Over the past decade, due to the standardization of computer components, custom-built personal desktop computers (PCs) have grown a lot in popularity. Making your own desktop computer may have been a huge undertaking in sourcing parts 20 years ago, but today it’s closer to a plug-and-play assembly.
The best part of building your own PC is that you can customize its components and features to meet your needs as well as fit into your budget. Holding it all together is the case, which encloses all of the electronic components and keeps them in place. While the case isn’t as expensive as a GPU, especially in today’s market, it can cost anywhere from $30 to $300 (or more).
One way to reduce the cost of the PC build, as well as to further customize your computer, is to 3D print your own PC case. A 3D printed case won’t come with case fans or screws like most purchasable options, but you can edit the design to support any hardware you want.
In this article, we’ll go over the best 3D printed PC case designs to show off how 3D printing can be used to make unique and custom PC cases. Most of the PC cases are replicable, and, for these options, we’ll go over the parts used for the case.
Before we get started, it’s worth mentioning that we suggest printing any case part in a high-strength material like polycarbonate to ensure that the frame won’t break once the components are attached. If a 3D printer is out of reach, with Craftcloud by All3DP, you can have the 3D printed parts of your customized PC case delivered right to your doorstep!
Watercooled ITX
First up, this case is meant for Mini-ITX-sized motherboards and supports water cooling for your CPU and GPU. Following suit with the ITX style, the entire case is pretty compact, with all the electronics in the center and the water cooling radiators on the outside of the case. The power supply unit (PSU) goes on the side, and due to the small form factor of the case, you shouldn’t need long wires at all.
According to the designer, the bracket for the motherboard’s input-output (IO) ports can be made by cutting the bracket off of another case (the maker used a Dremel tool). If you don’t have an extra case on hand, you might want to look into designing your own (based on your motherboard’s IO) and 3D printing it. You’ll also need a Cherry-style keyboard keycap to use for the case’s power and reset buttons – the designer printed his own, and the STLs are included with all the files on Thingiverse.
In total, the case uses 15 3D printed parts, which can be assembled around your PC parts with some screws and standoffs. Assembly might be a little challenging as the designer doesn’t have a tutorial video, but there are many details about constructing the case on the project page.
- Who designed it? colebob222
- How printable/popular is it? While there are no shared makes yet, the files have been downloaded over 250 times on Thingiverse.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse, Reddit
The Cube
The Cube is a 3D printed PC case on the smaller side, with a volume of just 8 liters. According to the designer, this PC case is meant for a Mini-ITX-sized motherboards, supports dual hard drives, and has 180 mm of GPU length. With this much space, you won’t be able to fit most 2- or 3-fan graphics cards (e.g. EVGA 3060); instead, you should look for a single-fan GPU.
As seen in the image above, the cube isn’t solid, and the exterior panels have sleek cut-outs that provide ample cooling for the computer. The 3D printed parts that make up the case feature mounting holes to make attaching the motherboard and other components a breeze. While the designer didn’t provide printing instructions for the six STLs involved in the case, there’s a helpful YouTube guide for assembling the project.
- Who designed it? makerunit
- How printable/popular is it? This case has 2 shared makes, 2 remixes, and over 1,200 downloads across both sites.
- Where to find it? Printables, Thingiverse
Nutcase
The Nutcase, specifically the Nutcase3, is a 3D printable PC case with cool interlocking panels. According to the designer, the Nutcase supports Mini-ITX motherboards but, with 12.16 liters of space, you’ll be able to use a full-size graphics card.
To help with the build and configuration process, the designer outlined what types of motherboards, PSUs, processors, and other PC parts you can use with the Nutcase. They even listed all other hardware components required for assembly, such as M3 nuts, a 16-mm power switch, a 3/16-inch metal rod, and more.
On the project page, the designer posted a few different options for the interlocking panels, including “blob” (seen above), “lightning”, and “straight” (plain). On top of these panels, you’ll also need to 3D print 13 other parts but don’t worry because the designer provided a detailed instruction manual. Unfortunately, there are no recommendations for print settings, so you’ll have to use your own slicer profile.
- Who designed it? Crypt
- How printable/popular is it? So far, there’s 1 shared make, around 280 downloads, and 75 likes.
- Where to find it? Printables
Rectangular Mini-ITX
Looking for a sleek and small PC case? This rectangular Mini-ITX case is a terrific option, offering a good mix of visual appeal and versatility.
As you can see in the image above, the exterior panels of the case have spectacular geometric patterns, which actually help with cooling. Unfortunately, this PC case doesn’t fit a graphics card, so it’s not a practical option for gamers; but, if you use a good CPU (e.g. Ryzen 7 5700G), the PC should be more than powerful enough to handle all your remote work. For some hardware recommendations, you can check out the designer’s part list on the project page.
It’s also worth noting that making this rectangular Mini-ITX PC case should be fairly easy because of the helpful instruction video from the creator. Besides the three 3D printed parts, the only other non-PC hardware you need are a few screws and inserts. Plus, all of the 3D printable parts measure under 220 x 220 mm, so you can print them in one piece on most 3D printers (e.g. Creality Ender 3).
- Who designed it? makerunit
- How printable/popular is it? With 3 posted makes, over 1,100 downloads, and more than 14,000 views, this model has plenty of fans.
- Where to find it? Printables
Gaming
There isn’t really one feature that makes a PC case ideal for gaming, but putting the word “gaming” in the project title is a good sign that you can use it to play video games. The designer states that the case’s total dimensions are 390 x 312 x 167 mm, which is pretty small. Unfortunately, with the case’s odd structure and small footprint, the designer wasn’t able to fit a regular-sized CPU cooler or any additional case fans.
This PC case is in the shape of an ‘L’, which is quite ironic considering you’re probably hoping for a ‘W’ result from the games you’re playing. Even more unusual is this case’s part placement, which involves keeping the PSU at the top, the ITX motherboard in the middle, and the graphics card on the bottom. While this placement of the electronics isn’t standard (most cases keep the PSU on the bottom), it shouldn’t negatively affect the computer’s performance.
This case may be somewhat atypical, but one of the best parts of this option is that assembly should be straightforward. The case only uses around 10 3D printed parts plus a few screws, and you can use the designer’s walk-through video to assemble the pieces.
Hightower Mini-ITX
If you’re looking for a mix of visual aesthetics and functionality in a small form factor, then this case might be for you. The Hightower PC case fits a Mini-ITX motherboard and was designed to be similar to the NZXT H1 PC case but without the $400 price tag. The case is pretty tall – hence its name – but it can still be considered a small form factor case given the tower’s small area.
In this case, the PSU is in the top section, with the motherboard beneath it. As stated by the designer, you can use basically any size of graphics card because the GPU is placed vertically on the tower. Moreover, you can add extra case fans to the Hightower as it uses mesh-like 3D printed side panels that should allow for airflow.
The Hightower is made up of 15 3D printed parts along with some screws, magnets, and rubber feet used to connect the pieces and make the case stand. The designer provided assembly instructions on the project page, so building the case shouldn’t be too difficult. Also, it’s worth noting that adding RGB lights to the case and using different colors for the 3D printed components can make it look amazing, as seen above.
- Who designed it? L
- How printable/popular is it? While no makes have been shared yet, there are over 440 downloads and 7,500 views.
- Where to find it? Printables
Open PC Frame
Do you like to test new PC parts, like a brand-new CPU or GPU? Well, then this open PC frame is perfect for you! This 3D printable PC case, officially known as the OPF-II, is a revised version of the earlier OPF-I, designed to use less filament and take up less space. The case not only makes part changes super quick and easy, but it also requires minimal extra hardware and looks appealing when built right.
Composed of 15 different 3D printable models, this open PC frame might look difficult to assemble, but it actually uses a combination of snap-to-fit joints and bolt connections, so it’s a breeze. As for printing the parts, the designer listed that they used a 0.2-mm layer height and a 20% infill. Additionally, the creator recommends using PETG filament instead of PLA, as computer components can easily soften PLA parts.
- Who designed it? Empiricus
- How printable/popular is it? 3 makes have been shared on Thingiverse, along with over 2,000 downloads.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
CR10-One
The CR10-One is a multi-part 3D printable PC case meant to be buildable for users with a CR-10 printer. It’s worth mentioning that the designer has updated the case design to fit on an Ender 3 (220 x 220 x 250 mm) as well. The CR10-One is a small form factor case that follows a rectangular structure and works with a Mini-ITX motherboard.
The CR10-One has a few necessary elements of a PC case, such as an easily accessible IO space and room for a PSU and a small CPU cooler. However, despite its small size, the case also supports some additional hardware, like a dual-fan graphics card, capacitive touch power switch, GPU riser, and extra hard drives.
The entire case is comprised of 10 3D printable parts. The designer has shared the print settings they used, so the components should be easy to replicate. Unfortunately, there aren’t any assembly instructions, so you might want to only make this PC case if you’re experienced with PCs and DIY projects.
- Who designed it? CrashySmashy
- How printable/popular is it? You’ll find four makes and four remixes on Thingiverse.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
mATX & ITX
While most 3D printed PC cases are designed to fit a particular motherboard, some can support a few different sizes. This computer case supports Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX motherboards and is in the shape of a rectangular box, with a transparent side panel to look at your amazing computer. The case is a similar size to a mid-tower case and supports many features, such as up to four hard drives, six case fans, an all-in-one cooler, and a 320-mm GPU (and smaller).
The case is made of 21 different 3D printable components, and, according to the designer, printing them will require a build space on your printer of at least 300 x 300 x 300 mm. If you don’t have a printer with this bed space, you could consider further splitting up the parts and gluing them together later.
Assembling the PC shouldn’t be too hard, even if the project uses a decent amount of parts, given that they have built-in joints or screw holes for easy attachment to other parts or electronic components. The designer also has a helpful assembly video to help guide you through the process.
- Who designed it? themakerunit
- How printable/popular is it? Across both sites there are 2 makes and over 2,200 downloads.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse, Printables
Cute
Next, if you don’t have a graphics card and are looking for a fun 3D printable PC project, then this one is for you! This cute 3D printed PC case is very small and meant to work with the ASRock X300W Barebone (motherboard and fans), which is even smaller than a standard Mini-ITX system.
Despite its small form factor, this PC case is still versatile. You can use any CPU with an AM4 socket as well as any combination of laptop RAM sticks (SODIMM). For example, the designer used a Ryzen 7 5700G and two 16-GB DDR4 memory sticks, which, together, are more powerful than most laptops these days.
As for making this PC, the process is slightly more challenging compared to some of the other options on this list. You will have to use heated inserts and many screws. However, what’s great is that only eight 3D printed parts are used, and the designer provided a detailed assembly video. Printing the models should be super easy, as only two of them require supports, according to the maker.
- Who designed it? stand_up_g4m3r
- How printable/popular is it? There are around 200 downloads so far on Thingiverse, and you could be the first to share your make!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Warzone Loot Box
If you’re a fan of Call of Duty: Warzone, this loot box PC case is the perfect addition to your computer setup. The 3D printable case was inspired by a loot box from the game. It features a handle and a few latches, adding to the visual appeal.
This PC case is also very spacious, measuring 470 x 210 x 210 mm. There’s a lot of space on the inside to fit a wide variety of hardware. According to the designer, you have up to 290 mm in length for the GPU, so you can use almost any 2- or 3-fan graphics card.
As for making the case, you’ll need to 3D print over 25 components, including butterfly latches, rugged side panels, pins, a chassis for the motherboard, GPU, and hard drives. The designer mentioned that they printed all of the models for this case on a Creality CR-10 V2 and Ender 3, so none of the parts are super large. As for assembling the case, the process shouldn’t be too difficult because the 3D printed chassis parts have screw holes, and the designer posted a helpful YouTube video to guide the process.
- Who designed it? makerunit
- Hwo printable/popular is it? This case has over 630 downloads and 2 remixes across both sites.
- Where to find it? Printables, Thingiverse
Medieval Castle
This PC case isn’t like the other cases on the market as it’s heavily inspired by a medieval theme, keeping the PC, including the motherboard, PSU, and everything else, inside a detailed castle structure. Unlike most of the other options on this list which are mainly small PC cases, this Medieval Castle fits a full-size ATX motherboard. While the case design may seem very focused on its visual aesthetic, it also has some great features, like many small fans, LEDs, and an easily accessible IO.
As seen in the image above, the case is made up of many pieces; specifically, 27 different 3D printed parts are used, with some needing to be printed multiple times. To make the case more robust, a few 2020 aluminum extrusions are also used. Assembly for this case will likely be a long and complex process as there are many parts, and there aren’t any instructions, so you’ll have to use the images on the project page for reference.
That said, the effort will surely pay off, and you’ll have a noteworthy PC case to show off.
- Who designed it? MartinSlade
- How printable/popular is it? So far, there are 175 downloads and 32 likes on Cults.
- Where to find it? Cults
Star Trek Borg Cube
This next PC case was designed to look like a Borg Cube space vessel from Star Trek. While this build is a bit more difficult, the end results look spectacular. Designed in SketchUp, this PC case measures about 250 mm on each side, so it’s definitely smaller than standard cases. However, it should still fit smaller-end dual-fan graphics cards (e.g. Zotac GTX 1070 Mini) and a standard Mini-ITX motherboard. You might just need to buy a small form factor power supply and use a lot of zip-ties to manage all of the wires.
While the above image might make this PC case look like a daunting build, only nine 3D printed parts are used, and the designer provided an in-depth PDF file for how to assemble the pieces. However, some of the designs are longer than 220 mm, so you might not be able to print them in one go if you have an Ender 3 or a similar-sized printer. On this note, the designer listed that they printed the models with a 0.33-mm layer height, 10% infill density, and no rafts or supports.
- Who designed it? BlackBanshee
- How printable//popular is it? With 3 makes, 5 remixes, and over 21,000 downloads, this cube is pretty popular.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
ATX Open Frame
Up next, this open frame PC case is a simple way to keep your ATX motherboard secure. The designer needed a frame for their living room PC, and as many models are for ITX motherboards, they decided to create their own 3D printable version for the ATX form factor.
As for printing, it’s suggested to use 2 walls and 15% infill. While PETG filament is recommended to better resist high temperatures, PLA worked just fine for the designer. The model will fit onto standard 220 x 220 mm build plates.
- Who designed it? Heblyz
- How printable/popular is it? There are 40 prints, around 220 downloads, and close to 110 likes on MakerWorld.
- Where to find it? MakerWorld
Blackbird
While this next project isn’t easily replicable, the Blackbird is one of the sleekest 3D printed PC cases out there. The case fits a Mini-ITX motherboard and has a thin frame. It’s packed with the great features you’d see in a high-end PC case, such as transparent side panels, support for a large water cooling radiator, and space for a few case fans.
Based on the maker’s build log for the project, the Blackbird case uses over 20 3D printed parts and a few other pieces of non-electronic hardware, like threaded inserts. As we mentioned, it will be challenging to make your own Blackbird case because although there’s a build log for the case, the Printables project page only includes a one-piece 3D model of the design.
- Who designed it? rosinbole
- How printable/popular is it? While no makes have been shared yet, one maker posted a remix with a handle, mount, and power button.
- Where to find it? Printables
Bonus: Accessories
While all of these cases are pretty great on their own, there are always ways to take them to the next level with accessories. Whether you want to add more stability with feet or add a hook for your headphones, you have plenty of options. Here are some of the best 3D printable accessories:
- Feet: Adding feet to the bottom of your PC case can help increase stability, prevent vibrations, and improve air flow. Some nice examples include these retro and hand feet.
- Hooks: If you’d like to hang your headphones or other small accessory on your PC case, 3D print a hook attachment, like this model from Droepselon.
- Holders: A great way to save space on your desk is to 3D print a holder for your case, such as this model from przemo_m.
License: The text of "3D Printed PC Case: The Best Models in 2024" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.