop instead of retraction to manage oozing.
The catch: It’s the hardest TPU to print on this list. You’ll need patience, a clean and well-constrained filament path, and realistic expectations about speed. Also $48/kg. But nothing else on the market matches its softness.
Verdict: For experts who need maximum flexibility. Not for beginners.
5. Polymaker PolyFlex TPU95 — Best for Engineering
Price: ~$30/kg | Shore Hardness: 95A | Print Temp: 215-235°C
Polymaker brings their usual precision engineering to TPU. PolyFlex has excellent layer adhesion, tight tolerances (±0.02mm), and comes in vacuum-sealed packaging with a desiccant bag. The spool design includes a resealable bag, which is a nice touch for a moisture-sensitive material.
What sets PolyFlex apart is consistency. Every spool I’ve used printed identically — same settings, same results. For functional parts where dimensional accuracy matters (gaskets, bushings, seals), that batch-to-batch consistency is worth paying for.
Printing notes: 225°C, 30mm/s, 1mm retraction on direct drive. PolyFlex handles faster speeds better than most — I’ve reliably printed at 45mm/s on a Bambu Lab X1C. It also bridges surprisingly well for a flexible material, handling 30-40mm spans without drooping.
The catch: Limited color range compared to NinjaTek. Slightly more expensive than Overture or eSUN for what is functionally similar 95A performance. You’re paying for consistency and packaging.
Verdict: Best TPU for repeatable, functional parts. Engineers and prototypers will appreciate the consistency.
6. eSUN TPU 95A — Best Value
Price: ~$23/kg | Shore Hardness: 95A | Print Temp: 210-230°C
eSUN is another budget brand that punches above its weight. Their TPU 95A has a wide color selection (12+ colors including translucent options), decent dimensional accuracy, and reliable feeding.
eSUN TPU feels slightly softer than SainSmart at the same 95A rating — closer to what you’d expect from a “true” 95A. The translucent colors are particularly good for light diffusers and decorative prints.
Printing notes: 220°C, 25-30mm/s, 1mm retraction. Standard 95A settings apply. The filament has a slightly matte finish compared to NinjaTek’s glossy output — aesthetic preference, no functional difference.
The catch: Spool quality is inconsistent. I’ve had one eSUN TPU spool with a tangle that caused a failed print, though that’s been across 6 spools. The resealable packaging is basic compared to Polymaker.
Verdict: Great value TPU with a wide color range. Slightly better print feel than Overture, comparable price.
TPU Print Settings Cheat Sheet
These are starting points. Every printer is different, but these will get you 90% of the way there.
| Setting | 95A TPU | 85A TPU | 75A TPU |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nozzle Temp | 220-230°C | 225-235°C | 215-225°C |
| Bed Temp | 50-60°C | 50-60°C | 40-50°C |
| Print Speed | 25-40mm/s | 20-30mm/s | 15-20mm/s |
| Retraction Distance | 0.5-1.5mm | 0-0.5mm | 0mm |
| Retraction Speed | 25mm/s | 20mm/s | N/A |
| Layer Height | 0.2mm | 0.2mm | 0.16-0.2mm |
| Flow Rate | 100-105% | 100-105% | 105-110% |
| Cooling Fan | 50-80% | 50-80% | 30-50% |
| Infill | 15-30% | 15-25% | 10-20% |
Critical Tips for Printing TPU
Use a direct drive extruder. I keep saying it because it’s that important. Bowden setups can technically print 95A TPU at very slow speeds, but you’ll fight it constantly. Direct drive grips the filament right above the hotend, leaving no room for it to buckle or compress.
Slow down. Speed is the enemy of flexible filament printing. If you’re getting jams or inconsistent extrusion, drop the speed by 5mm/s. I’ve never seen TPU jam at 15mm/s on a properly set up direct drive.
Disable or minimize retraction. Flexible filament compresses like a spring during retraction. Less retraction = fewer jams. Deal with stringing through post-processing or combing mode.
Keep it dry. TPU is moderately hygroscopic. Wet TPU produces bubbly, rough prints with poor layer adhesion. Dry at 50-55°C for 4-6 hours before printing. Store in a sealed container with desiccant.
Use a textured PEI sheet for the bed. TPU sticks aggressively to smooth PEI — you might damage your sheet pulling the print off. Textured PEI gives enough grip without becoming permanent.
The Bottom Line
For most people, a 95A TPU is the right choice. It’s flexible enough for functional parts, printable enough for direct drive printers, and affordable at $22-30/kg. My go-to for everyday TPU printing is Overture for budget builds and Polymaker PolyFlex for engineering parts.
If you genuinely need soft, rubbery flexibility, step up to NinjaTek NinjaFlex 85A — but be ready to print slow and deal with more stringing.
And unless you have a specific application that demands 75A softness, skip Chinchilla. It’s a great filament for the right use case, but it’s not where most people should start.
