TPU Hardness Guide: 85A vs 95A – Which TPU Should You Choose?

Quick Answer

• 85A TPU → Very soft, rubber-like, best for soft-touch parts
• 90A TPU → Medium soft, balanced flexibility (less common, niche use)
• 95A TPU → Standard TPU, most popular, easier to print, good performance
• High Flow 95A (iSANMATE TPU 95A HF) → Same flexibility as stand one, but prints faster & more stable

If you’re unsure: Just start with 95A TPU filament, it offers the best balance between printability and flexibility for most users.

👉 If you’re new to TPU filament world, you can check TPU Filament Guide in the first place

What Does TPU Hardness Mean? (Shore A Explained)

TPU hardness is measured by using the Shore hardness scale, specifically Shore A for flexible materials.

• The A scale is used for soft elastomers (like rubber, TPU)
• Lower number = softer material
• Higher number = harder (but still flexible)

Typical Feel Reference

Why “Shore A” Instead of Other Scales?

Shore A and Shore D are the common two hardness scales in FDM 3d printing.

• Shore A = flexible materials (TPU, TPE, rubber)
• Shore D = rigid plastics (ABS, Nylon, PC)

Therefore, we usually use Shore A for TPU 3d printing material, and the lower the number, the softer the filament.

TPU 85A vs 90A vs 95A: Key Differences

TPU 95A: The Industry Standard (And Why It Dominates)

Most brands focus on 95A TPU, and the reasons are quite obvious:

• Compatible with most 3d printers on the markets
• Balanced flexibility & durability
• Easy to print, best choice for beginners
• Suit for wide range of applications

iSANMATE TPU 95A HF Advantage

Unlike standard TPU 95A, iSANMATE upgraded 3d filament – TPU 95A HF (High Flow) is optimized for:

• Higher print speeds (reach 200mm/s and even more)
• Better layer adhesion at speed
• Reduced clogging and stringing

With those advantages, HF TPU 95A is ideal for:

• Fast-printed functional prototyping
• Industrial seals and gaskets
• Impact-resistant components

👉 Related reading: TPU 95A HF Printing Test

TPU 85A: When You Need True Flexibility

85A TPU is significantly softer, but requires more precise settings and extensive experience.

Best Use Cases

• Wearables
• Soft contact surfaces
• Shock absorption parts

Challenges (Based on Real Testing)

• Requires direct drive extruder
• Very sensitive to retraction settings
• Requires slow print speed

What About TPU 90A? (Do You Really Need It?)

Between 85A and 95A, is 90A necessary?

• Limited availability across brands
• Overlaps heavily with tuned 95A prints
• Rarely necessary for most users

📍 In most real-world applications, 90A is not essential, 95A with suitable parameter (infill, wall, speed, etc.) can also achieve the results similar to it.

TPU vs Other Filaments (Quick Comparison)

📍 TPU is one of the few filaments that combine flexibility with high durability.

How to Choose the Right Flexible TPU Filament?

📌 Choose 85A if:

• You need maximum flexibility
• The part requires bend, stretch, or compress easily

📌 Choose 95A if:

• You need reliable printing
• You’re new to flexible TPU filaments
• You need a balance: strength + elasticity

📌 Choose 95A HF (Recommended) if:

• You want faster printing without sacrificing quality
• You create content regularly and batch-wise

Real-World Recommendation (Based on Testing)

From real printing experience:

• 95A TPU works for 80%+ of users
• 85A is only recommended when true softness is required
• 90A is rarely necessary in most workflows
• 95A TPU HF is highly recommend for high speed printing

👉 For more on controlling TPU drying, check out Do You Need to Dry TPU Filament Before Printing

Pro Tip: Hardness Isn’t Everything

Many users overlook this: Print settings can change perceived flexibility

Here are some examples that change the printing settings to get different hardness levels of TPU:

• Lower infill → softer
• Thinner walls → more flexible
• Different patterns → different elasticity

So the feel of flexibility is determined not only by material hardness, but also by print model structure and slicing parameters.

FAQ: TPU Hardness Explained

🔎 Is 95A TPU flexible enough?
Yes. It bends easily but still holds shape—ideal for most applications.

🔎 Is 85A too soft for beginners?
Yes. And it requires more tuning and a capable printer setup, so not friendly for beginners.

🔎 Can I print 85A on a Bowden printer?
Not recommended. Direct drive systems perform much better than Bowden printer

🔎 Does higher hardness mean stronger parts?
Not always. 95A TPU is stiffer, but 85A TPU can absorb impact better.

Final Thoughts: Choose Based on Application, Not Just Numbers

Choosing the right TPU hardness isn’t about picking the best number, but about matching material features to your application.

• 95A remains the most practical choice
• 85A unlocks true flexibility (with more settings)
• 90A between in 85A and 95A, but isn’t always necessary
• 95A HF represents the next step: speed + reliability

👉 Start with 95A, then move softer only when your application truly requires it. If you’re scaling production or improving workflow, upgrading to a high-flow TPU can make a bigger difference than changing hardness.