3D Printed Planter: 20 Great Models for Green Thumbs
Planters are more than pots for your plants: They're decor! Read on for awesome 3D printed planter designs to keep your plants thriving.
As a plastic-based manufacturing technology, 3D printing isn’t generally considered to mix well with the Earth, literally or figuratively. But the most popular 3D printing material is in fact recyclable and biodegradable (in ideal conditions), and there are multiple ways that 3D printing is making production processes more eco-friendly.
3D printed planters are a great example of using the innovative technology we know and love as a way to bring more nature into your home. There’s a wide variety of planters and pots that you can print, and below, we’ve listed our favorites.
If you see the perfect addition to your plant collection but don’t have the time (or a large enough build space) to print it yourself, try Craftcloud. With professional suppliers around the world ready to print your perfect pot and deliver it to your door, you’ll be rehoming your plants in no time.
So now, let’s dig into the list. Happy planting!
Fandoms
First up, we have some planters celebrating the best in movies and games. From a cute Minion to an incredibly realistic Groot, planters are a fun way to show your pop culture allegiance!
Super Mario Question Block
Super Mario Bros. is one of the most beloved video games series out there, and the games’ mystery blocks can bring fun surprises. The planter is pretty simple in its design, comprising a hollowed-out box with the signature pixelated question marks around its sides. The model was designed for dual-extrusion printing, as seen in the image above, but a single-extrusion version for the model is also available.
Standard print settings should be fine for this one: One maker mentioned that they used a 0.2-mm layer height along with a 15% infill density, with no supports nor raft needed for the print.
- Who designed it? flowalistik
- How printable/popular is it? This Mario-themed planter box has 34 recorded makes as well as a couple of remixes! So many people have successfully printed this model, and you can too!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Baby Groot
It turns out Baby Groot makes for an especially popular planter. We can see why! The designer has added a lot of detail to this Groot model, making this planter look just like the character, especially after post-processing.
The designer printed this planter with supports activated and a 0.29-mm layer height. Another maker posted their impressive print using a 0.12-mm layer height and 25% infill. Depending on how small you print it, there might not be much room for soil, but air plants will always be an option!
- Who designed it? JuliaTruchsess
- How printable/popular is it? Everybody loves Baby Groot, as seen by the 440 makes and 15 remixes.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Minion
This planter design is in the shape of a Minion character, as seen in the Despicable Me and Minions movies. Specifically, this is Clark from the short film “Cro Minion”, dressed in animal skin to match the film’s Stone Age setting. The top of the design is hollowed-out to allow you to put a plant in Clark’s head.
One community maker posted a stunningly painted print of this Minion planter and listed that they used a 0.2-mm layer height with a 15% infill density.
Decayed Guardian
If you are a fan of The Legend of Zelda, you simply must have this large planter. Inspired by the decayed ancient guardians seen around Hyrule in Breath of the Wild, it’s truly a unique plant display.
This one is big! Using more than 250 grams of filament and clocking in with a print time of nearly 20 hours, it’s printed in three separate pieces to form the complete inner pot and outer planter. Once assembled and painted, it will be a planter legends are made of.
The creator has provided an extensive set of instructions to aid in the printing of this one. Screenshots, optimal scaling percentages, and assembly guides are all available to help make your print come together well.
- Who designed it? CraftySven
- How printable/popular is it? Painting this large planter makes it really pop as the 23 makes show.
- Where to find it? Printables
Animals
Keeping your plants in animal-themed pots will hopefully give them the appearance of being alive, even if you forget to water them for a while.
Plantosaurus
There are few planters as well and cleverly designed as this one. Reminiscent of the brachiosaurus and other sauropods, this cute dino feeds off its own back.
The designer included three different versions depending on the drainage option you prefer, and print time should take anywhere between three and a half and almost four and a half hours.
That said, some makers have mentioned adding fuzzy skin to the design, which adds another layer of clever design, although it does increase print time. We think the time investment is well worth it.
- Who designed it? Sevro
- How printable/popular is it? This cute design, which any Jurassic Park fan should add to their room, has been printed more than 3,900 times and has been downloaded over 7,200 times. Will you join the club?
- Where to find it? MakerWorld
Whale
This planter is in the shape of a cute little whale that has an oval-shaped hole for placing small plants. The entire model only measures 100 x 120 x 105 mm, but the creator notes that you can scale it up to suit your needs. Just note that there are no drainage holes, so you’ll want to be careful about what kinds of plants you use this for.
The designer of this planter listed that they printed the whale design with a 0.4-mm diameter nozzle, using a 0.3-mm layer height. Without scaling, the print should take around 4 hours to finish and consume about 120 grams of filament, but this could be reduced with a lower infill density.
- Who designed it? TangoFiveCreation
- How printable/popular is it? This whale planter model is making a splash with 1,140 downloads and 6 shared makes.
- Where to find it? Printables
Hanging Sloth
If you love sloths, you cannot miss this hanging planter. Cleverly designed with drain holes in the back, this little guy is designed to hang your small plants. Simply slip your rope through the hands and feet after you’ve filled the sloth’s belly with a cute plant.
Users report great success with printing this design in PLA, with some reporting the need for supports to get their best results. After you have a few of these hanging out in your garden you’ll wonder why you hadn’t printed them sooner.
- Who designed it? 3D Central
- How printable/popular is it? We all know someone who loves sloths as evidenced by the 6 makes, more than 6,900 downloads, and almost 1,400 likes!
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Turtle
This turtle planter is just that: a cute turtle meant to house small indoor plants. The maker also offers a version of this design with drainage features, which you can locate based on the file names.
If you do choose the draining option, just remember to put your turtle on a tray, or somewhere you don’t mind getting wet! And if you’re looking for more ideas, this designer has 20 or so other planter designs that are worth checking out.
- Who designed it? TangoFiveCreation
- How printable/popular is it? This turtle planter has 26 posted makes. Slow and steady wins the race!
- Where to find it? Printables
Leggy
This stretches the definition of “animal”, but Leggy is a fun planter with some human-looking legs sticking out. As the designer states, this planter could get up and walk away at any time, but it needs some light and water first!
The designer classifies the print as easy for its complexity, so you should have no trouble. A community maker posted a great print and stated that they used PLA.
- Who designed it? Cubico
- How printable/popular is it? The Leggy planter has 7 community makes in different colors, over 1,800 likes, and has been downloaded more than 9,000 times.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Objects
There’s something intriguing about a plant growing where it doesn’t belong. In this section, we’ve got planters that represent inanimate objects, from couches to skulls!
Shell
If your children are fans of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, you’ll have to 3D print this.
In spite of how complex the design is, it doesn’t require supports, and two perimeters (or shells!) are enough according to the designer.
If you love the design but aren’t sure what filament to go for, check out the makes. From dazzling silk PLAs to marble options, plus rainbow and other choices, you’re bound to find the perfect make that you’ll want to replicate.
- Who designed it? uni3Dworld
- How printable/popular is it? This cool design has been downloaded more than 3,200 times and over 1,500 makes have been reported by MakerWorld so far!
- Where to find it? MakerWorld
Cute Swinging
Ah, to be as happy as the plant in this planter! Yes, you’ll need to buy a bit of twine (unless you have some hanging around), but other than that, the planter, stand, and mount can be printed.
To make it easier, the planter prints separately from the stand, so you can opt for different materials (wood PLA for the stand, anyone?) without needing any wasteful changes.
Some makers have mentioned a slight challenge with the balance of the swing, and creative minds shared that supports do the trick nicely.
- Who designed it? JimmyKiddy
- How printable/popular is it? This adorable showstopper has been downloaded over 540 times and MakerWorld reports more than 340 makes; many plants must be having a very fun time, and yours could too!
- Where to find it? MakerWorld
Couch
If you’re ever wondering how comfortable your plants are, well, this model will let you relax – as much as they’ll be doing the same!
The detail in the model is great, and a matte filament might really make it more realistic. The parts print separately and the designer shares that they have to be glued on. The model includes both a circular and a rectangular drip tray, and should you need to print it (depending on the type of plants you’ll have), you can check out the makes to see which version you want to move ahead with before you import the parts to the slicer.
- Who designed it? petalpixel05
- How printable/popular is it? The comfy design has been downloaded close to 700 times, while over 360 models are reported by the platform. It’s so cute and funny, it’s easy to see why!
- Where to find it? MakerWorld
Monstera
I mean, how appropriate is this design? Sure, you might not choose this planter for an actual monstera (would it even fit?), but it’s still spot on in terms of nature. In case your guests aren’t entirely sure how much you like plants, 3D printing planters shaped as a leaf will drive the point across clearly.
Of course, you’ll just have to opt for some green filament – unless you want to add a unique twist, like Pearls_3D, who went for a stunning rainbow palette. And they’re not the only ones choosing a more colorful approach.
In terms of printing, this planter should be a breeze, as it doesn’t require supports and the designer included three sizes with and without drainage holes to make the processes as easy as possible. The real challenge might be to stop at only one.
- Who designed it? Abstractia Design
- How printable/popular is it? It shouldn’t be surprising that this very on-theme planter has over 5,000 downloads and more than 2,700 makes!
- Where to find it? MakerWorld
Bonsai
This planter is designed to resemble the unique shape of the base of a Bonsai tree, without the years of work to achieve it! This plant-shaped planter was designed in 3ds Max, and the designer provided both the basic hollow design as well as a vase mode-compatible option.
According to the designer, you may have to scale the model up in your slicer due to exporting issues from 3ds Max. As for print settings, one recorded Maker shared a Bonsai planter they printed using a 0.16-mm layer height and a 20% infill density with no raft or supports.
- Who designed it? gCreate
- How printable/popular is it? This Bonsai tree planter has 115 recorded makes and 9 remixes.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Skull
Whether you are practicing your Shakespeare or getting ready for a little Halloween fun, this is the pot for you. This anatomically correct skull has been turned into a pot that will hold many different kinds of small plants.
Users have indicated the print does very well in PLA, and most report needing supports to get the best results. The more daring have printed this skull without supports and been impressed with the results, although a few overhangs may have to be cleaned up as you might expect.
- Who designed it? MW3D
- How printable/popular is it? With 10 makes and more than 9,100 downloads, you won’t be the only one to feel this print in your bones.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Decorative
Finally, we have some planters that will add a stylish touch to your home while (hopefully) keeping your plants alive!
Self-Watering
Don’t have time to water your plant, or do you forget and then overcompensate when you remember? This planter waters the plant it contains and only uses two 3D printable parts to work. The only thing you need to do after printing is to post-process and assemble the planter, and there are instructions on the project page for how to do so. (Though you’ll still need to remember to refill the water!)
The creator of this design used a 0.3-mm layer height and a 10% infill to print the pieces. The designer also recommends printing the pieces in PLA, as the model was optimized for this material. Printing the two parts in contrasting colors looks great!
- Who designed it? parallelgoods
- How printable/popular is it? More than 700 Thingiverse users have uploaded their makes of this self-watering planter, making it the most-printed item on this list!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Glitch
This is one of those designs that looks deceptively simple until you realize how sophisticated and beautiful it really is. This Glitch Planter has over a half dozen file options including vase mode, with and without drainage holes, and flat or pointed tops. There is even a bottom plate for catching water.
While just about any filament choice will work just fine, select a dual-color, metallic, or rainbow filament to showcase all of the detailed angles and facets of the design.
In addition to looking great, this planter comes with some detailed print instructions. The maker has also provided guidance for troubleshooting scaled-up vase mode prints that may give some slicers a challenge. Don’t overlook the remix community on this one, as there are some really interesting derivatives of this design as well.
- Who designed it? vexanix
- How printable/popular is it? This hugely popular planter has 571 recorded makes, as well as 11 remixes.
- Where to find it? Printables
Geometric
These elegantly designed planters with geometric patterns are available with and without drain holes. Removable inner containers that contour perfectly to each pot design are also provided. There’s even a base plate sized to fit all three together. This wonderful set of succulent pots will bring a fun element to any decor.
While the set is sized for small plants, several users have reported great success in scaling these geometric pot designs up and down in size. The inner pot inserts do require supports and can be a bit tricky to remove. Looking at the makes, we think the effort is well worth it.
- Who designed it? SchulteGeileTechnik
- How printable/popular is it? Altogether, this planter set has 315 shared makes and 14 remixes!
- Where to find it? Printables, Thingiverse
Plantygon
The Plantygon is a modular, geometric, and stackable planter set that you can print to hold small plants and succulents without them being overshadowed by the planter’s frame. This model was designed in Fusion and has been updated to improve drainage functionality.
There are a few versions to choose from, depending on how you’d like your Plantygons to look and how you plan to combine them. The designer printed theirs with a 0.15-mm layer height. They recommend printing with an 18% infill, and supports are optional.
- Who designed it? Printfutura
- How printable/popular is it? The Plantygon model has 97 recorded makes and 14 remixes. So many others have successfully printed this planter; you can too!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Modular Wall Mount
Need a planter for your wall? This modular planter can be mounted right onto your wall with the corresponding 3D printed cleat. The pots are easy to remove, so you can print a few and rearrange them according to your mood!
The printing settings aren’t anything out of the ordinary: One maker suggested printing with a 0.2-mm layer height, 20% infill, and no supports or raft.
- Who made it? 3DBrooklyn
- How printable/popular is it? This planter design has 46 makes, 10 remixes, and over 33,000 downloads.
- Where to get it? Thingiverse
License: The text of "3D Printed Planter: 20 Great Models for Green Thumbs" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.