The Christmas season really is one of the most wonderful times of the year. Family, friends, food, and gifts all help make this holiday special for many.
However, gift-giving can be stressful. If you’re not sure what to get someone and want to think a bit out of the box, why not give them a 3D printed gift? Here, we’ve compiled a list of some of the coolest Christmas-themed options. Luckily, you won’t have to consult Santa to give these out! And just in case you’re organizing a last-minute get-together, we’ve included a few fast prints that’ll add some pizzazz and enhance the festive spirit at your place!
While looking through these suggestions, if you see something you want to get 3D printed but don’t have the setup or means, check out Craftcloud by All3DP. With a range of materials and finishes, your present can be on its way in just a few clicks.
Now, without further ado, let’s get to our Christmas list!
Collectibles
You can never go wrong with gifting your loved ones toys and collectibles from their favorite fandoms. From the infamous Death Star to a Pickle Rick tree ornament, there are plenty of gift options here for pop culture lovers.
Linux Penguin
When you think of Christmas and Santa Claus, you probably think of elves, toys, and a table weighed down with sweet treats. However, let’s not forget about our cold-climate friends this year!
This cute Linux penguin will melt your heart in his little red Santa hat. This 3D print should be relatively straightforward, although it may need some supports for the arms, nose, and hat.
- Who designed it? CreativeTools
- How printable/popular is it? This model has been downloaded around 600 times and viewed by around 8,100 people. A cute make has also been shared.
- Where to find it? Cults
One Piece Devil Fruits
The Netflix adaptation of One Piece has brought about many new fans of the series, with long-time followers enjoying the new medium as well. Commemorate this exciting year for the One Piece series with 3D printed Devil Fruits!
These models are designed to use minimal support while maintaining a very impressive surface finish. The designer recommends using a 0.1-mm layer height for the best results.
- Who designed them? Abdul_Fattah-shehadeh
- How printable/popular are they? The Ope Ope no Mi model is the most popular of the Devil Fruits; it has been downloaded over 5,000 times! You can even find a shared make to view.
- Where to find them? Thingiverse (Ope Ope no Mi), Thingiverse (Gomu Gomu no mi), Thingiverse (Mera Mera no Mi)
Baby Yoda
It might be cold outside, but Baby Yoda is here to warm your heart. The Child, or Grogu, is a popular character from The Mandalorian to print as a collectible or Christmas gift. This beloved figurine will make an eye-catching addition to your desk or workspace.
The creator suggests using PLA filament. You can print it with a single color or achieve a more realistic look by painting your print. Place it near some heavy objects to make it look like Baby Yoda is using Force Pull.
- Who designed it? MarVin Miniatures
- How printable/popular is it? This incredibly popular model has over 36,000 likes and 1,178 makes in the community! The majority went with a realistic look for the colors, while others printed in green or gray PLA.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Death Star
Your friends won’t be able to deflect a gift of this magnitude! This incredible 3D printed Death Star is certain to start a rebellion over who gets to hang this on the tree. Although it doesn’t come with the super laser blast, it does include some high-level Death Star features in addition to the docking ports at the equator – just like in the iconic films.
For 3D printing, you’ll only need supports on the upper dome part. However, you’ll need a few extra parts to make it light up. You can find a full description of the assembly process on Imgur.
- Who designed it? 3ddruckqueck
- How printable/popular is it? This model has been downloaded by over 1,100 makers and viewed over 11,300 times.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Pickle Rick
For those of you who celebrate Christmas by hanging a Christmas pickle on the tree, you’ll love this modern take on an old classic. Meet Rick and Morty’s Pickle Rick!
This model is a remix of another designer’s Christmas pickle. Regardless, it’s sure to keep the kids entertained as they search for Rick to earn themselves an extra present. Although the creator printed it with resin, at least one of the recorded makes was successful in PLA.
- Who designed it? DrewSmith007
- How printable/popular is it? This model has been downloaded over 6,000 times and has 6 recorded makes.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
John McClane
While this could technically be under “Decorations”, it’ll be the perfect present for the Jake Peralta of your life.
Die Hard is a Christmas classic for many, and this iconic ornament perfectly captures Bruce Willis’ John McClane. The file is designed for multicolor printing, but if you don’t have a multicolor setup, you can also opt for pausing at height. The designer left clear instructions on how to perform color swaps at specific layers. You also have the option of printing the ornament in a single color and painting it later, should you have the time to spare.
The makes showcase a lot of variety in color choices, so it looks like you can easily get an incredible Christmas decoration out of your print! Plus, you’ll have McClane keeping the tree safe.
Yippee-Ki-Yay and Merry Christmas!
- Who designed it? Frikarte3D
- How printable/popular is it? This model has only been downloaded around 120 times, although 18 makes have been shared.
- Where to find it? Printables
Stocking Stuffers
When you’re making a list and checking it twice, don’t forget to include stocking stuffers. These sweet giftables are fun and (in some cases) functional.
Gift Box
This printable box can make for the perfect last-minute present, either as a standalone gift or as a container for small objects. These gift boxes can also double as decorations under small Christmas tree displays!
The ribbon, box, and box lid each print separately, allowing you to create personalized color schemes for your box, and each box is scalable to fit your needs. The designer has even left a card-shaped gift box model to make your gift cards a little more exciting this year.
- Who designed it? muddtt
- How printable/popular is it? An impressive 97,000 downloads and 91 makes show that this is a very, very popular model this year!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Customizable Snow Globe
These customizable snow globes can help you create personalized scenes to display around the house. Each globe has slots for three of the nine different panels, so you can combine them to make your own Christmas scene. Mix and match colors for the best results!
All of the pieces for a single snow globe can be printed and assembled in about three and a half hours, according to the designer. If you’re experiencing any trouble getting your panes to slot into the base, the designer recommends using a deburring tool on the panes. You can also print the loose-fitting base model for more wiggle room.
Choose a design with each guest in mind for a great party favor!
- Who designed it? Sconnie Makes
- How printable/popular is it? This model has seen almost 4,000 downloads. Many are eager to share their creations, with 100 makes and 11 remixes already posted!
- Where to find it? Printables
Reindeer Kit Card
This Christmas reindeer kit card is one of the best 3D printed gifts for easy postage. You can give someone a pre-assembled version or take advantage of the flat shape for a surprise gift in the mail. It also comes with easy-to-understand assembly instructions, so you can surprise someone with a 3D printed gift in a 2D format.
The creator also included some laser-cutting versions and mentioned that it doesn’t require any supports or rafts. Since the model is somewhat thin, it’s best to use the top and bottom layers and make the infill 100%. The creator also recommends printing the first layer slower for a smoother print.
- Who designed it? tone001
- How printable/popular is it? This model has over 18,000 likes and 120 makes. The card looks great printed with colored PLA.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Balancing Wine Bottle Holder
Your guests will undoubtedly ask you a couple of questions about this unique wine bottle holder. The holder seems to defy gravity and is compatible with any regular 500 to 1,000-ml bottle. It’s a great conversation starter for parties or gatherings.
This project prints without rafts or supports, and the creator suggests an infill of 25%. The model will look best with any color of silk PLA, especially gold or red.
- Who designed it? Kenneth79
- How printable/popular is it? This model has over 3,100 likes and 42 makes. One make even includes a timelapse video.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Filigree Double Wall Tealight Holder
Print this double-wall tealight holder to add warmth and light to your home. The rays from the candle shine through to produce unique shadows.
The creator describes the make as a “holder for real tealight candles” but suggests being careful with open flames in windy places, especially outside. However, you can also use warm LED lights instead of real candles to mitigate the fire hazard. Furthermore, the design requires a 1-1.5 cm raft and additional supports.
- Who designed it? graph
- How printable/popular is it? This model has an impressive 116 makes. Everyone seems happy with their make, but some makers are bothered by the long print time.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Cat Ears
Get your cat dressed up this holiday season with these adorable reindeer antlers! It’s a fun decoration that the whole family will love if you can keep them on your pet. The headband can be resized to fit any cat comfortably. The ears can be printed in separate colors and attached to the headband after printing.
Will the cat be feeling more festive? Highly unlikely, but the humans will enjoy the adorable photos!
The designer has left some instructions in the description if you would like to give your antlers a more festive look. Be sure to check it out!
- Who designed it? steair
- How printable/popular is it? Four unique makes show that this model is indeed printable. The 75 likes show that many are interested in printing these cute cat ears.
- Where to find it? Printables
Decorations
Want to make your home jolly for the holiday season? Spruce it up with the following 3D printed decorations, including some dazzling reindeer, a realistic Christmas tree, and a snowman that will melt your heart.
Merry Christmas Sign
Every Christmas party needs a festive sign – this print does just that. Get your guests into the Christmas spirit with a quirky sign!
This model consists of an easy two-part assembly that lets you use your best Christmas-colored filament. The model has space for four 5- x 2-mm magnets to hold the two halves together, though you can quickly glue them together if you’re in a hurry and don’t have the magnets on hand.
- Who designed it? MrObvious
- How printable/popular is it? This is a fairly popular model with over 1,000 downloads and 5 makes.
- Where to find it? Printables
Snowflake Bauble
If your goal is to make your home feel like a winter wonderland, there’s no better place to start than with this special Christmas tree bauble model! The tree can be used as a standalone decoration or as an ornament with a little string or a hook.
This festive Christmas decoration prints entirely in flat pieces that all slot together, with no glue required. The end result is a gorgeous tree with a spinning snowflake bauble. The designer has several different bauble designs available, including an angel, a star, a hanging lantern, and even Darth Vader. Try some silk filament for very festive – and stunning – results!
- Who designed it? 3DPrintBunny
- How printable/popular is it? While it’s been downloaded over 4,300 times from both sites, 60 makers have shared their take on it on Printables so far!
- Where to find it? Cults, Printables
Snowman
Do you want to build a snowman? Making a snowman from snow is always fun, but it will melt away sooner or later. However, this 3D printed one won’t melt when temperatures rise. Print this cute snowman and decorate it with a woolen scarf to keep it cozy all season long.
This design comes with the body, nose, eyes, and some decorations in the form of buttons and a fancy hat.
Per the print instructions, print the nose and arms horizontally and use supports for all the parts. After printing your snowman, use some glue to assemble it. Then, you only need a small piece of cloth to make a scarf and complete the look.
- Who designed it? Maxime
- How printable/popular is it? This model has over 190 downloads and 27 likes. There are even two cool makes shared!
- Where to find it? Printables
Realistic Tree
Amazingly, you can create a realistic leafy texture using a 3D printer. This pine tree model looks just like a prickly conifer despite being made on a standard fused deposition modeling (FDM) machine.
The fuzziness is the result of rapid overhanging print moves that create the look of spikey greenery. After the part is complete, you can reform the sagging spikes using a heat gun. The designer specifically recommends printing in PETG or TPU for best results.
- Who designed it? Otacsum
- How printable/popular is it? This model has been downloaded over 20,000 times and has 30 makes from the community. Everyone’s prints look great, and there are plenty of positive comments, so it’s not as scary to print as it looks!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Orbital Tree Decoration
This orbital tree decoration is simple yet dynamic. A print-in-place-style model, it’s printed as one piece without supports. You can freely rotate the parts of this ornament without worrying about them coming apart, as long as it’s handled and taken care of properly.
However, you won’t want to scale the design down, as the designer warns that the walls will get too thin. They also claim that you’ll get the best results when printing slowly or multiple ornaments at a time.
- Who designed it? infocus
- How printable/popular is it? This model has 2 makes and over 9,200 downloads.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
D20 Tree Topper
Next up, we have a special D20 tree topper. Considering the size, it may seem like a massive task, but as long as your printer doesn’t have a critical failure, it should turn out nicely with reasonable supports.
What’s neat about this model is that it shows each of the numbers when lit from the inside. The maker suggests using an Arduino for the lighting, so you can impress your dungeon master friends when they come over to spread some holiday cheer.
- Who designed it? Jim Rodda
- How printable/popular is it? This model has been downloaded over 400 times and viewed almost 6,000 times.
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Holiday Deer
Whether you want a single deer for decorating a dining room table or a whole herd of deer to build your Christmas scenes, this holiday deer is for you! The great thing about this design is that it has a lot of remixes. From Voronoi versions to a laying Christmas deer, you can 3D print the ones you like and add variety to your collection.
The maker includes detailed print instructions, and the project does not require any rafts or supports. The gold and red metallic glitter paint look fantastic, or you can simply use any colored PLA of your choice. Just remember to give your deer a bell!
- Who designed it? yeg3d
- How printable/popular is it? This model has over 12,000 likes and an impressive 307 makes. The metallic glitter colors look great; however, the makes prove that almost any color would look amazing.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Pig
No Christmas dinner (or table, for that matter) would be complete without a Christmas ham, but how about this suckling pig with an apple in its mouth?
You can print this Christmas pig with just a few supports and paint the apple a festive red to set it apart from the rest of the model.
- Who designed it? CreativeTools
- How printable/popular is it? This model has a shared make and over 340 downloads.
- Where to find it? Cults
License: The text of "20 Great Last-Minute 3D Printed Christmas Gifts" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.