Heated bed: the warmth that holds a part in place
A heated bed is a build plate with built-in heating that keeps the bottom layers of a part warm. The plastic sticks better and cools more slowly, so the part warps less.
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Contents
Why the bed needs heating
Molten plastic shrinks as it cools. If the bed is cold, the bottom layers contract quickly and the part lifts off the plate at the edges (warping). On a warm bed it cools more slowly and evenly, and the first layer sticks better.
The heat must not be too much, though: if the bed is hotter than the glass transition temperature of the material, the bottom layers soften and you get elephant foot, a slightly widened base of the part. See also glass transition.
Typical temperatures
For PLA about 55 to 60 °C is used, and for PETG about 70 to 80 °C. The exact values are set by the filament maker and the profile in the slicer (bed temperature). A higher temperature is not better. With PLA it mainly increases the risk of elephant foot for no reason.
The bed needs a moment to heat up, usually a few minutes. That time is added to every print.
What this means for you
- Flat parts. Long thin or flat parts are the most sensitive to warping. Rounded corners at the base help (fillet).
- The edge at the bed. The bottom edge will be slightly rounded or a touch wider, so design precise fits along the Z axis with some allowance.
- You do not have to set anything. The bed temperature is set by the material profile. When ordering, you only choose the material and the strength.
Why heat only rises from the bed
Heat from the bed passes mainly into the bottom layers of the part. The upper layers cool in the air, so the part has a temperature gradient. In a taller part the bottom layers are therefore permanently warmer than the top ones, and internal stress builds up that is released by warping.
In an enclosed printer this gradient is smaller, because the warm air from the bed stays in the chamber (enclosure). That is why larger flat parts print more reliably in enclosed machines, like ours.
Common questions
What temperature does the bed heat to?
Roughly 55 to 60 °C for PLA and 70 to 80 °C for PETG. The exact value depends on the filament.
Can the bed be too hot?
Yes. The bottom layers soften and the part gets a widened base, known as elephant foot.
Does PLA need a heated bed?
PLA can also be printed on a cold bed, but with heating it holds noticeably more reliably.
Related terms
Build plate
The build plate is the flat surface of a 3D printer onto which the first layer is printed and from which the finished part is removed once it has cooled. Its surface affects adhesion and the look of the part's underside.
PEI build plate
A PEI build plate is a flexible steel sheet with a polyetherimide surface that filament sticks to well when warm, and the part releases once it has cooled. It is the most common build surface today.
Bed temperature
Bed temperature is the temperature of the heated build plate on which the first layer is printed. The right value prevents peeling and lifting corners, while too high a value spoils the underside of the part.
Warping
Warping is a deformation of a print where corners and edges lift off the plate or the whole part bends, because plastic contracts as it cools.
Elephant foot
Elephant foot is a 3D printing flaw where the first layers spread outwards, so the bottom of the part is wider than the rest and looks like an elephant's foot.
Glass transition temperature
The glass transition temperature (Tg) is the temperature at which a plastic changes from a hard, strong state to a soft, bendy one. For PLA it is around 60 °C and for PETG around 80 °C.
SourcesSources checked 1 November 2026, 2
- Fused filament fabrication, Wikipedia, checked 2026-11-01
- Glass transition, Wikipedia, checked 2026-11-01
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No model? No problem, pick a ready one
These sites have thousands of free models. Download an STL or 3MF and upload it here. If you sell it or use it for business, check the model licence. How to pick a model and licence