What is TPU used for?

TPU is used for flexible parts. Think gaskets, seals, grips, handles, bumpers, phone-style cases, vibration feet, and living hinges. Any part that must bend, grip, seal, or cushion fits TPU. It bends under load and springs back, which rigid plastics like PLA and PETG cannot do.

What does shore hardness mean?

Shore hardness is a scale for how firm a flexible part feels. A lower number is softer and floppier. A higher number is firmer. It describes the feel, not the strength. You do not have to name a number. Just tell us how bendy you need the part and we match it to the right TPU.

TPU pulls to about 35 MPa and takes a lot of abuse without cracking. But its real strength is flex and rebound, not stiffness. It bends under load and springs back. So it is not the pick for a rigid, load-bearing part that must hold a tight size. For that, use PETG or PA-CF.

How do I control how flexible my TPU part is?

You have three levers. Pick a softer or firmer TPU. Change the wall thickness, since thin walls flex more and thick walls feel stiffer. And change the infill, since lower infill makes a part softer. Tell us the feel you want and we set these for you.

Can TPU be used for gaskets and seals?

Yes. Gaskets and seals are the top job for TPU. It presses tight against a surface and keeps water or dust out. When you design one, give the seal a little squeeze room so it presses flat. Share the feel you want and we match the right TPU for a tight seal.

Does TPU get an instant price?

No. TPU gets a fast human quote instead of an instant price, because a flexible part needs a quick check first. Upload your STL to our instant quote, tell us the feel you want, and we send one flat price per part. Our team gets back to you within four business hours.

When should I pick TPU instead of PETG?

Pick TPU when the part must flex, grip, seal, or cushion, like a gasket, a bumper, or a grippy pad. Pick PETG when the part must stay stiff and hold its shape, like a bracket or a housing. When you are not sure, tell us the job in your order notes and we help you choose.

TPU 3D printing for flexible parts

By the 3D Printer on Demand team · Updated July 2026

TPU is a flexible 3D printing plastic. It bends, stretches, and springs back to shape. That makes it great for gaskets, grips, bumpers, and seals. TPU pulls to about 35 MPa and takes a lot of abuse without cracking. It holds its shape to about 80 C. Shore hardness sets how soft or firm the part feels. Pick TPU when a part must flex, grip, or cushion. Pick a rigid plastic like PETG when the part must stay stiff and hold a tight size.

What makes TPU different?

TPU is rubber-like, while most printing plastics are rigid. It bends and then returns to shape. That one trait changes everything about how you use it.

That flex lets it soak up shock and seal against surfaces. A rigid plastic cannot do that. It also resists scuffs and grease well, so it holds up in rough, hands-on use. And it keeps working in heat up to about 80 C, so a warm engine bay or shop floor does not soften it.

TPU does have limits. It is not the pick for a stiff, load-bearing part that must hold a tight size. For that, see our materials page and pick a rigid plastic instead.

What is shore hardness?

Shore hardness is a scale for how firm a flexible part feels. A lower number is softer and floppier. A higher number is firmer.

A shoe sole might be a firm TPU. A soft gasket might be much softer. The number guides the feel, not the strength.

You do not have to name a number. Just tell us how bendy you need the part. We match it to the right TPU for the job.

What is TPU good for?

TPU is for any part that must bend, grip, seal, or cushion. If a part has to give a little and come back, TPU is the pick. The table shows the common jobs.

Common TPU jobs and why the flexible plastic wins each one.
Part	Why TPU wins
Gaskets and seals	Presses tight and keeps water or dust out
Grips and handle pads	Soft, no-slip feel in the hand
Bumpers and cases	Soaks up drops and shrugs off the hit
Feet and vibration pads	Cushions shake and quiets a machine
Living hinges	Bends over and over without cracking

TPU or a rigid plastic: which do you need?

Pick TPU when the part must flex. Pick a rigid plastic when it must stay stiff and hold its size. The table sets TPU next to the rigid plastics we print.

Strength is how hard you can pull on the part. Heat is where it starts to soften. Flex is the trait that sets TPU apart.

TPU next to the rigid FDM plastics we print.
Material	Strength	Softens at	Flexes?
TPU	35 MPa	80 C	Yes, bends and springs back
PETG	50 MPa	73 C	No, our default working plastic
PLA	50 MPa	57 C	No, stiff but brittle
PA-CF	80 MPa	140 C	No, the stiffest and strongest

Need a seal or a grip? TPU.
Need a stiff bracket or housing? PETG, or PA-CF for heavy load.
Not sure? Tell us the job in your order notes and we help you choose.

How do you design a TPU part?

The main tool is wall thickness. Thin walls flex more. Thick walls feel stiffer. So you set the flex by how thick you draw the part, not just by the plastic.

A few more rules keep a TPU part working for a long time.

Set wall size to the flex you want. Thin for a soft seal, thicker for a firm grip.
Avoid long, skinny features. They can stretch out of shape over time.
Give seals a little squeeze room. That way they press flat and seal well.
Lower infill makes a part softer. Higher infill makes it firmer.
Round the corners. Sharp inside corners are where a flexed part starts to tear.
Print flexible parts slow. A soft thread can jam if it feeds too fast, so we tune the print speed to keep the part clean.

How do you get a TPU quote?

TPU gets a fast human quote, not an instant price. Flexible parts need a quick check first, so a person looks at your file.

Upload your STL to our instant quote and share the feel you want. We send one flat price per part. We hold that price for 30 days. Our team gets back to you within four business hours.

Parts are made in the USA and ship in 2 to 5 days. The per-part price drops as you order more, with steps at 10, 50, 250, and 1,000 parts. See how the steps work on our pricing page.

Quick takeaways

TPU is a flexible, rubber-like plastic that bends and springs back.
It is best for gaskets, seals, grips, bumpers, cases, feet, and living hinges.
Shore hardness sets how soft or firm the part feels. Just tell us the feel you want.
Set wall thickness and infill to control how much the part flexes.
TPU gets a fast human quote. Upload your STL and share the feel to start it.

Have a part to print? Get an instant price.

Instant Quote

Common questions

What is TPU used for?: TPU is used for flexible parts. Think gaskets, seals, grips, handles, bumpers, phone-style cases, vibration feet, and living hinges. Any part that must bend, grip, seal, or cushion fits TPU. It bends under load and springs back, which rigid plastics like PLA and PETG cannot do.
What does shore hardness mean?: Shore hardness is a scale for how firm a flexible part feels. A lower number is softer and floppier. A higher number is firmer. It describes the feel, not the strength. You do not have to name a number. Just tell us how bendy you need the part and we match it to the right TPU.
Is TPU strong?: TPU pulls to about 35 MPa and takes a lot of abuse without cracking. But its real strength is flex and rebound, not stiffness. It bends under load and springs back. So it is not the pick for a rigid, load-bearing part that must hold a tight size. For that, use PETG or PA-CF.
How do I control how flexible my TPU part is?: You have three levers. Pick a softer or firmer TPU. Change the wall thickness, since thin walls flex more and thick walls feel stiffer. And change the infill, since lower infill makes a part softer. Tell us the feel you want and we set these for you.
Can TPU be used for gaskets and seals?: Yes. Gaskets and seals are the top job for TPU. It presses tight against a surface and keeps water or dust out. When you design one, give the seal a little squeeze room so it presses flat. Share the feel you want and we match the right TPU for a tight seal.
Does TPU get an instant price?: No. TPU gets a fast human quote instead of an instant price, because a flexible part needs a quick check first. Upload your STL to our instant quote, tell us the feel you want, and we send one flat price per part. Our team gets back to you within four business hours.
When should I pick TPU instead of PETG?: Pick TPU when the part must flex, grip, seal, or cushion, like a gasket, a bumper, or a grippy pad. Pick PETG when the part must stay stiff and hold its shape, like a bracket or a housing. When you are not sure, tell us the job in your order notes and we help you choose.