As many makers know, 3D printing is well-suited for personalizing gifts. After all, with the right models and materials, you can create almost anything, including Pokémon keychains, Raspberry Pi gaming consoles, and cute Baby Yoda prints, all from the comfort of your home. Whether you need a birthday gift for your best friend or Christmas stocking stuffers for the family, there’s the perfect 3D printed gift for the occasion.
In this article, we’ll take a look at several different gift categories, highlighting our many fun lists of models to 3D print and identifying some cool examples. And if you’re still short on ideas, you can always browse the full selection of articles in our Printables section.
First Stops
Before jumping into specific categories, it’s worth mentioning some of our most popular printable articles, which feature all kinds of cool prints. Note that most of our articles concentrate on FDM prints, but there are still plenty of options that will work great on a resin printer. And we’ve got a great list dedicated to all things resin, too!
If you’re new to 3D printing, we can also help you get your bearings! We’ve got articles on getting started with 3D printing, the best printers for beginners, how to calibrate your machine for perfect prints, and troubleshooting common issues. After that, you could try a few practice prints with our list of printing projects for beginners.
And if you see something you like but don’t have access to a printer, consider using a 3D printing service. With Craftcloud, you can instantly find the best price and provider for your needs, and there are no extra fees attached!
Film & TV
Movie fandoms have existed since movies first came into existence, and what better way to celebrate iconic characters than to print some accurate memorabilia? Models in this category would suit devoted fans of movie, book, or TV franchises that transcend a singular medium, such as Star Wars, the MCU, Pokémon, and Harry Potter.
We have plenty of articles focusing on specific fandoms, or you can look at some good sites for anime and other animated characters. Here are some of the most popular models:
- Mandalorian Helmet 3D Print: The Best STL Files of 2023
- Pokémon 3D Print/STL Files: The Best 3D Models to Catch 'Em All
- Harry Potter 3D Prints: 20+ Magical STL Files to 3D Print
- Spider-Man 3D Print: 10 Most Epic Models
- The 15 Best Naruto STL Files to 3D Print
Ideas for Film & TV 3D Printed Gifts
Kylo Ren’s Lightsaber
- Who designed it? ccetinkaya
- How printable/popular is it? Over 9,600 downloads and some impressive prints mean this model has definitely seen lots of action.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Low-Poly Pikachu
- Who designed it? flowalistik
- How printable/popular is it? Of the collection, Pikachu has close to 1,000 makes. Impressive!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Games
Tabletop Games
Tabletop games have a highly dedicated fan base, so gifting accessories for someone’s favorite game will likely send the right message: I want to spend time with you!
Numerous games that lend themselves well to 3D printed artifacts, such as Settlers of Catan, Warhammer, and Dungeons & Dragons. Custom tokens and pieces are only the beginning!
If you’re looking for more board game models, you’ll enjoy the following, or check out the best sites for board game STLs:
- The 40 Best 3D Printed Board Games in 2024
- The 50 Best 3D Printed Chess Sets & Boards in 2024
- Free DnD 3D Print Files: 40 Best D&D STL Files
- Settlers of Catan 3D Print/STL Files: 35 Best 3D Models
- Dice Tower 3D Print: 40 Best Dice Tower STL Files
Ideas for Tabletop Gaming 3D Printed Gifts
3D Settlers of Catan
- Who designed it? Dakanzla
- How printable/popular is it? More than 100 remixes and 10 makes on Thingiverse? This one is almost certainly a smooth project.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
D&D Orc Horde
- Who designed it? Valandar
- How printable/popular is it? With 33 makes, impeccably post-processed and painted, this model is very likely a keeper.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Video Games
3D printers are perfect for recreating video game characters and props due to their ability to reproduce organic geometry cheaply and accurately. Like movies and TV shows, video games have vast fan bases, so there’s no shortage of high-quality models no matter what game your friend or family member is into. You can even 3D print a friend’s (or your own) WoW character!
In addition to printing models from games, you can print upgrades and mods for your Nintendo Switch, Xbox, or PlayStation.
Here are just some popular games you can find high-quality models for:
- 3D Printed FNaF: Best STL Files for a Night at Freddy's
- Halo 3D Print: 10 Great Models
- Mario 3D Print: 15+ Great 3D Models for Nintendo Fans
- Elden Ring STL Files: The Best Models to 3D Print
- League of Legends 3D Print: Best 3D Models for LoL Gamers
Ideas for Video Gaming 3D Printed Gifts
8-Bit Mario
- Who designed it? jakejake
- How printable/popular is it? With 45 shared makes on Thingiverse, this is probably a safe model to tinker with.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Master Chief from Halo
- Who designed it? powellthepog
- How printable/popular is it? This model has an impressive number of downloads, so it’s definitely seen some action.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Decoration
Home decor is perhaps one of the simplest use cases for a 3D printer. From vases to planters, there are all kinds of simple objects even entry-level machines will have no trouble producing. So, why not add a little creative color to your loved one’s home?
This is also a category where you can experiment with novel materials since the geometry of these models tends to be lighter on fine details and challenging features. For example, ASA is a great material to try for outdoor objects due to its UV resistance.
Check out these home decor lists if you want to spice things up in your humble abode:
- The 30 Best 3D Printed Vases of 2023 (Incl. 3D Print Files)
- 3D Printed Clock: 30 Great Projects to Tell Time
- 3D Printed Lamps & Shades: 30 Dazzling Designs
- 3D Printed Planter: 25 Great Models for Green Thumbs
- 3D Printed Home Decor: 40 Beautiful Ideas in 2024
Ideas for Decorative 3D Printed Gifts
Low-Poly Bulbasaur Planter
- Who designed it? Hitsman
- How printable/popular is it? This humble planter has amassed more than 400 makes, probably due to the popularity of the model it’s remixed from (flowalistik’s Low-poly Bulbasaur).
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Toadstool Lamp
- Who designed it? dellinwo
- How printable/popular is it? This has nearly 2,000 downloads, but it’s still not the easiest project given the electronic aspect.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Toys
Looking to entertain some young ones? Any puzzle lovers in the family?
3D printed toys are perhaps some of the most popular 3D models shared online. All kinds of trinkets have been 3D printed, from simple action figures to complex desktop toys. It’s no wonder, since the accuracy and reliability of consumer 3D printers are continually improving.
Note that many of these models are composed of more than one part, and some assembly is usually required. This might also put your printer’s tolerances to the test, so make sure you tune it before attempting some of the harder models.
You could start with our list of 3D printed toys, and check out a few of the best sites for action figures. Then take a look at some of our many toy lists to find some awesome trinkets:
- 3D Printed Trains & Railways: The 25 Best STL Files
- Lego 3D Print/STL Files: 40 Best Lego Pieces & Minifigures
- 3D Printed Puzzles: 35 Mind-Boggling STL Files
- 3D Printed Beyblade: The 30 Best STL Files
- The 45 Best 3D Printed Fidget Toys for 2024
Ideas for 3D Printed Toys
Wind-Up Car Card
- Who designed it? bribro12
- How printable/popular is it? This clever model has almost 1,000 downloads and heaps of prints shared on MyMiniFactory. It’s a good, portable option for a gift that needs to be mailed!
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Customizable Lego
- Who designed it? Lyl3
- How printable/popular is it? With over 6,000 remixes, this model is clearly popular to customize.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Outdoors
From trekking and camping to singing “The hills are aliiiive with the sound of music” when you reach a mountain high in the Swiss Alps, there’s plenty to do outside. For the latter, having a GoPro mount is especially useful.
And if you’re wondering what can be gifted to someone who’s already got a tent or an appropriate pair of boots, ideas abound, even for those passionate about gardening. Here are our top picks:
- The Best 3D Printed Bike Parts & Accessories of 2023
- The Best 3D Printed Camping & Backpacking Gear of 2023
- The Best 3D Printed Travel Accessories of 2023
- 3D Printed Fishing Lures: 15 Great Lures to 3D Print
- 3D Printed Sundial: 20 Models to Check the Time in Style
Ideas for 3D Printed Outdoors Gifts
Tent Stake
- Who designed it? mistertech
- How printable/popular is it? This model has 10 makes and 4 remixes so far.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Origami Carabiner
- Who designed it? Charlie1982
- How printable/popular is it? With over 630 makes, it’s evident that this carabiner is a popular choice for outdoorsy people!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Music
Music is something that brings everyone together and translates perfectly into 3D printing in many ways. Whether they enjoy listening to music or making music themselves, there are plenty of great gift ideas for all types of music lovers!
From musical accessories such as speakers and creative guitar pick storage to completely 3D printed instruments, there are a ton of great ways you can surprise the music enthusiast in your life! If you’re looking for a good model to print, we have some excellent selections for you here:
- The Best 3D Printed Instruments (Incl. 3D Print Files)
- 3D Printed Ocarina: Best 3D Models/STL Files
- 3D Printed Speaker: 15 Projects that Rock the Most
- 3D Printed Guitar: Top Models to 3D Print
- 3D Printed Guitar Pick: 10 Amazing 3D Models
Ideas for 3D Printed Music Gifts
The Prusacaster
- Who designed it? MikolasZuza
- How printable/popular is it? This model has almost 110,000 views and more than 15,000 downloads. Well over 5,000 users have liked this model and over 190 have shared their own makes.
- Where to find it? Printables
12 Hole Ocarina
- Who designed it? RobSoundtrack
- How printable/popular is it? This is one of the most popular Ocarina models around, with over 477,000 downloads! There are already 521 makes shared and 30 remixes that further personalize this timeless design.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
RC Models
There are many RC fans out there, and 3D printing is squarely in their sights. After all, consumer 3D printers are now capable of creating objects using durable materials that are suitable for high-performance applications. In addition, the flexibility of post-processing options and ease of manufacturing also makes 3D printing a popular method of feeding RC hobbyists’ passion.
Spread the joy of RC to those around you with the models in these articles, and check out the best sites to find parts:
- 3D Printed RC Plane: The Best Models in 2024
- 3D Printed RC Tank: 10 Amazing Prints & Projects
- 3D Printed RC Car: 12 Cars to Feel Like an F1 Racer
- 3D Printed RC Boat: The Best Projects for Rocking Boats
- 3D Printed Drone & Quadcopter Parts: How to Get Started
Ideas for 3D Printed RC Gifts
RC Benchy
- Who designed it? Thullen
- How printable/popular is it? With 32 makes and 11 remixes, this is quite a popular model, even though it’s relatively complex.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
SuperNova RC Plane
- Who designed it? Itek
- How printable/popular is it? This has seven makes and two remixes, so it’s probably seen some air time.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Stands & Cases
The ability to make custom objects of all shapes and sizes with 3D printers is showcased exceptionally in the making of phone cases. Everyone needs them, and they need to be durable and tailor-made for different devices. Fun materials like TPU can be used to create the classic flexible cases you’re used to, especially since they usually don’t have many fine details.
Has your friend had the same phone case for years? So what? Swap out that boring case or stand for something fun and personal! There are some great sites to check out, or take a look at our dedicated articles:
- iPad Stand 3D Print: The Best 3D Printed Tablet Stands
- Headphone Stand 3D Print: The Best STL Files of 2023
- 3D Printed Phone Stand: The Top 15 Models of 2023
- 3D Printed iPhone Case: 10 Best 3D Print/STL Files
- Laptop Stand Print/STL Files: The Best 3D Models of 2023
Ideas for 3D Printed Stands & Cases
Tentacle Tablet Stand
- Who designed it? notcolinforreal
- How printable/popular is it? This slippery suspect is approaching 100 makes, while the equivalent phone stand has surpassed 800!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Customizable Phone Case
- Who designed it? TheNewHobbyist
- How printable/popular is it? With around 1,000 remixes, people are loving the customizability of this case.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Jewelry
3D printing jewelry might seem like a bit of a stretch, especially with FDM printing, but it’s certainly possible depending on the type of jewelry you choose. And if you have a resin printer at the ready, you can do almost anything with fine detail work at your fingertips and castable resin at your disposal.
If you’re new to jewelry making, we have an article about how to print jewelry and a rundown on lost-PLA casting.
Check out these other articles for some ideas:
- 3D Printed Necklace: 15 Great Models to 3D Print
- 3D Printed Bracelet: 10 Great Models to 3D Print
- 3D Printed Ring: The 20 Most Stylish Models of 2023
- 3D Printed Earrings: The Best Models to 3D Print
- 3D Printed Jewelry Boxes & Holders: 10 Models to 3D Print
Ideas for 3D Printed Jewelry Gifts
Chainmail Bracelet
- Who designed it? gpvillamil
- How printable/popular is it? Nearly 50 people have shared makes in every color of the rainbow!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Simple Geometric Earrings
- Who designed it? g.attila
- How printable/popular is it? This model has over 4,900 downloads. It’s a simple but timeless set of earrings.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Book Lovers
Books and 3D printing go hand-in-hand. Seeing your favorite characters, impactful items, or memorable moments on display near your favorite books is something every book lover can appreciate!
While fantasy and sci-fi books definitely benefit the most from 3D printing, there are still many gift ideas that readers of all genres will love! Aside from bringing their favorite book series to life, 3D printing can also enhance any book on a shelf with a custom bookend or book nook, with many different styles available. Even something as simple as a personalized bookmark can make a great stocking stuffer!
If you need some gift ideas for a book lover, you will find many great models here:
- Harry Potter 3D Prints: 20+ Magical STL Files to 3D Print
- GoT 3D Prints: The Best Game of Thrones STL Files
- Lord of the Rings 3D Print: 10 Models to Rule Them All
- 3D Printed Book Nook: 8 Beautiful Models for Book Lovers
- 20 3D Printed Bookmarks & Bookends for Keen Readers
Ideas for 3D Printed Book Lovers Gifts
The Hobbit Book Nook
- Who designed it? o4saken
- How printable/popular is it? This book nook has been downloaded 5,000 times. Makers have shared their prints, with 17 community makes displayed already.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Harry Potter Elder Wand
Tech Savvy
Know someone heavy into the tinkering culture? Why not get them something flashy to customize their PC or go along with their credit-card-sized computer?
Raspberry Pi and Arduino go hand in hand with great projects, both for beginners and advanced creators. Typically, single-board computers need some building before they can be truly useful (or, at least, aesthetic). If you want to give a next-level gift, you could do the hard work for someone and build them a 3D printed Arduino project.
In addition to everything that you can do with a computer, a Pi, or an Arduino, you can consider how to add a personal touch with the following ideas:
- 3D Print a Computer Mouse: 10 Cool Projects
- The Best Raspberry Pi Zero Cases to 3D Print
- The 30 Best Raspberry Pi 4 Cases to 3D Print or Buy
- 3D Printed Keycaps: 20 STL Files & Models to 3D Print
- 3D Printed PC Case: The Best Models of 2023
Ideas for Tech-Savvy 3D Printed Gifts
RetroPie Game Console
- Who designed it? adafruit
- How printable/popular is it? This fairly complex design has 77 makes and a bunch of cool remixes.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Arduino Flip Cover
- Who designed it? 3dtinkerer
- How printable/popular is it? It has over 6,500 views on Cults, but it’s the print-in-place hinge that does it for us!
- Where to find it? Cults
3D Printer Owners
Perhaps you’re looking to gift someone a practical creation to up their 3D printing game. Or perhaps it’s your birthday, and you want to celebrate yourself by printing something for your own printing setup. Needless to say, there’s a vast ocean of options out there for gifts for makers.
Maybe you want to get a new printer, but if that’s not the case, there’s plenty to accessorize with or upgrade your machine. And here’s more to consider, whether you’ve got a room specifically for your printer or for other creative endeavors:
- 3D Printed Tool Organizers: 25 Models for Tidying Up
- Pegboard 3D Print: 30 Useful Accessories & Hooks in 2024
- Gridfinity: Must-Have Modular Storage Units to 3D Print
- The Best 3D Printer Filament Spool Holders of 2023
- DIY Filament Dry Box: How to Build One on a Budget
Ideas for 3D Printer Owners
Gravity Spoolholder
- Who designed it? MichalFanta
- How printable/popular is it? If you don’t think the over 12,000 downloads are impressive, perhaps the 170 makes will convince you of the mod’s popularity.
- Where to find it? Printables
Pegboard Hook
- Who designed it? CycleNinja
- How printable/popular is it? More than a handful of makers are keeping their working areas organized, seeing as how the model has 17 makes and 5 shared remixes.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Seasonal
Next up, we’re celebrating gift-giving moments throughout the year. We’ve got ideas for 3D printed gifts for all occasions, from Lunar New Year right through to Christmas.
If you want to add the final touches to your holiday preparation, check out our lists of Christmas ornaments, trees, and cookie cutters! If you just want to print things to celebrate the seasons, we’ve got you covered with autumnal decor, as well as prints to get ready for spooky season, Thanksgiving, and Hanukkah.
Here are our top picks for the biggest gift-giving times of the year:
- Easter 3D Print: 25 Great Prints (Including Easter Eggs)
- 3D Printed Valentine's Day Gifts: 40 Cute Ideas to 3D Print
- Mother's Day 3D Print: 25 Great 3D Printed Gifts for Mom
- Father's Day 3D Print: Top 20 3D Printed Gifts for Dad
- 20 Great Last-Minute 3D Printed Christmas Gifts
Ideas for Seasonal 3D Printed Gifts
Death Star Ornament
- Who designed it? 3ddruckqueck
- How printable/popular is it? This model has been downloaded by over 1,100 makers, so there must be some planet-killing tree decorations out there!
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Candy Hearts
- Who designed it? timcel
- How printable/popular is it? There’s one remix with a couple of extra words, and judging by the quality of the designer’s prints, you shouldn’t have any issues.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Miscellaneous
Last but not least, we have a few more ideas that didn’t quite fit in the above categories. But that doesn’t make them any less useful, fun, or interesting! Whether you want to 3D print your own trophy or just a random assortment of cute prints, there’s a world of inspiration to be found here:
- The Best 3D Printed Tools for 2024
- The 40 Best Print-in-Place 3D Models to 3D Print
- 3D Printed Cookie Cutters: Fun Models to 3D Print
- 3D Printed Puzzle Box: 25 Best 3D Models
- 40 Useful 3D Printed Gadgets to Make Life Easier
More Ideas for 3D Printed Gifts
Universal Bottle Opener
- Who designed it? In3Designs
- How printable/popular is it? The UBO design has 105 makes and 9 remixes, though we can’t really see why you’d remix perfection!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Coffee Sleeve
- Who designed it? michaelaregan
- How printable/popular is it? This caffeine-friendly print boasts over 670 downloads. Print it with a thermochromic pigment for the ultimate gift: avoiding cold coffee!
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
License: The text of "The Best 3D Printed Gift Ideas of 2023" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.