Why is my Cura PLA profile stringing?

PLA stringing in Cura is usually caused by printing too hot, too little retraction or a combination of both. Reduce nozzle temperature in small steps and use higher retraction distances on bowden printers.

🌀 Cura Settings Cheat Sheet

Q: What is a good Cura profile for an Ender-3?

A typical Ender-3 Cura starting profile uses 0.2 mm layers, 200–210 °C nozzle temperature, 60 °C bed, 50–60 mm/s print speed, 4–6 mm retraction at around 25 mm/s and full part cooling after the first layers.

Q: Should I use supports touching buildplate or everywhere in Cura?

Supports touching buildplate are enough for many models and are easier to remove. Use supports everywhere only when interior or mid-air geometry would otherwise sag or fail.

Quick Cura starting profiles for common Ender-style bed-slingers. Great for PLA, PETG, ABS/ASA and TPU with bowden or direct-drive setups.

PLA – Ender-Style Baseline

Nozzle temperature	200–210 °C
Bed temperature	55–60 °C
Layer height	0.20 mm
Print speed	50–70 mm/s
Wall speed	30–40 mm/s
Retraction (bowden)	4.0–6.0 mm @ 25 mm/s
Retraction (direct)	0.8–1.4 mm @ 25 mm/s
Z hop	0.20–0.40 mm
Cooling	100% after first few layers

PETG – Stringing & Bed Adhesion

Nozzle temperature	230–245 °C
Bed temperature	70–80 °C
Print speed	40–60 mm/s
Retraction (bowden)	3.5–5.0 mm
Cooling	20–50%
Build surface	Use glue stick or texture for easier release

If PETG welds to the bed, lower bed temperature a bit or use a light release agent (glue stick, PEI-safe spray).

ABS / ASA – Warping Control

Nozzle temperature	235–255 °C
Bed temperature	90–105 °C
Cooling	0–20%
Enclosure	Recommended, avoid drafts
Brim	Yes, 5–8 mm for tall or sharp parts

TPU – Bowden-Friendly Values

Nozzle temperature	215–230 °C
Bed temperature	35–45 °C
Print speed	20–40 mm/s
Retraction	Low (1–3 mm) or disabled
Flow	100–105%

Retraction, Z Hop & Coasting in Cura

Fix stringing first with temperature and retraction before enabling coasting or combing tweaks.
For tall stringy parts, Z-hop on retraction plus a small increase in travel speed helps.
If blobs appear at layer change, slow down outer wall speed and consider enabling coasting carefully.

For advanced Pressure/Linear Advance tuning, use firmware features (Marlin or Klipper) and our Pressure Advance Notes helper.

FAQ – Cura Settings

Why is my Cura PLA stringing?

Most PLA stringing comes from printing hotter than needed or using retraction values that are too low for your hardware. Lower temperature in 5 °C steps and make sure bowden printers use 4–6 mm retraction.

What is a good Cura profile for an Ender-3?

A safe starting point is 200–210 °C nozzle, 60 °C bed, 0.2 mm layer height, 50–60 mm/s print speed, 4–6 mm retraction at 25 mm/s and 100% cooling.

Should I use supports “Touching Buildplate” or “Everywhere”?

Use “Touching Buildplate” for most overhangs to save cleanup time. Choose “Everywhere” only when internal geometry truly needs it.