If you live in a noisy household or supervise a sport or other activity, you may want to create some peace and quiet. Whistles are known for doing just that. Depending on how rowdy a situation you’re dealing with, you’ll probably need a loud whistle.
The decibel (dB) is the standard unit of measure for sound. The louder the sound, the higher the decibel count. For reference, according to the Hearing Health Foundation, average office noise measures around 70 dB, while a jackhammer measures 130 dB.
In this article, we’ll present our top picks for 3D printable whistles. To give you a sense of how loud they are, we’ll mention their decibel rating wherever possible. If you see a whistle that you just have to have but don’t have the means or setup to 3D print it, try Craftcloud by All3DP. With an extensive range of materials and finishes, your dream whistle can be delivered right to your door with just a few clicks.
And now, let’s get to that list before someone blows a whistle on us!
V29
The V29 whistle (so-called because it’s the 29th iteration of the maker’s design) is perhaps the loudest 3D printable whistle around, reaching over 118 decibels! Grooves along the top and a curve on the bottom allow for a comfortable resting lip position and ensure that you can keep the whistle in your mouth without a supporting hand.
The maker discussed in the description that one of the main goals for designing this impressive whistle was to make it raft and support-free. He succeeded, so you won’t need any supports or bed adhesion assistance (for most printers) when printing this design. It’s also recommended to print with a 0.2-mm layer height and a 100% infill for maximum strength. You’ll want to print the whistle with the flat top side oriented face down.
- Who designed it? jzisa
- How printable/popular is it? This design has an impressive 1,407 posted makes and 36 remixes, making it extremely printable!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
- How loud is it? According to the creator, this whistle can reach over 118 dB.
Death
This whistle is modeled after ancient designs associated with the Aztecs. Archaeologists speculate about its use in Aztec culture, but whistles have been found in grave excavations at the Temple of the Wind God in Tlatelolco, Mexico. Combined with the frequent skull and owl (which is a symbol of death in Mesoamerican cultures) iconography on the whistles, this suggests a ceremonial use in connection with death.
Makers say that this whistle can get really loud. Apparently, it has a unique sound, too. Some have even reported hearing a spooky sound from the printer fans blowing into the whistle as it prints! Scaling this model up or down might affect the sound of the whistle, so printing at the given size is a safe bet. Additionally, the creator recommends using supports for a cleaner surface around the cheekbones.
- Who designed it? Tacblades
- How printable/popular is it? This model has over 130,000 downloads and 220 makes.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
- How loud is it? Not specified, but the creator says it’s very loud.
Turbine
This turbine whistle was made to teach students how a whistle works and where the air flows. It’s a good learning tool and, as seen in the picture, consists of three different parts.
There are multiple options for printing different whistle and turbine shapes so you see how the speed and path of the air changes. If you want to make the whistle “permanent”, the maker recommends using a small amount of super glue. You might want to print the turbine part in vase mode to get a consistent shape.
Customizable
Create a unique whistle with this awesome OpenSCAD design. It’s easily printable, and you can add your own text and adjust the whistle’s dimensions. The model also has a keyhole so you can easily attach it to a keychain.
Users mentioned in the comments to avoid printing this whistle with supports activated. The keyhole does have an overhang, but it’s so small that you don’t need supports. Make sure to print your model with a high infill percentage for strength, especially for the small and skinny keyhole.
- Who designed it? nischi
- How printable/popular is it? This customizable design has 26 posted makes and 1,809 remixes! Printability is high.
- Where to get it? Thingiverse
- How loud is it? The number of decibels reached depends on your customizations.
Echo
The “Echo” is a pretty awesome name for a whistle! The minimalistic design gives it a stealthy feel, and its tiny profile makes it easy to carry around. It’s about as big as a quarter, but it will definitely turn some heads! For the loudest results, the creator of the Echo recommends printing it on its side.
- Who designed it? LetsMakeThings
- How printable/popular is it? This model has over 200,000 downloads and 129 makes!
- Where to find it? Pinshape
- How loud is it? The creator says the whistle can reach a whopping 129 dB.
Trumpet
Whistles and trumpets, although they sound different, do at least both make a sound when blown into! According to the maker, you’ll hear a typical whistle sound from this mini trumpet.
The project consists of two different 3D printable parts that should stick securely together. You’ll need supports due to the unique shape. It’s also advisable to print this model at a slow speed as well as use a low layer height for detail, precision, and less risk of failure.
- Who designed it? MakeItWork
- How prinable/popular is it? This whistle-like trumpet design has over 5,000 views and 361 downloads.
- Where to find it? Cults
- How loud is it? The maker states that the design isn’t loud; it was intended to be more about its look than its volume.
Bird
A perfect gift for birdwatchers, this whistle is easily 3D printable and is hard to tell apart from a real bird! All you need to do is add some water to the whistle and hear the magic happen. It prints all in one part, and no supports are necessary.
Just like all whistles on this list, you can scale this to your liking for a certain pitch. This is especially useful for a bird whistle if you’re trying to mimic specific birds! Some people have reported water leaking at infills lower than 20%, so don’t be afraid to be generous with the amount of infill you use.
- Who designed it? Nemo_Mk2
- How printable/popular is it? This whistle has over 40,000 downloads and 66 makes.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
- How loud is it? There’s no exact mention, but don’t expect it to be as loud as some of the other items on this list.
Double
This whistle’s double circular design means you should be able to make different tones when you blow into it. It’s a little different than your typical whistle, as there’s a small hole next to the breathing hole on this model where the sound comes out.
The designer suggests printing at a 200-micron layer thickness, which is just a fancy way of saying use a 0.2-mm layer height. It’s also recommended to set the infill at 50%. This double whistle is listed as a “very easy” print, so you shouldn’t have any problems.
- Who designed it? ET Creative Element
- How printable/popular is it? This model has over 3,300 views and 427 downloads.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
- How loud is it? Not mentioned, but the designer says it can make different tones.
Turbocharger
Like cars? This sweet turbocharger whistle is an awesome token for any vehicle enthusiast. It’s comprised of a few parts that fit together, so make sure your printer is well-calibrated before sending this one off.
This model was designed for resin 3D printers, but a couple of makers shared in the comments that they have successfully printed it with FDM machines. The creator says that the model prints just fine without supports.
- Who designed it? DaRealRadioactiveMan
- How printable/popular is it? This mini turbocharger whistle has over 190 downloads and a make.
- Where to find it? Printables
- How loud is it? There’s no mention of how loud this thing can get, but people that have printed it said it sounded like a turbo.
Benchy
This model is one of the coolest designs on this list! Everyone loves the famed Benchy, the most popular 3D printer stress test.
The design is a remix of a normal whistle but with Benchy attached to it. The actual Benchy has nothing to do with the noise it makes, but it’s still a really cool whistle.
The designer recommends slightly scaling the model down. You should use the same print settings for Benchy if you’ve printed one before. If not, just use some high-quality print settings and make sure supports aren’t activated.
- Who designed it? KlickMaker
- How printable/popular is it? This unique Benchy whistle has two recorded makes and over 2,000 downloads.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
- How loud is it? How loud this whistle gets isn’t mentioned, but a user who made the design stated that it works well.
Rectangular
This design is for all of those who just want a plain old whistle to make some noise. Since this design has no complex features, it can easily fit in your pocket. Apart from the curve to rest your lip on when blowing into it and a slight slope leading down to the whistle hole, the model is mainly flat.
There are no printing suggestions listed, but the designer states that the model is just a simple whistle, so we presume it should be a straightforward print. We suggest orienting the model with the curve facing up and printing without supports.
- Who designed it? Tanleste46
- How printable/popular is it? This rectangular whistle has over 8,900 views as well as 591 downloads.
- Where to find it? Cults
- How loud is it? Not mentioned, but it’s a standard whistle so it should be very functional.
Dragon
This dragon whistle is one of the coolest looking, as it’s not your typical whistle design. It’s also special because you can use water to change the tone of the sound.
The creator of this model printed it in PLA and suggests a 0.16-mm layer height and 15% infill. It’s also recommended to print with a 1.2-mm shell to help keep it watertight.
- Who designed it? Shira
- How printable/popular is it? This cute design has 20 posted makes and over 600 downloads.
- Where to find it? Printables
- How loud is it? It sounded pretty loud in the video!
Ring
What’s cooler than a whistle? A whistle on your finger. These awesome ring whistles could be a useful survival tool or just a fun print when you’re bored and want to annoy someone. It’s a great print for kids, but keep in mind that they may bug you with it for hours on end!
It’s easy to get creative with color choices, and you can make a lot in a small time frame. The creator was kind enough to include all different ring sizes. Keep in mind smaller sizes might require a brim to print.
- Who designed it? Eric T
- How printable/popular is it? This whistle design has 88 makes and over 1,200 downloads.
- Where to find it? Printables
- How loud is it? Some of the makers have mentioned that the ring whistle is very loud, but no measurement has been reported.
Bottle Opener
This whistle has two functions: a bottle opener and a tool to instill order. It’s a pretty compact size considering it performs two different functions. There are multiple versions in the download section of the design page; the newest version has a keyhole so you can put it on your keychain.
According to a maker, you don’t need supports to print this. In fact, the print will function better without them. You should also print with a medium to high infill for strength, as this model will need it when opening a bottle.
- Who designed it? 3Dator
- How printable/popular is it? This multifunctional model has three recorded makes and over 6,500 downloads.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
- How loud is it? The loudness of this whistle isn’t stated on the model page, but a user who made the design stated that it was very loud!
Yin Yang
This whistle was inspired by the ancient Chinese philosophy of yin and yang. It has two ways to make a loud noise: you can blow into either side! You might want to paint this model for an even cooler look.
The designers recommend that you print with high-resolution settings only for the detailed symbol, and we suggest you print with a medium to high infill percentage for the most strength. Other than that, this print should be easy peasy.
- Who designed it? MyMiniFactory
- How printable/popular is it? This model, designed by MyMiniFactory, has over 6,000 views as well as 501 downloads.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
- How loud is it? How loud this whistle gets isn’t mentioned, but because the official MyMiniFactory made this whistle, we presume it should be very functional.
License: The text of "3D Printed Whistle: The Best 3D Models That’ll Be Heard" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.