So, you’ve got your shiny new 3D printer, you’ve read up on the basics, and it’s time for the fun to begin. But which project to choose first? In this article, we sort through the bewildering array of possibilities and choose our top 3D printing projects to help you quickly develop the skills and confidence you’ll need to tackle the most complex builds.
We’ve chosen models that are useful or cool but at the same time explore a variety of techniques and challenges. We all have to start somewhere, so the first few prints are for those new to the world of 3D printing. Then, we’ll step up our game with some more challenging objects that have moving and flexible parts. After that, we’ll showcase some projects made by piecing together multiple components in order to demonstrate how even apparently complex models can be tackled by someone new to 3D printing. And finally, we’ll look at some basic 3D printing skills, introducing projects to take your 3D printing experience beyond the basics.
If you see something amazing but you’re not quite ready for the challenge of printing it yourself, you could always try a service like Craftcloud. With professional suppliers around the world ready to print your model and ship it to your door, you’ll have some 3D printing inspiration on your desk in no time.
Let’s get printing!
First Steps
We’ll start with some straightforward projects that result in useful objects as soon as you remove them from your printer’s build plate. In each case, we’ll also highlight ideas to follow up with as your experience develops.
Cali Cat
Having a simple benchmark model is important to check how your printer is performing with various materials and settings and how it changes over time.
Calibration and benchmark models are a topic of their own, but most are quite serious and, frankly, a bit boring for many beginners.
This project is different as it doubles as a desk mascot, toy, or gift. Cali Cat is a simple and adorable model that tests your printer’s accuracy, overhangs, detail, bridging, extrusion, and more in under an hour.
- Who designed it: Dezign
- Why make it: Having a go-to benchmark model is important – and Cali Cat doubles are cute, too!
- Where to find it: Thingiverse
Tablet Holder
We’ve included this project for two reasons. The first is that it’s a genuinely useful and well-designed item that typically generates requests from friends for one of their own!
The second is that it’s a great example of a “remix”. Remixes are created when designers add or change features from an original design. They often don’t get the same exposure on model repositories such as Thingiverse – but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth considering.
It’s always worth looking at the adaptations and variants that may get less attention.
- Who designed it: KenthJ
- Why make it: This is a great design of a single-piece, multi-position tablet holder that’s well balanced, looks good, and works with the tablet in either portrait or landscape modes.
- Where to find it: Thingiverse
Invisible Bullet Bill Keyring
This is a great example of a unique property of 3D printing. 3D prints are seldom solid. Instead, the inside is built from infill to provide internal support without wasting material.
In this case (if you use a reasonably light-colored filament), the print looks plain from the outside but reveals a hidden pattern when held up to a light.
If this sort of effect interests you, you can go on to explore the printing of lithophanes, which reveal more complex images when light shines through them.
- Who designed it: serial_print3r
- Why make it: This is a quick and simple print, illustrating that sometimes what’s inside a print is as important as what’s on the outside.
- Where to find it: Cults
Tall Vase
The vast majority of 3D prints use only a fraction of the possible print volume available on a typical printer. It’s worth reaching, if not the sky, then toward the top of your printer’s Z-axis range.
These vases are a great way to do that, and they allow you to experiment with different modes of printing (see the comments section on the Thingiverse design page). They’re also, simply put, beautiful designs, although possibly more suited for dry flowers than for filling with water.
And if you want more ideas on vases, well, there are plenty of great picks.
- Who designed it: BigBadBison
- Why make it: These are tall objects and take many hours to print. You can scale up to 200% to fill an Ender 3 workspace. They look great and are also ideal for trying different filament types and, as seen above, painting. Check out all the makes for inspiration!
- Where to find it: Thingiverse
Christmas Tree
This enchanting design serves as a beautiful centerpiece for your festive decorations. With the option of printing in “vase mode”, this Christmas tree takes on a unique charm. This method of printing allows for seamless and continuous layers, resulting in a smooth and elegant appearance. The delicate and thin shell has the thickness of just one wall.
This setting is known as “vase mode” because it allows you to print big vase shapes very fast when compared to traditional horizontal layer printing, but you’ll find it as “Spiralize Outer Contour” in Cura or different names depending on your slicer.
Simply select this mode in your slicer settings and watch as the layers gracefully build up, creating a stunning tree that adds a touch of magic to any holiday setting. Celebrate the joy of Christmas with the exquisite Christmas Tree model, designed to illuminate your home with warmth and cheer.
- Who designed it: idig3D
- Why make it: Try out the vase mode (Spiralize Outer Contour) setting. This setup prints a seamless thin shell of your model.
- Where to find it: Thingiverse, Printables
Cable Guards
We all seem to break our phone charging cables faster and faster these days. What if you could print a quick fix? That is exactly what these little guards do. Not only can these prevent those bends, kinks, and breaks in your charging cable, but they may help a cable casing that has worn out and is falling apart. While they’re designed for iPhone lightning plugs, many users have reported scaling this guard up or down to fit third-party options as well.
This design could be an opportunity to try printing in a flexible filament like TPU, as some flexibility in the parts will make them easier to use.
- Who designed it: Serge Romero
- Why make it: This simple gadget saves your Apple lighting cables from getting ragged and bent and gives a bit of extra life to your broken cables.
- Where to find it: MyMiniFactory
Stepping Up
One of the brilliant things about 3D printing is its ability to produce objects that have built-in mechanisms for movement and flexibility that might otherwise require detailed manufacturing and casting. Or maybe there’s a special trick to make them look more complex to recreate than they really are.
In this section, we’ll highlight some clever designs to show what your printer is capable of.
Millennium Falcon Kit Card
Kit cards are a great way to explore the complex models that can be assembled from basic prints, and this design will be a hit with just about any Star Wars fan.
Kit cards are easy to print because they’re essentially flat parts, so no supports or other additions are needed. Simply print the one-piece design, then snap the parts from the card to assemble. There are endless card kits out there ranging from easy to complex. The maker of this one has even linked to other popular Star Wars kits so you can complete your collection!
- Who designed it: fixumdude
- Why make it: Learn about kit cards and build a model of the Millennium Falcon!
- Where to find it: Thingiverse
Flexi Rex
This cute flexible T-Rex is one of the most popular models on Thingiverse and has been made thousands of times.
This project is a fascinating example of how 3D printing can be used to create flexible hinges as a single printed item, with no need for assembly. They’re fascinating, fun, and strangely addictive to print!
- Who designed it: DrLex
- Why make it: This iconic design is a great example of “print-in-place” flexible hinges. They’re a lot of fun and make great gifts, too.
- Where to find it: Thingiverse
Dragon Egg with Threads
Here’s a captivating and intricately designed 3D printed marvel. Perfect for Easter egg hunts, gifts, and geocaching, this threaded dragon egg adds a touch of enchantment to any occasion. Crafting this masterpiece requires skillful printing of delicate coils, made easier with a provided thread sample.
For optimal results, a layer height of 0.2 mm or smaller is recommended, while no supports or significant adhesion options (raft, brim) are necessary. Let the dragon egg with threads weave its spell and leave a lasting impression.
- Who designed it: TonyYoungblood
- Why make it: Optimize your thread printing skills – the thread sample can save you some time.
- Where to find it: Thingiverse, Printables
Hairy Lion
What sets this model apart is its intricate details and an awe-inspiring mane. The unique technique used to form the mane involves printing several horizontal lines connected to a sacrificial wall, which can be easily removed later.
For a more polished appearance, a heat gun can be used to carefully melt and shape the hair, giving it a well-groomed look. Immerse yourself in the art of 3D printing and bring this majestic Hairy Lion to life, showcasing its magnificent mane like never before. Simply follow the provided instructions and explore different settings to create the lion’s mane.
- Who designed it: _primoz_
- Why make it: Learn all about using sacrificial walls in your designs to pull off fabulous effects.
- Where to find it: Thingiverse, MyMiniFactory
Tower of Pi Penholder
This project doesn’t feature moving parts but – if you get it right – it’s an amazing example of what 3D printers can do.
The clever penholder design is constructed by a spiral made from hundreds of digits of Pi. (You can also find versions for Euler’s number, Tau, and more from the same designer.)
The Tower of Pi is a real test of detail. For those with resin printers, the open version is worth a try; for FDM printers, the version with a solid wall might be a better starting point until everything is perfectly tuned.
- Who designed it: roman_hegglin
- Why make it: Liked over 23,000 times and with hundreds of builds, this project is one that will definitely impress, even if you’re not mathematically inclined.
- Where to find it: Thingiverse
Spring Loaded Box
Made by SunShine, a well-known designer of 3D printed models with moving parts, this box features a latching, spring-loaded lid and is entirely printed as a single object, so there’s no assembly required. It’s another fantastic example of a print-in-place design and a great talking point.
Trimmable Bonsai
This model is an extraordinary innovation in the art of bonsai cultivation. This groundbreaking new technique presented here offers a new approach to shaping and sculpting the tiny trees. The Trimmable Bonsai features a canopy constructed entirely of infill, eliminating the need for walls or a top and bottom layer.
This ingenious design allows for endless possibilities as you explore different infill types and settings to create unique and personalized canopies. With this design, the art of gardening takes on a whole new dimension, offering enthusiasts the freedom to shape and mold their trees like never before. Unleash your creativity and discover the boundless potential of the Trimmable Bonsai.
- Who designed it: TheJollyRedBe
- Why make it: This is an innovative approach to 3D printed form finding. Print just the infill without walls or top and bottom layers.
- Where to find it: Printables
Desktop Dumpster
Another functional project that’s a little on the goofy side. The miniature dumpster features a functioning lid to keep your desk waste in one place. The lids attach to the main body with either M3 screws or some aluminum wire, though other makers have found success with paper clips and even stray strands of filament to act as hinges. There is also a printable hinge available if you don’t want to find any additional hardware.
Even small prints like this can help tidy up your workspace and show just how handy it is to have a 3D printer around. The models are easily scalable should you need a larger dumpster in your room as well.
- Who designed it: MatthewBogner
- Why make it: It’s a fun and useful print that can be scaled to your desired size.
- Where to find it: Printables
Drippy Bucket
With its Pop Art looks and multicolor design, this bucket may intimidate some beginners, but its great looks hide a simplicity that any beginner can tackle.
This container is actually three separate pieces printed in three different colors for a great effect. Each part prints with no support, so you can create a functional and colorful object with no issues. Assembly is as simple as snapping the parts together; no glue is required!
- Who designed it: davemoneysign
- Why make it: This drippy paint bucket shows the power of clever design to combine parts printed in different colors for an impressive result!
- Where to find it: Printables
Wrench
No exploration of print-in-place design is complete until you’ve printed a tool that can go directly into use from the print bed. This adjustable wrench may be an oldie, but it’s definitely a goodie.
With more than 300,000 downloads, this is a fantastic design for a beginner and also one that will give you a useful tool to utilize in later projects. With multiple detailed videos, several updates, and nearly three dozen remixes, this is one print you cannot miss creating.
- Who designed it: barspin
- Why make it: Make something that will actually be fully functional straight off the printer.
- Where to find it: Thingiverse
Moon Lamp
This captivating model features a hollow shell design that perfectly captures the celestial allure of our lunar companion. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, the Moon Lamp is printed with 100% infill, ensuring a solid and substantial structure.
When illuminated from within, it emanates a soft, enchanting glow, creating an ambiance reminiscent of moonlit nights. Immerse yourself in the celestial magic with this moon lamp, a stunning centerpiece that adds a touch of celestial wonder to any room.
Print it with supports only touching the build plate, so you won’t have supports inside the shell. Doing some prior testing of support printing to calibrate your printer is recommended, because of the surface finishing to the bottom of the sphere. With this kind of printing where the model is almost completely laying on supports, using a raft for bed adhesion usually makes it safer to remove the whole print off the build plate without damaging it.
- Who designed it: moononournation
- Why make it: Learn all about shells and how to make a simple but really cool lamp.
- Where to find it: Thingiverse, MyMiniFactory
Builds
Next, we’ll look at models that quickly cross a barrier that many new to 3D printing hesitate to tackle. We’ve chosen example projects that show how building finished items from multiple 3D printed (and other) components need not be difficult.
Once you start building projects like these, there’ll be no stopping you!
Clicky Rotating Counter
Too many times have we been in the middle of counting something only to forget where we were and have to restart. This rotating counter can keep track of any number from 0 to 99, and it does so with a satisfying click every time.
This five-part print features a snap-in-place design that requires no hardware, only printed parts. The entire process (three easy steps) can be found in the description of the model, so while the model looks complex, it’s fairly easy to put together.
This is also a print that benefits from multicolor printing to give your numbers a bit more contrast from the spinning counters. You can achieve the same results with a filament swap as well if your setup doesn’t allow for multicolor printing.
- Who designed it: BaGooN
- Why make it: This is a great multi-functional print that teaches how to print snap-in-place designs and possibly filament swapping.
- Where to find it: Printables
Infinity Calendar
3D printing can make just about anything fun again, including calendars. This infinity calendar model takes a unique approach to keeping the date, with a box and some little tiles. Once assembled, all you have to do is flip the box and the date will move forward. Like other projects on this list, this easily replicable idea is made better with a filament swap to get a crisp month and date on your tiles. Do this, and everyone who sees the print will be impressed!
The most difficult part of this project is printing the tiles. You’ll need to make your your print bed is completely level to avoid any of the tiles coming loose mid-print and ruining the rest of them. You’ll also want to get your printer’s tolerances dialed in to make sure the lid can snap into place so your tiles don’t spill out once the calendar’s assembled.
- Who designed it: bcegatien
- Why make it: It’s an interesting design that’s worth making for the novelty alone, and it also teaches good bed adhesion and color swapping.
- Where to find it: Printables
Upcycled Watering Can
There are many free STLs available to upcycle and convert old and discarded objects into something useful. We really like this simple idea for a watering can that’s ideal for child-sized (or grown-up) hands to water small flower beds or window boxes.
It’s a great example of how 3D printed parts can combine with other objects to transform them into something new and useful. You just might need to scale the model to fit the particular bottle you plan to use. You can also learn about making prints watertight in the process.
- Who designed it: serial_print3r
- Why make it: With over 1,000 downloads, this is a simple, multi-part print that involves a few easy steps to construct and delivers a fun, useful, and green product.
- Where to find it: Cults
Under Desk Drawers
Sometimes, practical ideas are what motivate people to keep working on new projects. These drawers may be the perfect next step as you’re acquiring and developing 3D printing skills. Each drawer is sized and shaped to fit under a desk, giving you more useable storage space for cables, pencils, and or whatever else you need without having to get up.
This build will put your printer tolerances and surface finish to the test, as a rough surface can lead to drawers not fitting properly or getting stuck. Scaling is another issue to keep in mind. If you choose to scale any of the drawers up or down, be sure to use the same scaling percentage on all of your parts to keep them consistent.
Once you do get your settings dialed in, all you’ll need is a drill then you’re ready to install your new drawers!
- Who designed it: GodardScientific
- Why make it: It’s a good test for print tolerances, as the drawers need to fit snugly while sliding in and out without too much resistance.
- Where to find it: Thingiverse
Air-Powered Toy Car
This is a fascinating moving vehicle and an interesting and educational build, too.
Created by one of the internet’s masters of mechanical 3D printed designs, Greg Zumwalt, the instructions are clear and super easy to follow. The end product is a working toy “car” with its own 3D printed balloon-powered “engine” that can travel up to 40 feet on a smooth surface.
- Who designed it: gzumwalt
- Why make it: This is an impressive example of an apparently very complicated design that can actually be built from just a few 3D printed components. With clear and easy-to-follow instructions, it’s a great introduction to hundreds of other designs featuring moving parts.
- Where to find it: Instructables
Squeeze Fan Ruggedized
Many makers attempt to print and build a multi-part object once they get the hang of the basics. But to justify the effort and plastic consumption, some people prefer to limit their prints to functional objects.
This remix takes the popular squeeze fan design from the realm of toys and turns it into a fully usable device. The larger size and tighter tolerances allow this to become a practical gadget used to beat the heat!
- Who designed it: GeorgeZSL
- Why make it: If you’re going to print it, you want it to be useful, so this is an upgraded larger version that you can actually use to cool down!
- Where to find it: Thingiverse
Rotating Square Clock
This square clock model has one quirk that makes it stand out from traditional clocks: rotating edges! The clock’s hands and edges are a single print that can rotate freely with the movement system to create mesmerizing geometry throughout the day.
This is a great, simple project that doesn’t take much to complete. The only hardware needed for this build is a clock mechanism. You may need to scale the parts to fit your specific movement as well, which is a great learning opportunity.
- Who designed it: XDr4g0nX
- Why make it: It’s an easy entry to using simple hardware for a 3D printed build!
- Where to find it: Thingiverse
Modular Mounting System
Our next project also comes with clear instructions, but you have a few decisions to make about what, exactly, you’re creating. The build also steps up the required skills just a little.
The ingenious modular design allows you to piece together basic components to create desk-standing or screw-fitted mounting systems for phones, GoPros, cameras, and more. The results are always impressive and are a terrific example of how even apparently complicated items can be fabricated at home without much effort.
- Who designed it: HeyVye
- Why make it: This enormously popular design has been built and remixed hundreds of times in various configurations. It’s important to read and follow the build instructions, including the informative video, but it’s not an especially difficult undertaking.
- Where to find it: Thingiverse
Skills
In many cases, downloading a design, printing it, and using it exactly as it comes off your printer is good enough. However, you can take your printing to a whole new level by mastering a few important skills. These range from creating your own designs, to transforming the look and feel of your prints with various post-processing techniques. And we couldn’t leave out learning about entirely different skills that can complement 3D printed projects.
We’ve chosen five paths that are worth following.
Design Your Own 3D Object
3D printing takes on a whole new dimension when you design your own 3D models. It’s much easier than many think and well worth committing a couple of hours to give it a go.
Even if we do say so ourselves, our Tinkercad tutorial for beginners is a great place to start. In no time, you’ll have designed your own wrench! That may not sound like the most exciting object, but the steps involved will introduce you to the basic knowledge you’ll need to go on and tackle your own design.
Perhaps this should even come with a warning… after you find out how easy it is, it can become addictive!
- Why learn this: There may be a wide choice of ready-made designs on the internet, but there’s always going to be a time when you can’t find what you’d like. Or perhaps you’d like to change and customize an existing design to better suit your needs!
- Where to find out more: Our introductory article is a good starting point. You can find many more advanced articles on our site, too. On YouTube, several 3D printing gurus have also explored the topic. We especially like Teaching Tech’s advice on what to consider when making your first designs.
Change Filament Mid-Print
Newcomers to 3D printing are often apprehensive about changing filament part way through a print. With practice, however, not only does this remove the common stress of “will I run out of filament before the end?” – it also opens the door to creating multicolored prints.
We’ve included a few projects above that benefit from filament swapping but where it’s not really a necessity. In case you were hesitant then, here you can do a deeper dive to get your bearings (and then go back to print the Clicky Rotating Counter or Infinity Calendar!).
The procedure may vary a little from printer to printer. Often it’s as simple as pressing “pause print”, making the change, and pressing “restart print”.
If you synchronize filament color changes with level changes in your print, you can finish an item with two, three, or even more color changes.
But if waiting patiently by your printer for the right moment doesn’t sound like fun, several slicers offer plug-ins or scripts to allow you to say exactly when you’d like a print to pause automatically.
- Why learn this: Learning how to do this increases confidence in how to handle running out of filament and will also allow you to take advantage of hundreds of designs that benefit from color changes mid-print.
- Where to find out more: We suggest trying one of these simple color-change designs first: impressive coasters, lab-style warning signs, funny toilet signs, spoof license plates, or customizable floor stands. If you use Cura as your slicer, you can automate the process.
Post-Processing
By the nature of how filament is extruded, 3D printing will leave layer lines on the finished object, and these will often distract from the effect you want – whether a glossy metallic finish or an aged vintage look. You might also want to add or emphasize details using additional colors and surface finishes.
Understanding the pros and cons of various ways to smooth and then how best to paint all or part of your prints might seem bewildering at first. A simple way to start is to choose any model (although it’s best to choose one that isn’t too small or detailed) and start with simple smoothing using fine sandpaper, spraying with primer, and then hand-painting a few details.
- Why learn this: Post-processing and painting add an entirely new dimension to 3D prints, often elevating them from cool-looking models to truly outstanding objects.
- Where to find out more: To make a start, check out our beginners’ guides to sanding and painting. But basically, just practice and have fun!
Work with Electronics
There are a lot of hobbies that overlap with 3D printing. One of the most prominent is electronics. You’ll find plenty of 3D printed projects that use motors, servos, Arduino kits, and Raspberry Pi boards as the basis for controlling 3D printed parts. Some projects simply use 3D printed cases to keep their electronics safe, such as Arduino microcontrollers or Raspberry Pi boards.
Learning how to use these electronic components, even on a basic level, will open up a whole new world for you with your 3D printer. Electronics will allow you to add lights to your projects, automate your 3D printing process with OctoPrint, and create completely customized remote-control robots and vehicles. It doesn’t take a lot of electronic knowledge to create something amazing!
- Why learn this: Electronics allows you to add life to your 3D prints and create projects that would otherwise be impossible.
- Where to find out more: You can check out our guides on simple Arduino projects to get started with, as well as some Raspberry Pi projects for beginners. Once you’ve gotten your bearings and are ready for challenges, look into the best Arduino 3D printing projects and Raspberry Pi 3D printing projects.
Printer Modifications
After acquiring a new printer, the first thing many think of is what changes or modifications they need to make. This doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with their purchase, but there are always useful additions that can be made.
Usually, these are “cosmetic” mods, for example adding a useful, dedicated tool holder or a fitting for a camera or light. In addition, there’s value in starting to develop an understanding of how other changes might benefit the quality of printing.
Clearly, these depend on the make and model of your printer, among other factors. We’d recommend reading through a couple of introductory articles to see if anything resonates.
A plus point is that many of the modifications can, themselves, be 3D printed.
- Why learn this: Apart from being able to add useful accessories to make printing easier, this is a good exercise to improve your understanding of how your printer works and what affects the quality of prints.
- Where to find out more: Make a start by checking out our article on the best mods and upgrades, and search through our other articles on the subject, too.
License: The text of "3D Printing Ideas for Beginners: 30 Easy Projects in 2024" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.