This is the right way to weatherproof your 3D prints without using sealant or epoxy

Published Oct 25, 2026, 12:00 PM EDT Tim has been covering technology for almost 20 years, in that time spanning a broad range of topics from security to product reviews. He is especially focused on the Apple ecosystem, productivity, and consumer advice. Over the years Tim has written thousands of articles, reviews, and round-ups in addition to producing video content and original photography. A graduate of journalism, he found his footing as a freelancer with a laptop and loves how he is able to work from practically anywhere. Now a Senior Editor for iPhone, Mac, and Smart Home at How-To Geek, Tim still loves to write. He can also be found crafting round-ups and productivity posts for the Zapier blog. Earlier in his career Tim spent nearly a decade as a writer and eventually Apple section editor for MakeUseOf. Tim currently lives in Brisbane, Australia. Outside of work he loves to hike and work out, play video games, and spend quality time with his wonderful partner and two cats Inka and Roger. Want to 3D print items that live outside? One option is to throw caution to the wind, print with whatever material you like, and seal everything up with an aftercoat. Unfortunately, this requires time and money, and things can still wear with time. The better option is to do it right the first time around. PLA is not weatherproof The best 3D printing filament has its drawbacks Polylactic acid, or PLA for short, is the most popular material for 3D printing, and for good reason. It’s the cheapest material you can buy, with a vast range of manufacturers producing it. Since it’s made from plants, it’s relatively sustainable. It can be broken down using industrial composting practices, and it doesn’t emit any particularly noxious fumes when printing (though you probably don’t want to sleep next to your 3D printer). PLA is also available in a huge range of colors and finishes. You can buy color-changing PLA that morphs as you print, galaxy patterns, filament with real wood dust in it, matte and silk finishes that behave radically differently, and even tough and flexible variants. It’s commonly available in bulk for significant discounts. Lastly, PLA is easy to print with. It doesn’t require things your printer might not have, like a heated chamber or a tacky build plate. You can print most PLA varieties with “soft” brass or stainless steel nozzles, so it’s ideal for making your own miniatures or figures with small 0.2mm nozzles. The exception here is special blended filament types, like glow-in-the-dark PLA. But many of the benefits of PLA are what make it so poorly suited to certain uses. Being derived from organic compounds means that PLA can degrade fairly rapidly. It has a low glass transition temperature, which means that the heat of the afternoon sun can warm it up enough to warp. PLA also doesn’t resist moisture well. These factors combined mean that PLA is a poor choice for prints that need to live outside or be weatherproof even in a temporary capacity. The key to overcoming this is to choose a filament type that can better withstand these conditions. PETG is cheap and offers better weather resistance It also comes in a good range of colors Polyethylene terephthalate, or PETG for short, is the other cheap 3D printing filament. It’s available for roughly the same price as PLA, though some brands charge a little more. In terms of colors and finishes, your options are still good. Don’t expect to have as much choice when it comes to shades, finishes, and blends. Matte and translucent finishes and carbon fiber blends are still fairly easy to come by, though. What PETG lacks in aesthetic freedom, it makes up for with its weather-proof properties. In particular, PETG is far better at withstanding moisture than PLA. This makes it a good choice for items that might live in your bathroom or that have to endure rainy or humid conditions outdoors. In addition to being waterproof, PETG also offers moderate UV resistance. It will fare far better than PLA under similar conditions, and it also has a higher glass transition temperature, so it can withstand hotter temperatures before deforming. PETG is by far the most cost-effective way to print mostly weatherproof objects, while still giving you a good choice of colors and finishes. While water isn’t a problem, parts that are designed to sit in the sun for long periods of time would benefit from a coat of UV-resistant paint. Like PLA, PETG isn’t considered to be particularly toxic during printing (but like PLA, you’ll still want to ventilate your printing space). Generally speaking, PETG can be a little more challenging to print with and will benefit from being dried thoroughly before printing. Printing with ASA for even better results But there are some things to consider first Acrylonitrile styrene acrylate, or ASA for short, is an engineering-grade material that falls comfortably into the “I just need it to last outdoors” category. ASA costs more and can be challenging to print, so a heated enclosed chamber is recommended. It also releases styrene gas when heated to melting point, which means a fume hood or some sort of external ventilation is non-negotiable in order to print it safely. For all these drawbacks, you get an incredibly durable material that is highly resistant to the elements. Items printed with ASA are resistant to UV and water damage, and can even withstand temperatures of around 100ºC before losing mechanical strength. You can also do some neat things, like use acetone fumes to smooth your prints to remove layer lines. Printing with ASA isn’t for everyone. You’ll be severely limited in terms of colors, but that probably won’t matter when your primary concern is making sure an item can stand the test of time. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, or ABS for short, is a similar filament to ASA that lacks the same UV resistance, so be sure not to get them confused if outdoor durability is your main concern. PLA is still the filament that most people should turn to first, but it never hurts to have a few rolls of PETG lying around for those items that demand a bit more weather resistance.