Polymaker PolyFlex TPU90 vs PolyFlex TPU95

Who this comparison is for

This page is for anyone choosing between two specific 1.75 mm spools: Polymaker PolyFlex TPU90 in Black (SKU PD02001) and PolyFlex TPU95 in Black (SKU PD01001), both 0.75 kg. Because they come from the same maker, with the same print temperatures and the same test method in their data sheets, this is one of the cleaner hardness comparisons you can make. The questions are how soft you need the part to be, and how your printer feeds filament. If you're not sure what 90A and 95A mean in practice, start with our TPU hardness guide. For other brands, see the TPU filament shortlist, and if TPU95 is on your list, we also compare it with Bambu Lab's 95A in PolyFlex TPU95 vs Bambu TPU 95A HF.

How we compared them

This is a research-based comparison. Every figure below comes from Polymaker's data sheets, product pages, and wiki, plus Bambu Lab's published AMS rules, all listed in the sources. We haven't tested either filament, so nothing here is a measured result of ours. Where Polymaker describes its own product, such as "Fast-Printing" or "printer-friendly," we label it as the maker's claim.

Polymaker's own documents don't always agree on speed, drying, and the test standard. Where they differ, we say so and use the data sheet (TDS) figure in the tables.

Side-by-side specs

Hardness and feel

The number in each name is the Shore A hardness, and both data sheets measure it the same way, to ISO 7619-1: 90A for TPU90 and 95A for TPU95. Polymaker's FAQ puts its range in order: "TPU90 is our softest, followed by TPU95 and then TPU95-HF." Lower means softer.

Polymaker describes the two quite differently. It calls TPU90 "Ultra-Soft" and "exceptionally soft and highly flexible," for parts "that require a gentle touch and high elasticity." It describes TPU95 as offering "a perfect balance between flexibility and ease of handling," and says it "can stretch over three times its original length."

Polymaker also warns that hardness isn't the whole story. Its FAQ says Shore hardness "is only an indication on how flexible the printed part will be," and that infill percentage, number of walls, top and bottom layers, and layer height matter too. So a TPU95 part with low infill and few walls can feel softer than you'd expect, and a solid TPU90 part firmer.

Print speed: the softer grade has the higher figure

You might expect the softer filament to be the slower one. Polymaker's documents say the opposite. It sells TPU90 as "Fast-Printing" and says in the data sheet that it is "designed to provide great flexibility without compromising on printing speed." Its FAQ says TPU90 "is easier to print than similar flexible material thank to its high melt index." These are Polymaker's claims, and it gives no test against another filament. TPU95 isn't sold on speed at all.

The figures don't agree from one document to the next, so here is each one:

By every source except the wiki's print tips, TPU90's range sits higher. Both product pages add that on "a stock, older style printer" you should print "VERY slow," and both wiki pages say to print "even slower if your extruder has a distance between itself and the hotend." We use the data sheet values in the spec table, but if you want the most cautious start, the product pages' print settings are lower.

Both data sheets give a melt index, a measure of how easily the molten plastic flows, but at different temperatures: 6.1 g/10 min at 185 °C for TPU90 and 3–6 g/10 min at 210 °C for TPU95, both with a 1.2 kg load. Because the temperatures differ, we don't compare the two numbers.

Extruder: direct drive and Bowden

This is the practical difference that matters most. Soft TPU is hard to push through a long tube, and Polymaker is stricter about TPU90 than TPU95.

PolyFlex TPU90. Polymaker's documents word this differently, from "required" to "recommended." We go by the strictest wording, "required."

PolyFlex TPU95. The product page says a geared direct extruder is "highly recommended," and the description says TPU95 prints "without specialized hardware or complex setup." The flexible TPU FAQ says "TPU95 is in-between and it is possible to print on a Bowden setup - but you need to print very slowly." Its wiki page adds that it "can print faster on a direct extruder than a Bowden setup."

There's one contradiction to know about. Both product pages say "Make sure your printer is not setup as Bowden," yet both list "Indirect Drive" retraction settings of 6 mm at 60 mm/s, against 3 mm at 40 mm/s for direct drive. We read the Bowden settings as a fallback, not a recommendation. If your printer uses a Bowden tube, TPU95 is the only one of the two Polymaker says is possible, and only slowly. Our TPU compatibility guide covers direct drive and Bowden in more detail.

AMS and multi-material systems

Neither filament should go through a standard Bambu Lab AMS or AMS lite, and Polymaker and Bambu agree on that.

• Polymaker. Its flexible TPU FAQ says that although its spools now "spin great in the AMS," "TPU is often too soft to feed into the AMS properly. Use TPU in the AMS with caution - we suggest avoiding it." Neither product page mentions the AMS.
• Bambu Lab. Its filament guide marks TPU as "Not Compatible" with the AMS and AMS lite, and lists "TPU 95A/85A/83A/80A" as examples of filament that is "too soft" to "pass smoothly through the AMS / AMS lite channel." 90A isn't named in that list, but Polymaker says TPU90 is softer than its 95A grade. Bambu's notes for the AMS also say to avoid "flexible materials, including TPU, TPE."
• AMS HT. Bambu's AMS HT store page lists "generic TPU" for its bypass outlet. TPU goes through the port at the rear of the top cover and you push the filament through the PTFE tube by hand, because the AMS HT "cannot use the automatic feed and return function" with TPU. So there's no automatic color switching. The page says the AMS HT "can be used as a drying box" with TPU, but it doesn't list generic TPU among the filaments it supports for drying, and it says the AMS HT can't run drying while feeding a print through the bypass port. It gives a spool range of 50–68 mm wide and 197–202 mm across, and Polymaker gives its 0.75 kg spool as 50.6 ± 2 mm wide and 200 ± 1 mm across. Neither maker names the other's product, so we can't confirm the fit.

For most printers, feed either spool from an external holder with the shortest path you can manage. Our AMS filament compatibility guide collects Bambu's rules for TPU.

Temperatures and build plates

The print settings in the spec table are identical in both data sheets, so switching between the two shouldn't need new temperatures as a starting point. Both wiki pages say to keep the fan on "for good surface quality."

If you print on an enclosed Bambu Lab printer, Bambu's filament guide says that for filaments that soften below 60 °C, including TPU, you should open the front door or remove the top glass cover when the bed is above 45 °C. That applies to the upper part of Polymaker's bed range.

Drying and storage

Both data sheets give 70 °C for 8 hours, and so do both wiki pages. The product pages differ:

• PolyFlex TPU90. The print settings give 70 °C for 8 hours, "Only if the material has absorbed moisture." The spec panel on the same page shows 50 °C for 6 hours.
• PolyFlex TPU95. The print settings give 65 °C for 8 hours, with the same "Only if" note. The spec panel shows no drying entry.

We follow the data sheets. Polymaker gives no storage humidity specific to either filament. Its general FAQ gives a shelf life of 3 years for an unopened spool, or 2 years if it's put back in the resealable bag, at room temperature, out of sunlight and at 30–40% humidity. Both data sheets give an equilibrium water absorption, 0.67% for TPU90 and 0.82% for TPU95, but neither says at what humidity or temperature, so read these as rough indications rather than a measured difference. Both come on cardboard spools, and Polymaker gives no temperature rating for them, so check your dryer's documentation before heating either. Our filament dryer vs dry box guide covers the options.

Test data: same method, same specimens

Because both data sheets come from the same maker, the tensile figures were measured the same way. Both cite ISO 37 and GB/T 528, a rubber tensile test, for X-Y specimens, meaning across the layers. Both describe the same printed specimen: 230 °C nozzle, 50 °C bed, 2 shells, 3 top and bottom layers, 100% infill, ambient temperature, fan on. Neither states the print speed, the ISO 37 specimen type, or the test speed.

The stress-at-strain rows show the hardness difference in numbers. At every stretch level, TPU90 took less stress than TPU95 to reach the same elongation, which is what "softer" means in a part. TPU90's average elongation at break is higher, but the stated spreads overlap (559.2–625.0% against 527.7–574.7%), so we wouldn't read much into that difference.

We left these out of the table because only one data sheet gives them:

• Tensile strength. 30.1 ± 2.4 MPa for TPU90. The TPU95 data sheet doesn't list it.
• Young's modulus. 33.6 ± 0.9 MPa for TPU95. The TPU90 data sheet doesn't list it.
• Melt index and water absorption. Explained above: different test temperatures for melt index, and no stated conditions for water absorption.

The product pages label elongation, tensile strength, and Young's modulus as ISO 527, a plastics test, and the TPU95 page gives the modulus as 33.6 "GPa." Both conflict with the data sheets. We follow the data sheets, which give ISO 37 and MPa.

What Polymaker says each is for

• PolyFlex TPU90. "Choose PolyFlex™ TPU90 for projects like phone cases, watch straps, or any part that demands softness, flexibility, and comfort." Its data sheet also says it can "resist ultra-violet (UV) light or sunlight." The product page lists "ISO 10993 Skin Safe Tested," and the wiki says it passed ISO 10993-5, -10, -11, and -23 testing and "is safe for skin contact applications." That's Polymaker's test claim for its material, not a medical device rating.
• PolyFlex TPU95. "Choose PolyFlex™ TPU95 for applications like protective covers, flexible connectors, and wearable accessories where both stretch and resilience are essential." Polymaker makes no skin-contact claim for TPU95 on the pages we checked. Its flexible TPU FAQ says Polymaker adds additives to its TPUs "to enhance their UV resistance," so UV resistance isn't unique to TPU90.

Both wiki pages also warn that the layer adhesion makes "parent support material very difficult" to remove, and suggest designing parts that need little support. Polymaker's FAQ recommends a dedicated support material such as PolyDissolve S1 where supports are needed, and on a single-extruder printer suggests orienting the model to minimize supports.

Polymaker

Polymaker PolyFlex TPU90 (Black, 1.75 mm, 0.75 kg)

Best for

Soft, comfortable parts such as phone cases and watch straps on a geared direct-drive printer.

Skip this if

Your printer uses a Bowden extruder, or you need 1 kg spools.

Specs, strengths, and limitations

Material

TPU

Diameter

1.75 mm

Net filament

750 g (filament only, not packaged weight)

Hardness

90A

Format

cardboard spool

Maker's nozzle range

210–230 °C

Strengths

• Manufacturer states 90A is its softest PolyFlex grade.
• TDS lists Shore hardness 90A and elongation at break of 592.1%.
• Manufacturer TDS states it resists UV light and sunlight (Polymaker says it adds UV additives to all its TPUs).

Limitations

• Polymaker's own page conflicts: its printing requirements say a direct extruder with gear-ratio mechanical advantage is 'required', while its spec line says 'Direct-drive recommended'. It warns against Bowden setups but also lists Indirect Drive retraction (6 mm at 60 mm/s).
• Polymaker says it will be very difficult to print with a small nozzle diameter. Its TDS recommends 30–70 mm/s; the product page print settings say 30–60 mm/s, and its spec panel gives a 60 mm/s maximum.
• Spool holds 0.75 kg, not 1 kg.

View on Amazon ↗ (opens Amazon in a new tab)Details checked 2026-10-06 against the manufacturer. Price and availability are on Amazon.

Polymaker

Polymaker PolyFlex TPU95 (Black, 1.75 mm, 0.75 kg)

Best for

Flexible covers, grips, bumpers, and seals on printers that handle 95A TPU.

Skip this if

You need a softer TPU than 95A, or fast print times, or your printer is set up as Bowden and you can't print very slowly (Polymaker highly recommends direct drive and says Bowden is possible only at very slow speeds).

Specs, strengths, and limitations

Material

TPU

Diameter

1.75 mm

Net filament

750 g (filament only, not packaged weight)

Hardness

95A

Format

cardboard spool

Maker's nozzle range

210–230 °C

Strengths

• Manufacturer states it is engineered to work on most desktop 3D printers without specialized hardware.
• Manufacturer states it can stretch over three times its original length.
• Manufacturer TDS lists shore hardness 95A and no enclosure needed.

Limitations

• Slow printing: the TDS recommends 30–50 mm/s.
• Spool holds 0.75 kg, not 1 kg.
• Cardboard spool: Polymaker says it redesigned its spool edges to spin well in the AMS, but its Flexible TPU FAQ says TPU is often too soft to feed through the AMS and suggests avoiding it. Bambu Lab also advises against TPU in the AMS and recommends an adapter or ring for cardboard spools.

View on Amazon ↗ (opens Amazon in a new tab)Details checked 2026-10-06 against the manufacturer. Price and availability are on Amazon.

Verdict: which should you buy?

Choose by softness and by your extruder, not by speed or setup. The two share their temperatures, plate, drying, and spool, and Polymaker's same-method tests confirm TPU90 is the softer material. TPU90 suits you when softness is the point and you have a geared direct-drive printer, and it even carries the higher published speed range. TPU95 is the safer choice when your printer's feed path is in doubt, because it's the only one of the two Polymaker says is possible on a Bowden setup, if you print very slowly. Whichever you choose, keep it out of a standard AMS and feed it from an external spool.

Choose PolyFlex TPU90 if…

• You want the softest Polymaker TPU, for parts that need to feel comfortable or grip gently, like the phone cases and watch straps Polymaker names.
• Your printer has a direct extruder with geared mechanical advantage, which Polymaker says is required.
• You want parts for skin contact, where Polymaker cites ISO 10993 testing for TPU90 and makes no such claim for TPU95.

Choose PolyFlex TPU95 if…

• You want a firmer flexible part, like the protective covers and flexible connectors Polymaker names.
• Your printer is Bowden, or has a longer feed path, and you're willing to print very slowly. Polymaker says that's possible with TPU95 and likely to cause extrusion issues with TPU90.
• You're new to TPU and want the grade Polymaker describes as balancing "flexibility and ease of handling."

Safety and limits

How this page was checked

Every temperature, speed, feeding rule, drying setting, spool detail, and test figure above comes from the manufacturer documents in the sources section, retrieved on 2026-10-14. We haven't printed with either filament for this page, so nothing here is a measured result of ours. Polymaker's data sheets, product pages, and wiki disagree on print speed, drying, and the test standard, and we've said which we followed in each case. The TPU90 data sheet's file name says V5.4, but the document itself reads V5.5, which is the version we cite. Bambu Lab's AMS rules are Bambu's general rules for TPU and don't name Polymaker products. Values vary by color and revision, so check the current data sheet for your spool. Read more in our editorial standards and affiliate disclosure.

TPU: what to check before you buy a spool ↗