3DPrintCalcs
Filament Moisture & Dry Time Calculator
Calculate drying temperature, time and storage recommendations for your filament.
How We Calculate This
Drying Recommendations
- Dry temperature is set per material to stay safely below its glass transition (PLA 45°C, PETG 65°C, ABS/ASA 80°C, PC 85°C, Nylon 75°C)
- Dry time = Base time x Condition multiplier x Humidity factor
- Condition multipliers: New sealed (0.25x), Recently opened (1x), Out for weeks (1.5x), Visible moisture (2x)
- Humidity factor stretches the cycle when the room air is damp (1.0x at 50% RH, up to 1.6x in very humid conditions)
- Storage target is lower for highly hygroscopic materials (<10% RH for Nylon/TPU/PC, <20% for PLA)
- Open-air dry-life estimates how long the dried spool stays usable out of storage at your humidity — days for PLA, hours for Nylon
Always store dried filament in airtight containers with silica gel desiccant. Vacuum-sealed bags work well for long-term storage.
Working figures for this are collected in our Filament Properties reference table.
Frequently Asked Questions
Signs include popping or crackling sounds during printing, excessive stringing, poor surface finish, and visible steam from the nozzle. Nylon and TPU absorb moisture fastest and may show symptoms within hours of exposure.
Yes, but with caution. Most kitchen ovens are inaccurate at low temperatures and can overshoot by 10-20°C. Always use an oven thermometer. PLA especially can warp if the temperature exceeds 50°C. A food dehydrator gives more consistent, safer results.
It depends on ambient humidity and the material. In a sealed container with desiccant, filament can stay dry for months. Nylon left in the open can absorb enough moisture to cause problems within 24 hours.
PLA is less hygroscopic than Nylon or TPU but still absorbs moisture over time. After several weeks in humid conditions, PLA will print noticeably worse. Drying at 45°C for 4 hours restores it.
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Last updated: March 2026
All calculations are estimates. Always verify settings with test prints before committing to final prints.