Technically speaking, an action figure is an articulated figurine, most commonly made of plastic, and usually depicting fictional characters from films, television shows, comics, video games, and so on. The term was first used by toy manufacturer Hasbro when they launched their G.I. Joe collection. No joke – they came up with it because “dolls” were already commonly associated with girls’ toys.
Although originally created to entertain children, today, they also serve as precious collectors’ items. In fact, original vintage action figures, like Kenner’s very first Star Wars collection, are worth top dollar.
But if they’re made of plastic, why not 3D print them? Looking into this, we made a selection of the best sites to download or purchase 3D printed action figures. And if you like what you see but don’t have the resources to print it yourself, consider using a 3D printing service. With Craftcloud by All3DP, you’ll instantly find the best price and provider for your needs, and for no extra cost!
3DKitBash
3DKitbash, also known as 3DK Toys, is a website that develops and sells 3D printable digital models of toys. It’s the website behind Boon, the Tiny T-Rex, one of the oldest and most popular articulated models within the 3D printing community.
Besides articulated dinosaur and monster collections, 3DKitbash also has two 3D printable action figure designs: NiQ and Quinn. They’re both fully articulated and poseable models, and all individual parts can be printed without supports.
Quinn is the most customizable model from the website, with additional kits with different hairstyles, space equipment, and even facial expressions to purchase and 3D print.
- Website: 3DKitbash
- Model selection: 16
- Product type: Digital files
- Price range: Starting from around $15 (NiQ) up to $25 (Quinn base model)
TurboSquid
For above-average, often professional-quality 3D models, TurboSquid is a good place to look. A search for action figures will net you many great models from a variety of movies, video games, and original sources.
Many models include the original software files, allowing users to load them into editing and rendering programs like Blender to make any changes they wish. Most models even come pre-rigged, meaning you can easily pose your model and export the new pose before sending it to your printer. This is a great way for more experienced users to make the most out of their new model.
Printability will vary from model to model. The majority of available models are best suited for resin 3D printing, although you can modify any model to prepare it for FDM printing. This He-Man action figure by Troglodyte3D is a great option, as it’s been pre-cut into seven separate pieces for easy printing and assembly.
- Website: TurboSquid
- Model selection: ~435 files, including AI-generated models
- Product type: Digital files
- Price range: Few free models, with most ranging from $10 to $300+
CGTrader
CGTrader is an online marketplace of 3D models for different kinds of uses. Their models are produced by freelance designers, hobbyists, and even professional design companies. CGTrader claims its marketplace has over 1,370,000 3D models, with an online community of 3.2 million users.
With such a great variety of models, be careful when looking for printables. The site has a specific area for 3D printing, where all the models are said to be 3D printable, but there’s no guarantee. With that said, there are so many stunning action figures available! This Transformers Optimus Prime model from Wanchai-Samana stands out for its high fidelity, and if you’re a fan of Dragon Ball Z, be sure to check this Goku action figure.
- Website: CGTrader
- Model selection: ~3,700
- Product type: Digital files
- Price range: Selection of free models, most are priced between $5 to $50
Cults
Cults was the first independent 3D model online marketplace. It connects 3D designers to 3D printing hobbyists, hosting more than 13,000 action figure designs. Unlike some of the other go-to 3D printing repositories, some of the models on Cults have a price tag.
While Cults is a great source of 3D models, there’s one collection in particular that needs to be mentioned here. For those who like vintage toys, user Desert-Octopus has a great collection of 80s-style action figures. These models come mostly from the Masters of the Universe TV show, but there’s a separate Star Wars collection, too, replicating the much-loved Kenner’s Star Wars collection that we mentioned earlier. The same designer also offers a couple of action figures inspired by the arcade game “Metal Slug”.
- Website: Cults
- Model selection: Over 13,000
- Product type: Digital files
- Price range: Lots of free models plus many more models under $20
Printables
Much like Thingiverse, Printables has become one of the top model-sharing websites for 3D printed models of all types. It’s run by Prusa Research, the same company that makes the iconic 3D printers.
When it comes to action figures, Printables has a great selection of models, with every upload showcasing important details for the model, such as print time, layer height, and the amount of filament required. These additions are very convenient and make Printables a beginner-friendly site.
The Lucky 13 figure by soozafone is an incredibly popular model, boasting more articulation than many store-bought action figures. It comes with a display stand to keep your figure posing without falling over. The whole figure can be printed on a single print bed. You’ll find all of the print settings required in the model’s description, along with over 1,000 entertaining makes from the community.
- Website: Printables
- Model selection: ~100
- Product type: Digital files
- Price range: All models are free
Gambody
Gambody is yet another online marketplace for 3D models. The difference lies in its selection of insanely-detailed models available for purchase. They’re of all sorts: characters, dioramas, starships, dragons, and more from popular movies, TV shows, and video games.
All of Gambody’s models are tested for printability and come with printing instructions like slicer settings and part orientation. Once printed, the models need to be assembled. Their YouTube channel is filled with instructional videos.
The Durotan 3D Printing Figurine is a great example of their highly-detailed figures that are suited for both FDM and resin printing. The model is cut up into many pieces to make print orientation simple while keeping support use to a minimum. Be sure to read through the Printing Details section for tips on getting a great print.
- Website: Gambody
- Model selection: ~660 action figure models are available for download
- Product Type: Digital files
- Price Range: Most models are priced between $20 and $30
MyMiniFactory
Another well-known 3D model repository, MyMiniFactory couldn’t possibly be left out of this list. This platform has a great number of files ready for download, but even more than just having a lot of designs, MyMiniFactory guarantees that all files available are 3D printable. According to their website, “every single file runs through a software check and is tested” before it’s published.
Lucky for us, there are plenty of action figures available for download, coming from all sorts of universes. There’s the aggressively evolved Blastoise Pokémon, a highly detailed Rick Grimes from The Walking Dead, and even a face-swapping Rick from the animated series Rick and Morty. All of these models are free but bear in mind that some other action figures might cost you a few bucks.
- Website: MyMiniFactory
- Model selection: ~7,230
- Product type: Digital files
- Price range: Most models are free, and paid ones range from $1 to $41
Thingiverse
Good old Thingiverse never lets you down. Specifically searching for “action figures”, you’ll find a good variety of articulated models, often with detailed assembly instructions, all available for free. Sizes and complexity vary, from barney‘s Vertex2 Robot to the more popular and complex Male Action Figure from jasonwelsh. User thewhingingwizard even has a model that’s assembled without glue or fasteners.
Thingiverse, in general, doesn’t actually guarantee that all of its files are safe for 3D printing. Although most users do ensure their models are printable, be sure to check on the “Makes” section or even in the comments to see if others have successfully printed it. Perhaps that’s the price we pay for not actually paying for the models.
- Website: Thingiverse
- Model selection: ~1,200
- Product type: Digital files
- Price range: Free
Toy Forge
If you’re looking for action figures specifically designed for 3D printing, Toy Forge is the place to look. The site was launched in 2015 by Aaron Thomas, an experienced professional from the TV and film animation industry. An action figure collector himself, he designed and printed his first original model, the Ronin, back in 2013. Now, via the Toy Forge website, you can buy his beautifully detailed, easy-to-print 3D models.
While their model selection may be small, the website has some very intricate and well-designed action figures. For example, the Apollo figure is quite impressive, though it comes with a much higher price tag than their Endo the Skeleton figure files. You’ll find they also have a couple of different Armor kits available to further customize your figure.
- Website: Toy Forge
- Model selection: Four models
- Product type: Digital files and a printed figure
- Price range: Digital files are $12-25 and the physical figure is ~$80
Hero Forge
Hero Forge is a web-based platform that allows the interactive creation of detailed miniatures and figurines. It’s just like creating an RPG character: You start by choosing your character’s species, then physical attributes, gear, and so on. With their easy-to-use customizer, it’s really fun to make your own personal hero. Once finished, you can choose its size and material, and Hero Forge can get it 3D printed and shipped to you (or download the 3D files to print it yourself).
Being non-articulated models, these miniatures aren’t technically action figures. But it just wasn’t an option to leave this site out of our list, considering its endless customizing possibilities. For those looking to save a buck, the DesktopHero platform can be a good alternative to Hero Forge. It works very similarly, but you can download the STL for your customized figure free of charge, depending on which asset you choose to use on your characters.
- Website: Hero Forge
- Model selection: Endless personalized models
- Product type: Digital files and 3D printed products
- Price range: STL files start at $8 and printed minis range from $20 (regular plastic) to $100 (bronze)
License: The text of "3D Printed Action Figures: The Best Sites of 2023" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.