ASA DRYING GUIDE
ASA drying temperatures and times are not universal. Current manufacturer instructions differ by product: Bambu Lab ASA lists 80 °C for 8 hours in a blast drying oven, Prusa lists 80 °C for 4 hours for Prusament ASA, while Polymaker ASA lists 70 °C for 7 hours in its technical data. Use the exact instructions for your spool whenever they are available.
QUICK ANSWER
What temperature should you dry ASA filament at?
Check the exact product first. Verified examples currently range from 70 °C to 80 °C, with drying times from 4 to 8 hours. That spread is exactly why a single “ASA drying temperature” should not be treated as a universal rule.
ASA drying temperature and time by product
| Manufacturer / product | Drying instruction | Important context |
|---|---|---|
| Bambu Lab ASA | 80 °C · 8 h | Bambu specifies a blast drying oven and recommends sealed storage with desiccant after drying. |
| Prusament ASA | 80 °C · 4 h | Prusa publishes this value in its filament-drying table and warns not to exceed the recommended drying temperature. |
| Polymaker ASA | 70 °C · 7 h | The current TDS lists 70 °C for 7 h. Polymaker’s product page also notes that 70 °C for 4 h can be sufficient after brief normal exposure. |
Do not average these numbers. They apply to different products, spools and manufacturer procedures. If your exact ASA spool publishes its own drying instructions, those instructions take priority over a generic chart.
For a cross-material reference, use the Filament Drying Temperature & Time Chart.
Why ASA drying values differ
“ASA” describes a material family, not one identical formulation. Pigments, additives, filament diameter control, spool construction and the manufacturer’s validation method can all differ. Dryers also vary in airflow and temperature accuracy, so the air temperature shown on a display is not automatically the same as the temperature experienced by every part of the spool.
Best rule: match the drying cycle to the exact filament product and make sure the spool itself can tolerate the temperature. More heat is not automatically better.
When does ASA actually need drying?
Do not dry ASA simply because one print has a defect. Drying is more justified when several moisture-linked clues appear together or when the manufacturer specifically tells you to pre-dry the spool.
| What you observe | How much it supports drying | What to check next |
|---|---|---|
| Repeated popping or hissing + bubbles or rough extrusion | Strong | Verify product drying instructions and run a controlled dry/retest cycle. |
| Print quality gradually worsened after humid exposure | Moderate to strong | Compare with a known-good spool or dry under product guidance. |
| Stringing only | Weak by itself | Check temperature, travel and retraction before blaming moisture. |
| Corners lifting from the bed | Usually weak | ASA warping is often driven by thermal contraction, drafts and bed adhesion. |
| Under-extrusion across several spools | Weak | Investigate a restriction, feed issue or hotend problem. |
If you are not sure whether moisture is the problem, use How to Tell If Filament Is Wet. If the real symptom is corners lifting, use the 3D Print Warping guide instead.
How to dry ASA filament safely
- Identify the exact filament. Check the product page, TDS or current manufacturer instructions for your ASA variant.
- Check spool heat limits. Do not assume the spool can safely tolerate the same temperature as the filament.
- Use controlled equipment. A purpose-built filament dryer or validated dehydrator is easier to control than a household oven.
- Preheat and verify temperature stability. Cheap sensors and ovens can overshoot. Avoid placing the spool into an uncontrolled hot zone.
- Run the manufacturer cycle. Do not extend the cycle just because the spool “still feels wet.” Use print evidence instead.
- Cool and store sealed. Once dry, keep ASA in a sealed container or dry box with effective desiccant.
- Retest the same print. Keep unrelated slicer settings unchanged so you can tell whether drying actually helped.
Can you dry ASA in a food dehydrator?
Potentially, if the dehydrator can hold the exact required temperature steadily, has suitable airflow and physically fits the spool without creating a hot spot. The key question is not whether the appliance is called a dehydrator—it is whether it can reproduce the required drying conditions safely.
Compare the tradeoffs in Filament Dryer vs Food Dehydrator.
Can you dry ASA in an oven?
A household oven is a poor first choice because many ovens cycle widely around the set temperature, especially at relatively low settings. That increases the chance of spool deformation or overheating. If an oven cannot be independently verified to hold a stable temperature, use controlled drying equipment instead.
See Filament Dryer vs Oven and Can You Over-Dry Filament? before increasing heat or extending a cycle.
How do you know when ASA is dry?
Do not use the dryer humidity display alone as proof. A better confirmation is a controlled before/after comparison using the same spool, printer, profile and test object.
| After drying | What it suggests |
|---|---|
| Popping / hissing drops sharply | Moisture was likely contributing. |
| Extrusion becomes smoother and less pitted | Supports a moisture-related cause. |
| Stringing improves but does not disappear | Mixed cause: moisture plus tuning may coexist. |
| Warping remains unchanged | Expected possibility: drying does not fix enclosure, draft or bed-adhesion problems. |
| No meaningful change | Stop extending the cycle. Revisit the diagnosis. |
Store ASA correctly after drying
Drying removes absorbed moisture; it does not prevent the filament from taking moisture back up. After the spool cools, keep it sealed with desiccant and minimize unnecessary exposure. Bambu’s current ASA guidance specifically pairs drying with sealed storage and desiccant.
For a complete storage workflow, use How to Store 3D Printer Filament or the Storage Planner.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best ASA drying temperature?
There is no single best value for every ASA product. Verified manufacturer examples include 80 °C for 8 h for Bambu Lab ASA, 80 °C for 4 h for Prusament ASA and 70 °C for 7 h for Polymaker ASA.
How long should ASA filament be dried?
Follow the exact product instructions. Current manufacturer examples range from 4 to 8 hours, so the brand and formulation matter.
Does ASA always need to be dried before printing?
No. Some manufacturers recommend drying when moisture has been absorbed or when print-quality clues support it. Use product guidance and symptoms rather than drying every spool automatically.
Can wet ASA cause stringing?
It can contribute, but stringing alone is not proof of moisture. Nozzle temperature, travel and retraction can produce similar symptoms.
Will drying ASA fix warping?
Usually not by itself. ASA warping is strongly affected by thermal contraction, drafts, enclosure temperature, bed adhesion and part geometry.
Technical references consulted: Bambu Lab ASA product guidance, Prusa Research “Drying filament”, and Polymaker ASA product/TDS documentation.
Last checked: October 4, 2026. Manufacturer instructions can change; verify the current documentation for your exact spool before using a high-temperature drying cycle.