Written by Jackson B.
Quick answer: High-speed filaments are formulated to extrude evenly at higher flow, so a fast printer can run closer to its top speed. Per our data sheets High Speed PLA lists up to 350 mm/s, Metallic PETG-HS 380 mm/s and ABS-HS 300 mm/s, against 60–90 mm/s for PLA+. They only save time on printers that already move that fast.
A fast printer can move quicker than some standard filaments can be melted cleanly. High-speed (HS) filaments are designed to close that gap. This guide explains volumetric flow in plain terms, which printers benefit, how our HS lines compare with their standard versions, and how to check whether an HS roll will shorten your print times.
Print speed is really a flow problem
Your slicer sets speed in millimetres per second, but the hot end cares about how much plastic it has to melt every second. That is volumetric flow, measured in cubic millimetres per second (mm³/s). A rough way to work it out is line width × layer height × speed.
A 0.42 mm wide line at a 0.2 mm layer height moving at 200 mm/s needs about 0.42 × 0.2 × 200 = 17 mm³/s. The same line at 60 mm/s needs about 5 mm³/s. Slicers allow for rounded line edges, so their figures are slightly lower, but the principle holds: double the speed and you double the plastic the hot end must melt.
Every combination of filament, hot end, nozzle and temperature has a ceiling. Push past it and the plastic cannot melt fast enough, which shows up as under-extrusion, weak layers and rough walls. OrcaSlicer and Bambu Studio store that ceiling as the maximum volumetric speed in the filament profile, and the slicer slows lines down to stay under it. So a fast printer does not automatically print faster: if the filament profile caps flow, the motion system waits for the plastic.
OrcaSlicer includes a volumetric speed calibration test that prints a tower with rising flow. You measure the height where defects begin and calculate your limit from it.
What "high speed" means on our data sheets
The listed print speed on each data sheet is the manufacturer's guidance for that formulation. The flow column converts the top of each range with the rough formula above, for a 0.42 mm line at 0.2 mm layers.
| Filament | Listed print speed | Rough flow at top speed | Price per 1 kg roll |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLA+ | 60–90 mm/s | About 8 mm³/s | $21.95 |
| PLA Basic | 40–250 mm/s | About 21 mm³/s | $15.95–$16.95 |
| High Speed PLA | 60–350 mm/s | About 29 mm³/s | $24.95 |
| PETG+ | 40–60 mm/s | About 5 mm³/s | $22.95 |
| PETG Basic | 40–250 mm/s | About 21 mm³/s | $17.99 |
| Metallic PETG-HS | 40–380 mm/s | About 32 mm³/s | $24.95 |
| High Speed PETG | Data sheet not yet published | Not calculated | $24.99 |
| ABS+ | 40–60 mm/s | About 5 mm³/s | $21.95 |
| ABS-HS | 40–300 mm/s | About 25 mm³/s | $24.95 |
Two things stand out. First, PLA Basic and PETG Basic already list up to 250 mm/s, so they are worth trying on a fast printer before you pay more. Second, melt flow rate only tells part of the story. High Speed PLA's melt flow rate is 10–20 g/10 min against 3–6 for PLA+ under the same test conditions, but Metallic PETG-HS and PETG+ both list 8–12 g/10 min, and ABS-HS lists 2–4 against 2–5 for ABS+. Treat the listed speed range as the guide, not a single number.
Which printers benefit
- Fast motion systems. Printers with stiff frames and input shaping can accelerate hard enough to reach high speeds on real parts. Input shaping is, in the words of the Klipper documentation, "an open-loop control technique which creates a commanding signal that cancels its own vibrations". Our guide to high speed printing with input shaping explains the setup.
- Bigger nozzles and thicker layers. Flow rises with line width and layer height as well as speed. A 0.62 mm line at 0.3 mm layers moving at 100 mm/s needs roughly 19 mm³/s, so an HS roll can help even at moderate speeds.
- Large, simple parts. Long straight walls and infill runs let the printer hold top speed, which is where a higher flow limit pays off.
HS filament makes little difference on a printer running 50–80 mm/s at 0.2 mm layers, which needs roughly 4–7 mm³/s, or on small detailed models, where the printer spends most of its time speeding up and slowing down between short moves.
PLA-HS, PETG-HS and ABS-HS against their standard versions
| Filament | Nozzle | Bed | Impact strength (ISO 180) | HDT at 0.455 MPa | Drying |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLA+ | 190–220°C | 25–60°C | 9.5–10.5 kJ/m² | 53°C | 40–45°C, 4–6 h |
| High Speed PLA | 190–220°C | 25–60°C | 4.5–5 kJ/m² (X-Y) | 53°C | 40–45°C, 4–6 h |
| PETG+ | 210–230°C | 50–70°C | 5–6 kJ/m² | 68°C | 70°C, 5 h |
| Metallic PETG-HS | 210–230°C | 50–70°C | 5–6 kJ/m² | 68°C | 70°C, at least 5 h |
| ABS+ | 220–240°C | 80–110°C | 12–13.5 kJ/m² | 85°C | 80°C, at least 5 h |
| ABS-HS | 220–240°C | 80–110°C | 7–10.5 kJ/m² | 88°C | 80°C, at least 5 h |
High Speed PLA
High Speed PLA uses the same temperature ranges as PLA+ but lists up to 350 mm/s. Per our data sheets it is much stiffer (tensile modulus 2,000–2,100 MPa against 950–1,050 MPa), while PLA+ absorbs about twice the impact energy. It comes in 26 colours, and our product page lists it as suitable for the AMS and AMS lite when the spool fits.
PETG-HS
Metallic PETG-HS shares the PETG+ temperature ranges and mechanical figures, lists up to 380 mm/s and adds a high-gloss metallic finish. It is listed as compatible with the AMS and AMS lite. High Speed PETG, in White, Black and Transparent, is described as a modified PETG for the higher speeds of modern printers; its data sheet was not yet published when we wrote this.
ABS-HS
ABS-HS keeps the ABS+ temperature ranges, lists a slightly higher 88°C heat deflection temperature and a lower impact strength than ABS+. Its product description recommends printing in an enclosed space with good ventilation, and its product page describes a satin matte finish.
How to check if HS filament will save you time
- Slice a typical job with your current filament profile and note the time estimate.
- Dry the HS roll first. Per our data sheets that is 40–45°C for 4–6 hours for High Speed PLA, 70°C for at least 5 hours for Metallic PETG-HS and 80°C for at least 5 hours for ABS-HS.
- Run a volumetric speed test and set the maximum volumetric speed a little below the point where defects start.
- Re-slice the same job and compare. If the estimate barely changes, the bottleneck is your printer's motion limits or the model's geometry, not the filament.
- Check flow rate and pressure advance again at the new speed.
At higher flow the plastic spends less time in the hot end, so start in the upper half of the data sheet temperature range when you raise the limit. Fast PLA also needs strong part cooling; see Understanding Print Cooling and Why It Matters.
What HS costs
Our HS rolls sell for $24.95–$24.99, about $2–$3 more than PLA+ or PETG+. Filament volume pricing applies automatically at checkout on any mix of rolls: 3 or more get 5% off, 6 or more get 10% off and 12 or more get 15% off. A full carton of 12 rolls of the same colour gets 20% off, bringing a $24.95 HS roll to about $19.96. Print farms and businesses can apply for a trade account.
Shop the materials in this guide
- 1.75 mm High Speed PLA Filament - 1 KG: listed up to 350 mm/s, in 26 colours.
- 1.75 mm High Speed PETG Filament - 1 KG: PETG for fast printers in white, black or transparent.
- 1.75 mm Metallic PETG-HS Filament - 1 KG: PETG+ figures with a metallic finish, listed up to 380 mm/s.
- 1.75 mm ABS-HS (HighSpeed) Filament - 1 KG: listed up to 300 mm/s with an 88°C heat deflection temperature.
- High Speed Filament collection: every HS line in one place.
Frequently asked questions
Can I print high-speed filament slowly?
Yes. The listed ranges start at 40 mm/s for Metallic PETG-HS and ABS-HS and 60 mm/s for High Speed PLA, so HS rolls work at ordinary speeds too.
Is High Speed PLA stronger than PLA+?
Not overall. Per our data sheets tensile strength is similar and High Speed PLA is stiffer, but PLA+ absorbs about twice the impact energy.
What maximum volumetric speed should I use?
There is no universal number. It depends on your hot end, nozzle, temperature and filament, so run a calibration test on your own printer.
Does input shaping make filament print faster?
No. Input shaping reduces ringing so the printer can move faster. The filament's flow limit is a separate ceiling, and both need to be high for fast prints.
