3D Printed Gifts: 10 Great 3D Printed Gift Ideas

3D printing is well-suited to the personalized nature of gifts. After all, with the right models and materials, you can create all sorts of objects, from small functional keychains to one-of-a-kind home decorations, all from the comfort of your home.

In this article, we’ll take a look at a number of gift categories, on the way pointing out further showcases and identifying a number of cool examples.

If you’re still short on models to print, you can always browse our full selection of articles in the Printables section.

Before jumping into specific categories, it’s worth mentioning some of our most popular printable articles, which feature all kinds of cool prints:

• 50 Cool Things to 3D Print in November 2019
• 45 Easy & Fun Things to 3D Print in an Hour (or Less)
• 10 Best 3D Printed Gadgets to Make Life Easier

Like what you see but don’t have access to a printer? Consider using a 3D printing service! With Craftcloud, the 3D printing and price comparison service from All3DP, you can instantly find the best price and provider for your needs, and there are no extra fees attached!

Movie fandoms have existed since movies first came into existence, and what better way to celebrate iconic characters than to print some accurate memorabilia? Models in this category would suit devoted fans of movie franchises, such as Star Wars or the MCU, or TV shows, such as Game of Thrones.

We have plenty of listicles focusing on specific fandoms; here are some of the most popular:

• 45 Epic Star Wars 3D Models to 3D Print
• 30 Great Game of Thrones 3D Models to 3D Print
• Harry Potter 3D Prints: 12+ Magical Models
• 10 Iconic Star Trek 3D Models to 3D Print
• Star Trek 3D Prints: 9 Models That Live Long and Prosper
• 3D Printed Pokémon: 7 Best Curated Models (And More!)
• The Joker: 7 Great 3D Models to Put a Smile on That Face!
• 3D Printed Terminator: 6 Great Models to Thwart Skynet

Example 3D Printed Gifts Related to Film and TV

• Star Wars Jedi Interceptor
  • Who made it? Dwight Boyko
  • Who printed it? There have been 1380 downloads, with some used for games and animation!
  • Where to get it? GrabCAD
• Captain America with broken shield and Thor’s hammer ($2)
  • Who made it? 3DPrintGeneral
  • Who printed it? Over 60 downloads and almost 12,000 views mean this model has definitely seen lots of action.
  • Where to get it? Cults3D
• The Iron Throne from Game of Thrones
  • Who made it? Piotr Katanowski
  • Who printed it? This iconic piece has 55 makes so far and over 50,000 downloads. It’s safe to assume it’s a high-quality model.
  • Where to get it? Thingiverse

Tabletop Games

Tabletop games have a highly dedicated fan base, so gifting accessories for someone’s favorite game will likely send the right message: I want to spend time with you!

There are numerous games that lend themselves well to 3D printed artifacts, such as Settlers of Catan and Dungeons and Dragons. Custom tokens and pieces are only the beginning!

If you’re looking for more board game models, you’ll enjoy the following:

• 3D Printed Tabletop Stuff – 9 Best Sources
• 3D Printed Chess Set: 20 Unique Sets & 5 Boards to 3D Print
• 3D Printed Dice – 7 Best Sites to Look for Them
• D&D: 3D Print Your Own Dungeons & Dragons Pieces

Example 3D Printed Gifts Related to Tabletop Games

• 3D Settlers of Catan
  • Who made it? Moe Zarella
  • Who printed it? Over 40,000 downloads and 60 shared makes on Thingiverse? This one is almost certainly a smooth project.
  • Where to get it? Thingiverse
• D&D Ogre Miniature
  • Who made it? Yasashii Kyojin Studio
  • Who printed it? With almost a thousand downloads and one high-quality community print after just two months online, this model is very likely a keeper.
  • Where to get it? MyMiniFactory

Video Games

3D printers are perfect for recreating video game characters and props due to their ability to reproduce organic geometry cheaply and accurately. Like movies and TV shows, video games have vast fan bases, so there’s no shortage of high-quality models no matter what game your friend or family member is into.

Here are just some popular games you can find high-quality models for:

• 42 Stunning Fallout Props & Toys to 3D Print
• 30 Best Free Fortnite Props to 3D Print
• 60 Awesome Overwatch 3D Models to 3D Print
• 52 Fantastic Nintendo Switch Mods to 3D Print
• 20 Special PS4 Mods & Accessories You Can't Buy (But 3D Print)

Example 3D Printed Gifts Related to Video Games

• 8-Bit Mario
  • Who made it? jake
  • Who printed it? With over 12,000 downloads and 39 shared makes on Thingiverse, this is probably a safe model to tinker with.
  • Where to get it? Thingiverse
• Link from Legend of Zelda
  • Who made it? Create Cafe 3D Printing
  • Who printed it? This model has over 1,600 downloads, so it’s definitely seen some action.
  • Where to get it? MyMiniFactory

Home decor is perhaps one of the simplest use cases for a 3D printer. From vases to planters, there are all kinds of simple objects even entry-level machines will have no trouble producing, so add a little creative color to your loved one’s home!

Yet, this is also a category where you can experiment with novel materials since the geometry of these models tends to be lighter on the fine details and challenging features. For example, ASA is a great material to try for outdoor objects due to its UV resistance.

Check out these home decor listicles if you want to spice things up in your humble abode:

• 3D Printed Vase - 10 Best Curated Models to 3D Print
• 3D Printed Planter:10 Great Curated Models to 3D Print
• 25 Stylish 3D Printed Lamp Shades to DIY
• 30 Festive Christmas Decorations to 3D Print at Home

Example 3D Printed Gifts Related to Decoration

• Low-Poly Bulbasaur Planter
  • Who made it? Hitsman
  • Who printed it? This humble planter has racked up almost 60,000 views and 350 makes, probably due to the popularity of the model it’s remixed from (Flowalistik’s Low-poly Bulbasaur).
  • Where to get it? Thingiverse
• Holo Clock
  • Who made it? ekkagrat
  • Who printed it? This has over 36,000 downloads and 5 makes, but it’s still not a dainty project given the electronic aspect.
  • Where to get it? Thingiverse

Looking to entertain some young ones? Any puzzle-lovers in the family?

3D printed toys are perhaps some of the most popular 3D models shared online. All kinds of trinkets have been 3D printed, from simple action figures to complex desktop toys. It’s no wonder since the accuracy and reliability of consumer 3D printers are continually improving.

Note that many of these models are composed of more than one part, however, and some assembly is usually required. This might also put your printer’s tolerances to the test, so make sure you tune it before attempting some of the harder models.

Check out one of our many toy listicles to find some awesome trinkets:

• 3D Print Lego: 40 Fantastic Lego Parts & Minifigs to 3D Print
• 20 Best 3D Printed Nerf Gun Parts, Mods & Attachments
• 3D Printed Puzzle – 10 Great Curated Models to 3D Print
• 3D Printed Transformers: 10 Incredible Models
• 3D Printed Plane – 15 Great Curated Models to 3D Print
• 3D Printed Dinosaur – 8 Best Curated Models
• 30 DIY Barbie Accessories You Can’t Buy in a Shop

Example 3D Printed Gifts Related to Toys

• Kinetic Sculpture
  • Who made it? J. A. Montoya
  • Who printed it? This niche model has almost 10,000 downloads and 2 makes, probably owning to its complexity. But it’s probably still a solid one if you’re inclined to do some assembling.
  • Where to get it? Thingiverse
• Hallway Seej
  • Who made it? Jon Dunfee
  • Who printed it? With over 5,000 downloads and 6 makes, this model is probably a safe bet, even though it’s got many parts.
  • Where to get it? Thingiverse

There are many RC fans out there, and 3D printing is squarely in their sights. After all, consumer 3D printers are now capable of creating objects using some highly durable materials that are suitable for high-performance applications. In addition, the flexibility of post-processing options and ease of manufacturing also makes 3D printing a popular method of feeding RC hobbyists’ passion.

Spread the joy of RC to those around you with the models in these articles:

• 3D Printed RC Plane: 10 Great Curated 3D Models
• 3D Printed RC Car: 12 Cars to Feel Like an F1 Racer
• 3D Printed Drone Parts: All You Need to Know in 2019

Example 3D Printed Gifts Related to RC Models

• RC Benchy
  • Who made it? Philip Thulin
  • Who printed it? With over 22,000 downloads and 12 makes, this is quite a popular model, even though it’s relatively complex.
  • Where to get it? Thingiverse
• SuperNova RC Plane
  • Who made it? Kjetil
  • Who printed it? This has close to 11,000 downloads and 3 makes, so it’s probably seen some air time.
  • Where to get it? Thingiverse
•  VectBuggy
  • Who made it? Vectary
  • Who printed it? Almost 4,000 downloads, so this is a great RC car model to tinker with.
  • Where to get it? MyMiniFactory

The ability to make custom objects of all shapes and sizes with 3D printers is exceptionally showcased in the making of phone cases. Everyone needs them, and they need to be durable and tailor-made for different devices. Fun materials like TPU can also be used to create the classic flexible cases you’re used to, especially since they usually don’t have many fine details.

Your friend has had the same phone for years? So what? Swap out that boring case or stand for something fun and personal!

• 5 Best Sources for 3D Printed Phone Cases
• 22 Best Headphone Stands and Headset Stands to 3D Print
• 3D Printed Phone Stand – 6 Best Curated Models

Example 3D Printed Gifts Related to Stands & Cases

• Octopus Stand
  • Who made it? Colin Payson
  • Who printed it? Well over 100,000 downloads and 700 makes for such a simple model? This almost certainly works as advertised.
  • Where to get it? Thingiverse
• Mechanical Phone Stand
  • Who made it? Arron Mollet
  • Who printed it? At over 72,000 downloads and 41 makes, this model is a solid bet, despite being relatively complex.
  • Where to get it? Thingiverse

3D printing jewelry might seem like a bit of a stretch, especially with FDM printing, but it sure is possible depending on the type of jewelry you choose. And if you have a resin printer at the ready, you can do almost anything with fine detail work at your fingertips and castable resin at your disposal.

Check out these other articles if you’re interested in the niche:

• 20 Outstanding Pieces of 3D Printed Jewelry
• 3D Printed Jewelry – 4 Best Places to Buy It
• How to 3D Print Jewelry – Tips for Designers

Example 3D Printed Gifts Related to Jewelry

• Cthulhu Ring
  • Who made it? Colin Freeman
  • Who printed it? This simple ring has over 8,000 downloads and 14 makes on Thingiverse, you should have no problems printing it!
  • Where to get it? Thingiverse
• Simple Geometric Earrings
  • Who made it? Attila Gazso
  • Who printed it? This model has barely 700 downloads probably because it’s simple and not terribly unique, but you’ll have a simple set of earrings on your hand.
  • Where to get it? MyMiniFactory

Know someone who’s heavy into the tinkering culture? Why not get them something flashy to go along with their credit-card-sized computer?

Typically, single-boards computers need some building before they can be truly useful (or, at least, aesthetic). In particular, cases help keep things tidy, modular, and protected. That’s where this category comes in:

• 35 Fantastic Raspberry Pi Cases to 3D Print in 2019
• 12 Awesome Arduino Cases to 3D Print
• 30 Great Arduino Projects (You Can Make with a 3D Printer)
• 30 RetroPie Gaming Raspberry Pi Cases to 3D Print

Example 3D Printed Gifts Related to Raspberry Pi & Arduino

• Raspberry Pi Model B Case with 75 mm VESA Mount
  • Who made it? MP (0110-M-P)
  • Who printed it? This beast of a design has been downloaded a whopping 22,509 times, with 84 shared likes.
  • Where to get it? Thingiverse
• Customizable Arduino Case
  • Who made it? Laird Popkin (laird)
  • Who printed it? 2,853 downloads indicate a definite interest, and 4 makes confirms it.
  • Where to get it? Thingiverse

Last but not least come a few specific ideas that didn’t quite fit in the above categories. But that doesn’t make them any less useful, fun, or interesting!

• 3D Printed Cookie Cutters: 10 Great Curated Models to 3D Print
• 3D Printed Tools: 10 Great Curated Models to 3D Print
• 3D Printed Keychain: 10 Best Curated Models to 3D Print
• 3D Printed Box: 10 Great Curated Models to 3D Print

Miscellaneous Example 3D Printed Gifts

• Seemingly Angry Gingerbread Cookie Cutters
  • Who made it? OogiMe
  • Who printed it? With 39,109 downloads and 58 makes, we’re pretty sure this design has brought plenty of joy to many tummies around the world.
  • Where to get it? Thingiverse
• Superhero Keychains
  • Who made it? FORMBYTE
  • Who printed it? At least 18 people have made their own versions of these simple, yet powerful designs.
  • Where to get it? Thingiverse

(Lead image source: 3DofTom via MyMiniFactory)