Cosplay is short for “costume play”, an activity in which a person pays homage to some of their favorite characters by dressing up as them using props, wigs, clothes, and even attitude. When cosplaying, you can choose any existing character you like.
Cosplaying can be a challenge because you may need a sewing machine and an amazing ability for arts and crafts. A 3D printer, however, could be an advantage. With a 3D printer, no mask, prop, or weapon is too challenging to make.
To help you choose your next cosplay, we’ve gathered the best 3D printed cosplay items from some of our favorite movies, comics, video games, cartoons, and anime.
Cartoons
Rick Sanchez Mask
Rick and Morty is a popular animated sitcom that’s popular among science nerds and edgelords alike. It follows the adventures of the scientist Rick and his grandson Morty, and of the two, Rick is the most popular character.
How to look like him? A lab coat and some spiky blue hair. Or even better, this mask, which will turn you right into a cartoon.
- Who designed it? fallerd
- How makeable/popular is it? This very popular mask has 60 Makes and six Remixes. It’s very big, therefore the author has separated it into different parts, which must be glued together.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
- Franchise: Rick and Morty
Blue Spirit Mask
Avatar is largely considered one of, if not the best cartoon in the history of the universe. It’s beloved by adults and kids alike for its great world-building, plot, and character development. One of the most interesting and beloved characters is Zuko, who struggles with knowing his place in the war, and he uses the alter-ego of the Blue Spirit to operate undercover.
This model is the characteristic blue mask of the Blue Spirit. It’s one piece. If you want detailed colors, you’ll have to paint them after printing.
- Who designed it? Jtm
- How makeable/popular is it? This mask has been made 34 times and has three Remixes. The original vertical length of the mask is 6.5 in (165 mm), so you may need to scale it up to fit your head.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
- Franchise: Avatar: The Last Airbender
Star Butterfly's Wand
Star vs. the Forces of Evil is a cartoon that borrows one of the best anime tropes: Magical Girl. It follows the adventures of Star Butterfly, a magical girl from another dimension, who uses this awesome wand to fight the forces of evil.
The wand actually changes by season, as in most magical girl shows, and this is the wand for season 3. To complete your cosplay, you’ll need a blue dress and some colorful striped socks.
- Who designed it? xurxoarines
- How makeable/popular is it? Evil doers beware: Six makers are waving this wand.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
- Franchise: Star vs. The Forces of Evil
Ladybug's Yo-Yo
Miraculous Ladybug is an actual phenomenon. Unlike most popular cartoons, this is a French-Korean TV series that takes place in Paris, but it has become popular all over the world.
It follows the adventures of Marinette Dupain-Cheng, who uses a Miraculous called Tiki to transform into Miraculous Ladybug and fight the evil that threatens Paris, or more specifically her school class. Her most characteristic tool is her spotted yo-yo, which she uses to catch and cure Akuma and to unmake the damages that happen during fights.
Add a spotted unitard and some ponytails, and no one will be able to tell the difference, including Adrien Agreste.
- Who designed it? Spoolishness
- How makeable/popular is it? There are 18 Makes and 6 Remixes shared so far. The author recommends 15% or more infill to make sure the yo-yo is functional.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
- Franchise: Miraculous: Tales Of Ladybug & Cat Noir
Rose Quartz's Sword
When it comes to cartoon masterpieces, Steven Universe is up there. The color palette and music in this show are unparalleled, and its different female heroes are powerful. Rose Quartz is one of them, and if you want to become her for the next convention, you’ll need her trusty sword.
The creator has actually split the sword in the most recent version so you can separate prints by colors eliminating the need to paint afterward. Instead, you can print directly in the appropriate color, resulting in a much better end result.
- Who designed it? 3DCentralVA
- How makeable/popular is it? Nine people have shared their Makes and are now ready to defend the galaxy. It’s printed in separate sections, so get the glue ready.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
- Franchise: Steven Universe
Movies
The Mask of Loki
The Mask of Loki is a fictional item that appears in the movie The Mask. In the movie, the Mask was created around the end of the 4th century AD by Loki, the Norse god. The mask, which is creepy enough on its own, bestows the wearer with powers and increases their impulsiveness and intelligence.
To complete your cosplay, consider whether you want to emulate the version of the movie, the comic, or the cartoon, as there are many to choose from.
- Who designed it? cerberus333
- How makeable/popular is it? This model has 14 Makes, it requires supports, and the author recommends at least 5% infill.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
- Franchise: The Mask
Jason Voorhees' Mask
A scary movie for our list, Friday the 13th is the story of Jason Voorhees, a camper who supposedly drowns in a lake, then comes back to murder a bunch of people. He does it again for two more movies and a TV show. If you’re into scary costumes, this one’s a classic.
To complete the look, you’ll need a light brown jacket and a chainsaw, but for everyone’s safety, it’s probably best to use a fake one.
- Who designed it? alanstanford
- How makeable/popular is it? This model has eight Community Prints. You can print it in one go, or if your printer isn’t big enough, there’s also an option composed of four separate parts.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
- Franchise: Friday the 13th
Guy Fawkes Mask
You may know it as the Anonymous mask, but it’s actually the mask from V for Vendetta, and it goes even farther back, as it’s originally inspired by the conspirator Guy Fawkes. It’s scary either way, as all masks are. If you want to know what V for Vendetta is about, suffice it to say it’s dystopian, edgy, and hard to explain.
The cosplay, however, is very simple. You just need this mask and a black outfit.
- Who designed it? abrokadabra
- How makeable/popular is it? Five users have shared their Makes. Use a good resolution, 0.2-mm layer height or less, to achieve those smooth details.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
- Franchise: V for Vendetta
Immortan Joe Mouthpiece
Mad Max is a post-apocalyptic film series in which resources like water (and women, for some reason) have become scarce, and wars are fought over the possibility of obtaining them. This series of movies has to have one of the most recognizable and iconic antagonists: Immortan Joe.
You may wear a wig, and you may pale up your face, but without this mouthpiece, you can never achieve a true Immortan Joe state.
- Who designed it? fredsena
- How makeable/popular is it? Six Community Prints shared so far. The creator recommends printing at 0.2-mm layer height with 10% infill.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
- Franchise: Mad Max: Fury Road
Proton Pack
If you see someone cosplaying as a ghost, try to capture them. Everyone knows this franchise, and everyone knows who they have to call. That’s right, Ghostbusters. If you’ve watched Stranger Things, you know this movie came out somewhere in the 80s.
It follows the story of four professional ghostbusters who use their ingenious equipment to catch ghosts – or rather, to bust ghosts. One of their most important pieces of equipment is the proton pack, which uses a particle accelerator to catch ghosts. Perhaps the most fictional part is carrying a stable particle accelerator on your back that works properly and also doesn’t burn you.
- Who designed it? TheNewHobbyist
- How makeable/popular is it? This model has six Makes and a Remix. To assemble it, you’ll need to carefully follow the creator’s instructions available in the Thing Details section.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
- Franchise: Ghostbusters
Star Wars
Stormtrooper Helmet
The Stormtroopers are among the most identifiable characters in Star Wars, probably only beaten by Darth Vader. He also beats them in aim.
Having a Stormtrooper suit would be an awesome cosplay to take to a convention, but how to get one? With a 3D printer! If you want to be able to see in it, you’ll have to use a different material for the eyes.
- Who designed it? Geoffro
- How makeable/popular is it? This model has 44 Makes, almost enough for a platoon. This helmet is 30 cm wide, so you may have to print it in parts unless you have a big printer.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
- Franchise: Star Wars
Kylo Ren Helmet
It’s a discount Darth Vader. Excuse us, it’s Kylo Ren. Also known as edgy Ben Solo, son of -spoilers- and -spoilers-.
If you’re a fan of the sequel Star Wars Trilogy and you have a 3D printer, this is a pretty easy way to get a great cosplay. This 3D printed helmet, a black shirt and pants, and – to add some excitement – a black cape.
- Who designed it? Jtm
- How makeable/popular is it? 16 Makes and 5 Remixes have been shared. It requires supports, and users have successfully printed it using PLA.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
- Franchise: Star Wars
Sith Acolyte Mask
Time for a little space opera lesson: The Sith are the fundamental enemies of the Jedi and the main antagonists in Star Wars. They stand for everything the Jedi are against, and they can also use the Force.
Sith Acolyte is a rank in the Sith Order that corresponds to new apprentices (Before the Rule of Two, of course). If you’re still awake after that explanation, it’s time to download this model and start printing the mask!
- Who designed it? Killonious
- How makeable/popular is it? 36 Makes have been shared so far. Users who printed it mention fitting the parts together and getting a good result is difficult because the model is very detailed and complex. Therefore, they recommend printing it in as few pieces as possible.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
- Franchise: Star Wars
DT-12 Heavy Blaster Pistol
Greedo is a bounty hunter that has a particular look about him, which makes him a great contender for cosplay. The DT-12 is a Heavy Blaster Pistol, and it’s the pistol he uses, remarkably, when he confronts Han Solo at Chalmun’s Cantina.
The creator did an amazing job with this design. It’s very detailed with many textures, making it look like a real weapon straight off the print bed.
- Who designed it? saxonzs
- How makeable/popular is it? This model has over 1,300 downloads and 2 community prints. Its largest dimension is 208 mm, so it should fit in most printers.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
- Franchise: Star Wars
Functioning Lightsaber
If lightsabers can be turned on and off with the Force, why don’t they turn off each other’s lightsabers? In real life, we don’t have the Force, so thankfully we don’t need an answer to this question. However, we do have microcontrollers and Adafruit, which always provide fun projects.
In this case, this project will make you all the rage at any convention. The light activates with a button in a waterfall effect. What’s more, it uses a gyroscope and a speaker to make sounds with the movement.
DC Comics
Batman Cowl
Batman needs no introduction, and he wouldn’t want one either. Bruce Wayne is a billionaire, father of many, and at night, defender of Gotham. It took him years of hard work and training to achieve this, but for you, all it takes is a 3D printer.
According to the creator, you can print this cowl without any supports, and PLA is a suitable material. He recommends using black filament, and we would agree.
- Who designed it? @__The_Batman__
- How makeable/popular is it? Two people have shared their versions. To achieve a smooth surface finish, you’ll have to try some post-processing techniques.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
- Franchise: Batman
Deathstroke Mask
A really interesting character, especially considering his complicated relationship with Robin and Terra. If you only know him from the TV show, you may know him as Slade, but – fun fact – that’s actually his real name and not his alias.
The mask is only one piece, so to get the characteristic split colors, you’ll have to paint it afterward. There’s also a version with both eye holes if that’s more comfortable for you, although it will look less like the original.
- Who designed it? Killonious
- How makeable/popular is it? This model has 16 Makes and a Remix. Users have successfully printed it in PLA and ABS, but they do recommend being careful with how you position the model on the printing bed.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
- Franchise: Teen Titans
Wonder Woman Arm Braces & Tiara
When it comes to female superheroes, DC does it better than Marvel, and Wonder Woman is one more example of that. Wonder Woman’s armor is a fundamental part of her costume: It’s bulletproof and made from Aegis, which is a fun fact if you’re into Greek mythology.
This model includes the arm braces, a bracelet, the tiara, and the Wonder Woman symbol to put on your bodice. Now, all that’s left is the bodice and an invisible jet.
- Who designed it? Freddyanimator
- How makeable/popular is it? With three Makes and a Remix shared so far, the Amazons are slowly forming. The model needs supports but caution: It isn’t bulletproof.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
- Franchise: Wonder Woman
Green Lantern Battery
When it comes to the Green Lanterns, it’s all about the colors and the lights. There are multiple kinds of Lanterns, which are people who guard the galaxy. The most popular ones are the Green Lanterns. This object is in fact a battery and not a lantern. It’s a battery in the form of a lantern used to charge the powers of the Green Lanterns, the people.
It’s confusing, but thankfully, the actual print is very simple, and you can fit an LED or a similar lightbulb in the middle with a set of batteries to complete the effect. Make sure the light is green, though, and the filament as well.
- Who designed it? Hedo
- How makeable/popular is it? This model has two Makes. Supports are only needed for the hemispheres, and everything else can be printed without supports.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
- Franchise: Green Lantern
Teen Titans Communicator
When there’s trouble, you know who to call. But how to call them without a communicator? This communicator is only a prop, so it isn’t functional, but it does look pretty much like the real deal. You can even be ambitious and make it into an actual walkie-talkie.
With this print, you can cosplay as any of the Teen Titans. Going as Beast Boy would be pretty ambitious, as you’d have to paint yourself green. But going as Cyborg may require more 3D printing for all his robotic parts.
- Who designed it? brazenrain
- How makeable/popular is it? There are five Makes and one Remix shared so far. Some people got creative and printed it at 0% infill and installed some lights on the inside.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
- Franchise: Teen Titans
Marvel
Ant-Man Helmet
A character that wasn’t really well-known until the movies, and even before, he was quite underrated. Now, thanks to Scott Lang’s relatable personality, he has become a fan favorite. We love an underdog story.
This great model closely resembles the movie version of the Ant-Man mask, and it’s so characteristic that you might wear normal clothes with it and still be recognized as Ant-Man. It’s separated into many different parts so it can fit onto most 3D printers.
- Who designed it? Stefanos
- How makeable/popular is it? This model has over 9,300 downloads and 5 Community Prints, but it doesn’t include any Pym Particles. Some parts have to be glued together, and others have extrusions to aid with the assembling.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
- Franchise: Ant-Man
Star Lord Helmet
Did he ruin the plan in Infinity War? Yes, he did. But he’s still got great taste in music. This self-proclaimed Lord of the Stars uses a trusty helmet with many utilities, such as oxygen purification, which allows him to breathe in space and be protected from polluted air.
The model for this helmet may not include oxygen purification, but you can make the eyes light up with some red film and LED lights on the sides. Aside from that, a brown leather jacket is a recommended addition for this cosplay.
- Who designed it? soulorigin89
- How makeable/popular is it? Four users have shared their Community Prints. You can use a different material for the lenses to make them shine red and be see-through.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
- Franchise: Guardian of the Galaxy
Loki's Horned Helmet
Loki is Thor’s adopted brother, and he sure would love that description. He’s a supervillain that at the end of the day just wants acceptance and that makes many fans resonate with him. Of course, the most characteristic part of his costume is his horned helmet. Even if you have the cape and staff, it won’t be clear unless you include the iconic horned helmet.
This is a great model, and it comes in different versions. One that uses a wraparound strap for better hold, and another that has a more narrow curve so it can stand on its own.
- Who designed it? Fanaatti
- How makeable/popular is it? 23 users have shared their Makes of this model. The model can be printed in parts, but all parts need supports.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
- Franchise: Thor
Iron Man MK6 Costume
Now, this is quite the ambitious challenge, but if you pull it off you’ll be the star of your next convention. This remarkable copy of the Mark 6 suit is made of 92 parts, some of which have to be printed multiple times. The result can’t fly or shoot laser beams, but it does allow you to walk in it and is very detailed.
If you’re planning to take this to a convention, you’ll have to start printing with ample time. It’s truly a feat of surface modeling.
- Who designed it? DaDave
- How makeable/popular is it? There are 33 Makes and 13 Remixes. Be ready to spend a lot of time on this. Fortunately, the creator provides detailed explanation videos to help you out.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
- Franchise: Iron Man
Thor's Hammer
For those who don’t know, this hammer has a name: It’s called Mjolnir. The saying goes “Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor”, which essentially means you can only lift it if you’re worthy. You don’t need to be worthy if you have a 3D printer, though. You can simply make your own, power over thunder not included.
To complete this cosplay, Thor’s helmet and armor could be a good addition, the latter of which could also be 3D printed.
- Who designed it? ChaosCoreTech
- How makeable/popular is it? This popular model has 116 Makes and 26 Remixes. The creator mentions you’ll need to sand the parts after printing and before assembling them together.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
- Franchise: Thor
Video Games
Diamond Pickaxe
If you’re going to spend all that time printing a pickaxe, might as well make sure it’s durable and able to mine obsidian.
Minecraft is an open-world game where players must mine and craft (how surprising) to survive. As you progress in the game, you can upgrade the quality of your weapons and tools, with one of the best materials being diamond.
Become a pro crafter IRL by printing this diamond pickaxe. Different colored pixels have different heights, making it both textured and easier to paint.
- Who designed it? HooliganLabs
- How makeable/popular is it? This model has four Makes, and it doesn’t need supports. It’s one piece, so it can be inherently used for multi-colored printing unless you modify it yourself.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
- Franchise: Minecraft
Ekko's Sword
The lore of League of Legends is a complex one, but one basic fact you can easily understand is that Ekko rocks. He’s a child of the Undercity, the impoverished side of Piltover, but he uses his giant brain to fight for what is right and to help improve the lives of others.
If there’s one character worthy of cosplaying, it’s Ekko. You may also need a flying hoverboard to complete the look, but his sword is a good place to start.
- Who designed it? fntsmn
- How makeable/popular is it? This model has over 1,600 downloads and a Community Print. The creator mentions it can be printed in PLA.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
- Franchise: League of Legends
Link's Shield
In pretty much all Zelda games, this is what happens: Link is a normal boy who is suddenly entrusted with fighting the evil forces that threaten Hyrule and rescuing Princess Zelda. Along the way, he gets tools like a shield and sword, a boomerang, and the ability to roll and to break vases.
You can skip all the questing and just print yourself your own shield to become a hero of Hyrule and use the triforce.
- Who designed it? adafruit
- How makeable/popular is it? This model has 18 Makes. The complete shield is over 450 mm, but you can print it in two parts. Additionally, all details are printed separately.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
- Franchise: The Legend of Zelda
Rust Lord Helmet
Fortnite is easily the most popular FPS battle royale game right now. Whether it’s the best remains to be seen, but at least it’s popular. It uses simplified textures, favoring colorful scenarios and a fun game dynamic. One of the things that makes it most popular is the creative skins and dances, such as the Naruto skins and the Poki dance.
If you print this helmet, put on a leather jacket and dance The Macarena. It’ll be pretty clear what your cosplay is supposed to be.
- Who designed it? Jace1969
- How makeable/popular is it? This model has three Makes and a couple of Remixes shared so far. You can print the visor separately so it can be lifted up.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
- Franchise: Fortnite
Princess Peach Crown
You can’t possibly be the Princess of the Mushroom Kingdom without a crown. Mario Bros is a household name in Nintendo games, and it’s a very popular cosplay option. There are many characters to choose from, but when it comes to female characters the choices are limited. However, there is always Princess Peach! – unless you want to be Wendy O. Koopa.
To complete this costume, you’ll need a pink dress and pink heels.
- Who designed it? VillainousPropShop
- How makeable/popular is it? The Peach crown has over 585 downloads and a Make shared by the community, it needs supports.
- Where to find it? Cults
- Franchise: Super Mario Bros.
Anime
Ichigo Mask
Bleach is one of those animes that everyone knows, even if not everyone has actively watched it. This anime deals with many usual Japanese folklore references featured in multiple anime. In this case, the main character, Ichigo, becomes a Shinigami, a god of death who slays demons.
A Shinigami is like the Grim Reaper, and as is usual in anime that feature this trope, the Shinigami has a skull face. You can cosplay as Ichigo the Shinigami with this mask and some spiky orange hair.
- Who designed it? Baddog01
- How makeable/popular is it? This model has 21 Makes and a Remix. The teeth and jaw are printed separately from the main mask.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
- Franchise: Bleach
No Face
If you’ve never watched this movie and you want to go on a life-changing journey, this is your chance.
No Face is also based on Japanese folklore, and it appears in many other representations. No Face is one of the most emblematic characters of this movie and of Studio Ghibli in general. Each movie has a token character for the merch, and in this case, it’s No Face.
Cosplaying as No Face is really simple, as you just need a black blanket that covers all of you, this 3D printed mask, and maybe a slight hunch.
- Who designed it? Ferux95
- How makeable/popular is it? The No Face mask has 34 Makes, and it needs supports.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
- Franchise: Spirited Away
Super Sailor Moon Wand
If you know the solar system, you know the name of every character in this anime.
Magical girls is one of the most popular and amazing genres of anime. The premise of the story varies according to the anime but some core aspects remain: The clothing is awesome, each girl has a characteristic color, and they have a magic staff and a transformation sequence. It’s everything you could ask for.
If you want to cosplay as Sailor Moon, just get the typical anime school uniform, do your hair in half-buns, and use this 3D printed staff. Lastly, learn the transformation pose, and you’re set to go to your next anime convention.
- Who designed it? Sraf
- How makeable/popular is it? This model has seven Makes and a Remix. Since some details are very slim and delicate, it may be a good idea to use a filament more resistant than PLA.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
- Franchise: Sailor Moon
Tobi's Mask
For spoilers’ sake, let’s just say Tobi is a low-tier member of the Akatsuki clan. He isn’t respected by his teammates, but hey, if you don’t know yet, just pay attention to him; he’ll become interesting later on.
Cosplaying as an Akatsuki member is pretty easy, just get the Akatsuki cape with the red clouds (fun fact – Aka means “red” and Tsuki means “moon” in Japanese). However, to add more character to the cosplay, you can become a specific Akatsuki member, in this case, Tobi. And he’s a fan favorite, so simply 3D print this mask and be dressed to impress.
- Who designed it? Liang0108
- How makeable/popular is it? This model has five Makes and only one eye hole. If you want a smooth finish, it will need some post-processing.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
- Franchise: Naruto
Tanjiro's Kitsune Mask
Demon Slayer is a recent anime that quickly gathered popularity and is considered one of the best anime ever made. It follows the story of a guy named Tanjiro whose sister is possessed by a demon. In order to get the demon out of his sister, he trains to become a demon slayer.
When a pupil finishes their training, their master carves them a fox-themed mask charged with a protection spell. That’s where this emblematic mask comes from. Kitsune masks are in general also part of Japanese folklore (kitsune means “Fox” in Japanese, but it also refers to a fox-like deity).
- Who designed it? Stonemasks
- How makeable/popular is it? Eight people have printed it. You can choose to print eyes or leave the holes for better visibility.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
- Franchise: Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba)
License: The text of "3D Printed Cosplay: The Best Props & Masks to 3D Print" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.