33 Best Sites for Free 3D Printer Models & STL Files to 3D Print

Free STL Files & 3D Printer Models in 5 Easy Steps

1. Browse this list of 3D printer model sites for inspiration and ideas. Go ahead, take your time, we’ll be here when you get back.
2. Download the free STL files for your chosen model. Click on the links to visit the site where the files are hosted, where they are available to you lucky people at no cost. Please note that some sites may require registration before downloading.
3. Slice the STL file to prepare it for 3D printing, converting it into G-code. Whether you use an open source application like Cura or a paid solution like Simplify3D, slicing is a critical step for the quality of your model. Open the STL file and tinker with settings like infill, layer height, and supports.
4. Print the file after the slicing process is complete. Save the converted G-code file and send it to your 3D printer, either using a USB connection, SD card, or network connection. Now you’re ready to get printing!
5. Alternatively, use a Printing Service if you don’t have access to a 3D printer. Simply upload the STL files to our Best Price 3D Printing Service to have your favorite models 3D printed.

The single biggest content repository for 3D printer files on the internet is Thingiverse, a website operated by MakerBot Industries, the creators of the popular Replicator series of 3D printers. The site is well established and mature, with a huge community of dedicated makers offering free STL files to download in varying categories and complexity. If you’re looking for cool things to 3D print, this is the best place to start. (Thingiverse)

The mission statement of GrabCAD is to “help mechanical engineers build great products faster”. The site offers tools that help users collaborate in the development of their 3D printer models. But for the typical 3D printing enthusiast (like yourself), the best part of the site is their large library of 3D printer files — available in STL files and other formats — created by a community of over a million engineers. (GrabCAD)

Sketchfab is a great source of user-generated 3D designs, with an emphasis on character design and sculpture. Their downloadable 3D printer files are only a sub-category of a larger collection, and these are available as either STL files or OBJ files (the difference is that OBJ format contains color information for advanced printing). If you’re looking for something unusual then this is the place. (Sketchfab)

CGTrader is a marketplace to buy and sell 3D designs. They’re not just limited to CAD files, however; the site also offers a nice selection of free 3D printer files to download which can be fabricated on any 3D printer. (CGTrader)

MyMiniFactory is a community and repository for free 3D printer files. It has close ties with iMakr, an online store that sells 3D printers and accessories. The site offers 3D printer models made by professional designers, with a guarantee that they’ve been quality tested. You can also log a request for a specific 3D printable design that their designers will create and then share. An added bonus is that the site is available in seven different languages. (MyMiniFactory)

Yeggi is a dedicated search engine that will crawl through many 3D printing websites for 3D printer files. You can also look up some of the popular searches to get an idea of trends the community is currently interested in. The user interface isn’t going to win prizes anytime soon, but it’s an effective tool for finding free STL files for 3D printing fast. (Yeggi)

Pinshape is a great-looking website that describes itself as a “3D marketplace full of high quality designs”. That means you can find plenty of free STL files to download, but it also functions as a platform to buy and sell premium 3D printer models. The community blog is an excellent read, too. (Pinshape)

Taiwanese manufacturer XYZprinting has a dedicated 3D gallery of free STL files to download. There’s no digital rights management that we could find, but you have to first register with the site to access the 3D printer files. The majority of items here — about 5,000 models altogether — do not appear to have been printed, given the preponderance of renderings over photos of physical objects. But it’s reassuring to see that they have dedicated repositories for both stereolithography (SLA) and dual-extrusion 3D printing. (XYZprinting 3D Gallery)

US manufacturer Dremel has a curated portal specially for their Idea Builder line of 3D printers. Based on the pretext that the Idea Builder can only print in PLA filament, this selection of 3D printer models are optimized for a frustration-free experience. The sources are diverse too, with 3D printer files pulled in from MyMiniFactory and Autodesk123D. (Dremel Idea Builder)

YouMagine is a community website operated by Ultimaker, the open source 3D printer company, where users can upload and share 3D printer files. Started in 2013, the site has some solidly designed items, and the free STL files you can download will work on any fused filament fabrication (FFF) machine. (YouMagine)

Yobi3D is a bleeding edge search engine that helps you find free STL files, and then offers comprehensive features like 3D visualization, sharing, and even one-click 3D printing. With this workflow, you can select any number of 3D printer files and have them fabricated without even touching a 3D printer. (Yobi3D)

The name is pretty self-explanatory, right? STLFinder is another simple search engine for 3D printer files that will crawl the internet, bringing up hundreds of results for free STL files. You can also create an account to bookmark your favorite 3D printer models for future reference. (stlfinder.com)

Aimed at professional designers and 3D artists, 3DExport is a marketplace for premium 3D printer models that can be bought and sold. But you can also filter your search to find a small collection of free STL files for 3D printing, with an emphasis on jewelry and ornaments. (3DExport)

Based in France, Cults is a community and marketplace where makers can share or sell their 3D printer models. The standard of free STL files is very high, and users can follow their favorite designers or get instant updates when a new creation is posted. Also a neat touch, the website supports both English, French and Spanish languages. (Cults3D)

In a previous incarnation, the Zortrax library was integrated into their Z-Suite software, so it was only available to owners of Zortrax 3D printers. The company has now split the library from the software and made it openly available online. That means anyone can browse and download these STL files for free, and fabricate them on any FDM machine. It’s a canny move, too. Most of these 3D printer models are optimized for ABS filament; makers who wouldn’t ordinarily use the material might be tempted to give it a try. (Zortrax Library)

This repository of 3D printer models is owned and operated by New Matter, which also makes the MOD-t 3D printer (an amazing little machine with an amazing price tag). This collection of 3D designs is a mixture of free and premium, in a range of categories like “home”, “office”, “toys” and “education”. The compatibility is not confined to the MOD-t, but to download free STL files you first have to register. (New Matter)

Rinkak is a Japanese 3D printing marketplace — though the site can also be navigated in English — that offers 3D printer models together with a professional 3D printing service. They have some impressive partnerships with brands like Minecraft and Toyota, too. Although most of the offerings are premium, once registered you can also search through a small selection of free STL files to download. (Rinkak)

This site is a quirky little project operating at the outer fringes of science-fiction fandom. They specialise in articulated toys and models, quirky 3D printer models with pop culture motifs like monsters and robots. The quality of the designs themselves are excellent; while the majority of them you will have to buy, there is a downloads area with free STL files to download and “try before you buy”. We especially recommend the Graphica Ghost as a fun project. (3DKitbash)

The business model for 3DShook is a subscription service for those who want a steady stream of quality 3D printer files. Package deals range from $10-$50, as well as monthly, educational, yearly and commercial subscriptions. The 3D printing designs are uniformly excellent, and to convince before you take out a subscription, they have a trial gallery of free STL files to download. (3DShook)

RascomRas is a Spanish-language website that allows users to upload and share 3D printer files. It’s pretty basic, but it has full support for the RepRap open source project, which means it’s a good place to download free STL files of components for “self-replicating” 3D printers. (RascomRas)

Threeding is an online marketplace for paid and free 3D printer models. Their platform allows individuals and businesses to buy, sell or just exchange any 3D printing designs. There are lots of free STL files to download. It also has a 3D printing service, so that you can have your 3D printer models fabricated and shipped to you at the click of a button. (Threeding)

Repables is a very simple repository to download free STL files for 3D printing. There aren’t any newfangled community features here, just a barebones website that allows users to upload the 3D printer files they want to share and distribute. The site contains a lot of small, simple designs, with a nice selection of everyday items and replacement parts for open source printers. (Repables)

This is the place to go if you’re a devout supporter of the open source 3D printing movement. Why? Because, none other than the inventor of the RepRap Project, Adrian Bowyer, sits on the board of directors. Libre3D is a dedicated resource for 3D printing help, free STL files to download, and much more. (Libre3D)

“Just create and sell.” That’s the premise of 3Dagogo, a platform to buy and sell 3D printer models. But a fair number of them are offered for free and are verified by the site for print quality. (3Dagogo)

Shapetizer is a 3D printing marketplace for the Chinese market, offering 3D printer models in most categories from jewelry to video games. Full functionality is limited to registered users, but once you’re in, there’s a good mix of paid and free STL files to download. They also offer streaming of 3D printer files, so the 3D printer models can be prepped and sent to your machine without downloading anything. (Shapetizer)

This content repository is unique because it features the work of a single designer. Zheng3 is a prolific character in the maker scene, and the vast majority of his 3D printer models are either funny or useful (and sometimes both). Check out his Robber Rex or Penny Balista for original examples. (The Forge)

Redpah is a 3D printing design store offering a mixture of paid and free 3D printer models for makers and designers. The repository features over 500 premium and free 3D printer files to download. A nice feature is the ability to sort 3D printing designs based on the work of popular designers. (Redpah)

The Polar Cloud is an online social platform for free STL files and 3D printer models. The point of difference is that these models have been optimized for the Polar3D printer, a machine which fabricates objects using Polar coordinates instead of Cartesian. There’s also a strong emphasis on education and collaboration, which regular challenges to stimulate engagement and ambassadors to show you how it’s done. (Polar Cloud)

If you’re looking for architecture, product design, or scale models, 3D Warehouse specializes in hosting anything that was created with the popular 3D modeling software SketchUp. You can filter their database for free STL files for 3D printing selecting ‘Only Show Printable Models’ in their advanced search function. (3D Warehouse)

STLHive is a good-looking site with an emphasis on 3D printer models for radio-controlled cars, drones, and robotics. There are plenty of free STL files to download and resources for students, hobbyists, and inventors, plus a nifty feature where you can request an object to be designed for a nominal fee. (STLHive)

The site looks gray and boring, but don’t let that fool you. This is a very cool repository of 3D printer models created by none other than NASA. Their STL files are made available for free for educational purposes so that you can now print landmark objects in the history of space exploration like the Apollo 11 landing site, the Curiosity Rover, or the Hubble Space Telescope. (NASA 3D Resources)

The NIH 3D Print Exchange is a fantastic resource for the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) community, a platform for sharing, distributing and downloading 3D printer files that are scientifically accurate or medically applicable. Collections include free STL files for prostheses, neuroscience, a “heart library”, and a “molecule of the month”. (NIH 3D Print Exchange)

Instructables is a fantastic community portal where users can share their DIY projects, including things made for 3D printing. Featured on the project pages are the tutorials and instructions on how to build each creation, together with the 3D printer files to download where relevant. Plus, most of the designers are helpful enough to answer questions submitted by the public. (Instructables)