The Raspberry Pi Zero is a tinkerer’s dream! This tiny single-board computer features a 1-GHz processor, 512 MB of RAM, and on-board Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, all for only $10.
To reach that price point, the Pi Zero comes fairly bare-bones; it only includes the circuit board itself, with no accessories. As such, the board can be fairly fragile, so having a case for your Pi is important. To that end, we’ve gathered a list of our top picks of Raspberry Pi Zero cases.
If you see the perfect Pi protection but don’t have access to a 3D printer, head to Craftcloud by All3DP. With countless materials and colors to choose from, your Pi will be snug as a bug in a 3D printed rug in no time.
Simple Cases
These are cases that require very little additional hardware. Just hit print!
Face
These cute cases require no additional hardware; if 3D printed properly, they snap-fit shut. There are two different top covers, one that gives you access to the GPIO pins, and the other with teeth. Both made us smile!
The designer included the Fusion 360 files if you want to make any adjustments. They also stated that each half of the case took about 30 minutes to print and used around 9 grams of filament. When printing, ensure you’re using enough perimeters so that it’s not too flimsy.
- Who designed it? Keebie81
- How printable/popular is it? There are four Makes of this cute case and a few positive comments.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Diagonalizer
The Diagonalizer is a great-looking case. Its sleek and low-profile design makes for a simple yet protective case that ensures all functionality of the Pi is retained and accessed with ease.
It has a robust design and allows for easy passive cooling due to the extruded cuts on both sides. No supports are required, but be aware that you’ll need your printer settings dialed in to deal with bridging.
The entire component is composed of four parts, two for the top, and two for the base. The multi-part print means you can add a pop of color for the internal layer!
- Who designed it? Clockspring
- How printable/popular is it? At least three others have printed this case, with impressive results.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Box
This utilitarian, two-piece case is a great choice if you need a little more protection for your Pi. A snap-fit lid and alignment pegs mean that this case needs no extra hardware. There’s even storage space for a spare SD card.
Make sure you have your printer’s nozzle temperatures dialed in for your filament, otherwise the pegs of this case may snap!
- Who designed it? SnowmansEye
- How printable/popular is it? Although there are no Makes of this case, the positive comments indicate printing success.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Stand
While not a case per se, this simple, easy-to-print stand maintains complete access to your Pi and even has a hole for cable management. Display your Pi in a safe and accessible way for your tinkering needs!
Adafruit has a video detailing more about the project. One successful maker printed this in PLA with 30% infill.
- Who designed it? Adafruit
- How printable/popular is it? There are four Makes on Thingiverse, as well as three Remixes.
- Where to find it? Adafruit, Thingiverse, Printables
Lego
Use leftover Lego blocks or print your own to make a fully modular mount for your Raspberry Pi Zero! Quickly create mounts for other electrical components like a camera or sensors for a fully-custom project box.
If you’re having trouble getting your parts to snap together, try scaling up the base by 1-2%. Also don’t use supports, as the Lego pegs will have interfacing issues.
- Who designed it? Cheltenham_Hackspace
- How printable/popular is it? One user has posted their Make on Thingiverse and the comments suggest at least one other has had success in printing.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Cases in Disguise
These cases will keep your Pi safe while paying homage to your favorite games, movies, and even household items!
NES
This is a Raspberry Pi Zero case in the shape of the classic Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). Just be warned that because this case is fully enclosed with no fan, the creator suggests printing in a temperature-resistant filament like PETG or ABS.
- Who designed it? daftmike
- How printable/popular is it? Nine users have shared their successful prints on Thingiverse.
- Where to get it? Thingiverse
MacPi Pro
Get the Mac Pro “trash can” on your desk for pennies… sort of. This case emulates the design of the divisive and infamous desktop from Apple. At just under half the size of the real deal, this case has space for a 40-mm fan and cutouts for all the necessary ports.
This model is composed of eight pieces. It’s suggested to print the fan grill upside down for the best results.
- Who designed it? The_Craft_Dude
- How printable/popular is it? There are several comments, three posted Makes, and two Remixes on Thingiverse.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse, Cults
Fifth Element
Whether or not you’re a fan of The Fifth Element, this case will look great on your desk! Featuring space for a NeoPixel strip and accessible ports in the back, this case prints in two pieces and snaps together with no extra hardware. Turn your Raspberry Pi into an elemental stone that can destroy the Great Evil!
Print this case with the largest surface face down, and use a brim if you have issues with warping. If you don’t have a piece of acrylic for the LED strip, try using some clear filament!
- Who designed it? JayFi
- How printable/popular is it? No one has posted their makes of this case yet… why not be the first?
- Where to find it? Thingiverse, Cults
Amazon Echo
This case has a similar design to the first generation of Amazon Echo devices. There’s the same venting (speaker) grills, a space for a NeoPixel RGB ring, and a rotary encoder on the top cap. To take this case to the next level, user Ajaxjones has a tutorial on Instructables on how to remotely control your powered devices from your Raspberry Pi, just like an Alexa device!
Make sure you have your retractions dialed in on your printer before printing this for the best results!
- Who designed it? Ajaxjones
- How printable/popular is it? There are two posted Makes and one Remix on Thingiverse.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse, Printables
Playstation One
Pay homage to your favorite gaming console with this very mini Playstation One case for your Raspberry Pi Zero. It’s the perfect addition to a console emulation project. User Rated-E Mods has also provided some decals to really put the finishing touches on this case!
Since this case is all about the curves, try printing this with a smaller layer height for less post-processing work.
- Who designed it? Rated-E Mods
- How printable/popular is it? This fun case has been downloaded nearly 3,500 times with no issues reported.
- Where to find it? YouMagine
Security Camera
This case is designed to look like a mini-security camera. Print it just as a case, or take the next step and add a camera. User Mchaos has even created a night-vision upgrade!
Make sure you use supports for the top cover piece if your printer has issues bridging longer gaps. User GofX has remixed the top cover to fix the minor issues with the original STLs.
- Who designed it? agilliam
- How printable/popular is it? There are four posted Makes and six Remixes, as well as heaps of mostly positive comments.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Pokémon Lure
Show your love for Pokémon Go with this case designed to look like a Lure. If you want to take it even further, Adafruit provides instructions on how to connect it to the game so that the LEDs light up when a Pokémon is close.
This case should be pretty simple to print. Make sure you don’t print the LED holders by themselves, as your printer might have some issues with cooling each layer.
- Who designed it? Adafruit
- How printable/popular is it? There’s one posted Make on Thingiverse but given the extensive documentation by Adafruit, we suspect there are a lot more out there!
- Where to find it? Adafruit, Thingiverse
Displays
These cases add an extra factor – all incorporate a display of some kind! Whether you use them for a puny PC or a tiny TV, your Pi will be protected in these prints.
Simpsons' TV
The Simpsons’ TV is a unique and one-of-a-kind Pi Zero case. Its similarity to the original TV is uncanny, and it offers a 21st-century twist on a classic device. If you follow the designer’s full instructions, it can even play random Simpsons episodes on loop!
This print can be printed with 10% infill and requires no supports except for the front of the case. There are six different parts required for assembly but it should all fit on one build plate.
- Who designed it? buba447
- How printable/popular is it? This mini-TV has 16 Makes and 15 Remixes for different displays.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse, Brandon Withrow
Terminal
Create a portable serial terminal that you can use to program ESP8266 modules running MicroPython! This might seem like a niche project, but it’s a fun electronics build with a practical application to apply to your future ventures.
This is a more complex project, ideal for those looking for a new challenge and to elevate their printing, electronics, programming, and basic mechanical knowledge. In addition to the 3D printed case, this project incorporates quite a few parts, including a keyboard upcycled from an old iPhone case.
- Who designed it? BrainFever
- How printable/popular is it? There are three Makes and a Remix for a different iPhone model, which gives more flexibility on the parts you can use to build this.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
PiGrrl
Turn your Raspberry Pi Zero into a full-fledged gaming console. With this project, you can play Super Nintendo, Nintendo, Sega, and N64 games on the go! This project comes with a step-by-step tutorial to guide you through the process.
Adafruit has uploaded a split version of the STL files for printers that have a smaller print bed.
- Who designed it? Adafruit
- How printable/popular is it? This is a popular project, with 23 Makes and 21 Remixes shared on Thingiverse.
- Where to find it? Adafruit, Thingiverse
PiTFT
This Pi Zero case is both simple and complex! This is ideal for anyone running a network looking to have a pocket-sized device, but you could equally use the components to create a screen for gaming or streaming.
You’ll require multiple components in addition to the two printed parts, including a 3.5” PiTFT, a tactile button, an LED and some bolts. The printable parts should be straightforward to create; the challenge is in wiring it all up!
- Who designed it? PrintSomething
- How printable/popular is it? This has had nearly 2,000 views on Pinshape and should be simple to print.
- Where to find it? Pinshape
More than Cases
These cases will require some tinkering and additional components, but they can turn your Pi into full-fledged devices!
Octopi Mount
This is a super simple and quick print for those looking for a Pi Zero and camera combo for their OctoPi setup! Although not a simple project, the final result is an extremely reliable OctoPi camera setup. Once it’s complete, you won’t have to worry about your camera falling or shifting due to any printer-based vibrations. There’s also the option to add temperature sensors!
There are six major components to print, and the case has been updated to add a dedicated area for a camera ribbon cable. The printed components have designated pins, so make sure your printer is in peak condition before attempting this.
- Who designed it? MJWMakes
- How printable/popular is it? There are two Makes and two Remixes of this handy case.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
FPV Robot
This FPV robot is designed around the Raspberry Pi Zero and can be controlled via your computer or smartphone. It has a dedicated camera module and Wi-Fi access point from the Pi Zero itself. It also includes a dedicated charging port, headlights, and a safe shutdown mode.
The print itself is more complex than some; there are seven components to print and the two primary shells will require supports. You have the option to work with flexible filament for the tires, which is ideal for those looking to experiment with new materials. Everything else can be printed with PLA!
- Who designed it? Wingman94
- How printable/popular is it? There are 13 Makes and 15 Remixes of this nifty little robot.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
USB
Use this case to make an easily accessible USB dongle from your Raspberry Pi. It can even share your computer’s internet access!
The model should be easy to print. The creator used ColorFabb’s NGen (PETG). Note that you’ll need some hot glue for assembly.
- Who designed it? curcuz
- How printable/popular is it? There are three Makes and three Remixes shared on Thingiverse.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Wi-Fi Camera
If you’re looking for a compact and wireless camera, this Pi Zero case is the one for you! It offers the simple function of being a portable wireless camera that you can use for security, watching your printer, and more.
This print requires no supports and just takes a few bolts to assemble. There are two parts to print and both should be quick and easy, ideal for anyone looking for a mini-project with a purpose!
- Who designed it? Dimwit-Dave
- How printable/popular is it? This case-with-a-twist has over 4,000 downloads, and there are three Remixes.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Smart Speaker
This retro-style smart speaker case for your Raspberry Pi Zero includes space for a microphone board. There’s even code for an audio recognition program to recognize keywords and simple commands that run on the Pi Zero! You’ll find a comprehensive guide on the project page.
Make sure your orient the stand of this case so that the arm is laying flat against the print bed. The designer printed the three parts with 80% infill and a 0.35-mm resolution.
- Who designed it? yodakohl
- How printable/popular is it? No one has yet posted their Makes of this case, but it’s been downloaded over 2,000 times.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Media Streamer
Take your Pi on the go and transform it into a music streamer or player. This is a simple two-part case with space for a standard 18650 lithium-ion rechargeable battery and a sliding switch. You’ll need a few extra parts to get this project going, including the aforementioned battery and a microSD card.
Aside from the mandatory supports, this case should be a pretty straightforward print. Like some of the other cases, you’ll need some glue for assembly.
- Who designed it? rumina
- How printable/popular is it? There are several comments, though no Makes have been shared yet.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
GIF Camera
Turn your Raspberry Pi Zero into a one-of-a-kind GIF camera! Capture full GIFs with the nostalgia of the disposable camera era. A full tutorial with code examples can be found on the Hackster page.
This design is comprised of simple shapes and should be very easy to print!
- Who made it? nickrbrewer
- How popular/printable is it? Hackster user Mindy Mosher has improved upon the Pix-E camera with her very own infrared flash remix!
- Where to get it? YouMagine, Hackster
Bonus: Microscope
While this is certainly beyond what could be called a “case”, it’s still a very impressive way to use your Raspberry Pi. It’s a simple and elegant project that turns your Pi Zero and a camera module into a digital microscope! Brauns CNC’s YouTube video explains step by step how to make this incredible gadget that can simultaneously capture and display 1080p!
The design is made to be easily printable with no supports. If you don’t have a suitable aluminum base, you can print that part, too! Additionally, you’ll need a few screws, rods, and other parts to complete this setup.
- Who made it? BraunsCNC
- How popular/printable is it? While there are no posted Makes, there’s one Remix with some updates to the design.
- Where to get it? Thingiverse
License: The text of "The Best Raspberry Pi Zero Cases to 3D Print" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.