3D printing is an excellent hobby, but we all get sick of churning out the same old stuff after a while. You can only print so many random ornaments!
That’s why we’ve curated a list of designs that will actually spruce up your daily routine. Whether it’s around the house or on the move, these gadgets are sure to please, and even make for great gifts.
Plus, we’ve added five bonus things to 3D print at the end that are just, really, really cool.
Contents
1. Under-Desk Drawer
Maybe I picked this 3D print because I’m writing this article from a particularly cluttered desk – who knows? What I can tell you, is that it’s one of the cleanest-looking under-desk drawer models out there, complete with enough space for all the essentials. And it’s very straightforward to attach.
Difficulty: Easy
Made by: zahader
2. Gorilla Space Case
If you need a sturdy storage solution for tools or other work gear, this may be just the thing. The case is water-resistant, dustproof, and lockable. Remember to read the instructions before getting started as there are some important tips to keep in mind.
Difficulty: Moderate
Made by: muddymaker
3. Bluetooth Speaker
Not only is this speaker visually stunning, it sounds amazing too. While you will require a few extra bits to get the electronics working, the total cost shouldn’t be more than $20. Visit creator guppyk’s profile for a matching subwoofer and other parts to round out your sound system.
Difficulty: Hard
Made by: guppyk
4. Sound Amplifier
If that last design seemed a bit complex, here’s a simpler way to amp up your music-listening experience. This horn-shaped device needs no additional work, just print, slot your phone in, and hit play.
Difficulty: Easy
Made by: TiZYX
5. Squeeze Fan Ruggedized!
The perfect 3D-printed life hack for these hot summer months! There are plenty of squeeze fan models out there, but most are more fun than functional. This one has been bigger, stronger, and oh so much windier to keep you cooler than a cucumber on Christmas.
Difficulty: Moderate
Made by: GeorgeZSL
Loving these ideas but missing a printer? Hire a professional to 3D print your designs, it’s surprisingly affordable!
6. LED Hexagonal Panels
Upgrade your gaming setup, bedroom, or office with a set of ambient LED panels. Aside from the usual materials, the only things you need are some RGBIC strip lights and super glue. If you’re feeling adventurous, experiment with multiple colours to create a gradient effect.
Difficulty: Easy
Made by: bigjim36
We can also 3D scan your furniture and appliances to help you build a purpose-built gaming space.
7. Customisable Fridge Door Organiser
A useful 3D printing idea that’s no sweat to assemble? Yes please! Grab a handful of magnets and stick this fully customisable organiser to your fridge door. Attachments include a pen holder, paper notes holder, and a hook for a bottle opener, keys, or anything else that takes your fancy.
Difficulty: Easy
Made by: Der_Dennis
8. Bread Bag Clip
Not the flashiest item on this list, but my favourite by far. Keep your precious bread fresh without having to deal with those frustrating sticky seals. Still not sold? It also doubles up as a wonderful finger-pinching fidget toy.
Difficulty: Easy
Made by: SAMPSONDESIGN
9. Shoe Organiser
Here’s a handy 3D print for the sneakerheads. Sort and display your collection in style with these sleek shoe organisers. For those wanting a faster print, jordi_id7 has kindly added a version with holes.
Difficulty: Easy
Made by: jordi_id7
10. Mini Wrench Kit
One thing that I always seem to be missing is the right size wrench. It’s such a letdown when you have to delay a D.I.Y. project to go out and find one. So, why not treat yourself to a full set of mini wrenches, including M3, M4, M5, M6 variants.
Difficulty: Easy
Made by: yucelll
11. Screwdriver Bits
Continue kitting out your 3D-printed toolbox with an array of screwdriver bits. Now, obviously they’re not as strong as their metal counterparts, but in situations where you require very little torque, they get the job done.
Difficulty: Easy
Made by: guppyk
12. Quick Grab/Release Phone Stand
Time to get mechanical! This quick grab/release phone stand works just as well as anything you’d buy on Amazon. The description provides in-depth instructions, plus a link to a small extension spring which is necessary to finish the build.
Difficulty: Moderate
Made by: Arron_mollet22
13. Car Phone Holder
Another life-hacking print, this time for when you’re on the road. Similar to the previous design, this mechanical phone holder attaches straight into your AC vents. To customise your interior even further, use a 3D car scanning service to craft accessories that fit your exact measurements.
Difficulty: Moderate
Made by: SUNSHINE
14. Easy-Clean Toothbrush Holder
Let’s go back to boring yet brilliant. “Toothbrush holder” may not scream exciting print, but this thing has a trick up its sleeve. Simply unscrew the bottom to rinse away any unsavoury gunk that has been accumulating. Not to mention, the bubble pattern is a perfect fit for any bathroom!
Difficulty: Easy
Made by: GAZZALADRA
15. Toothpaste Squeezer
While we’re chatting oral hygiene, don’t you just hate it when that last squidge of toothpaste refuses to budge? Fire up your 3D printer and end this nightmare with ChatterComa’s no-nonsense toothpaste squeezer.
Difficulty: Easy
Made by: ChatterComa
16. Travel Hanger
This print and pack travel hanger makes suitcase stuffing a breeze. Fold your clothes around the hanger to keep your luggage in-check, and creasing to a minimum. No supports required, and standard settings should do the job.
Difficulty: Easy
Made by: SAMPSONDESIGN
17. One-Hand Bottle Opener
There’s no shortage of bottle opener models online, but this is one of the most popular picks. It makes use of hexagons to maximise strength while minimising material usage, genius! All you need to complete your bottle opener is a fitting magnet.
Difficulty: Easy
Made by: quattro
18. Tape Measure Holder
If you like a bit of order in your “random stuff” drawer, 3D printing this nifty tape measure holder could be a nice place to start. It’s even got finger dimples on the side to make it easy to grip when winding and unwinding.
Difficulty: Easy
Made by: RoboHartMaker
19. Minecraft Chest Apple Watch Stand
You don’t need to be a Minecraft fan to appreciate how cool this Apple Watch stand is. It’s compatible with Apple Watch series 1 to 8, SE, Ultra, and 1st Generation. As intricate as it looks, the print shouldn’t actually be too challenging. The only thing missing is a diamond or two!
Difficulty: Moderate
Made by: CUBE3DWORLD
20. Headset Stand
Another one for the gamers – every headset deserves a home. If you want the whole LED vibe, you’ll have to grab a few extra bits. It’s one of the more involved builds on the list, but luckily HELIOX has us covered with a video explaining the entire process.
Difficulty: Hard
Made by: HELIOX
21. Pencil Holder + Secret Drawer
If we were ranking the best things to 3D print, this would definitely be near the top. Aside from holding pens, pencils, and other stationery, the Mario-inspired design also has slots for up to 6 USB drives, 12 microSDs, and a pair of SDs cards. Oh, and don’t forget the hidden compartment under the tube…perfect for hiding snacks!
Difficulty: Moderate
Made by: LOZURYTECH
22. Woven Bowls
Whether you’ve got an overflow of goodies that need somewhere to live, or just fancy a change in décor, these woven bowls are here to help. There are 3 sizes to choose from, or you can mix and match. The instructions also include a YouTube video if you need a closer look before you start.
Difficulty: Easy
Made by: DaveMakesStuff
23. Wall-Mounted Circle Flowerpot
No list of things to 3D print would be complete without a flowerpot… Seriously, there’s always one! With that said, this is a new design that I really like. You’ll have to collect some acrylic, little rocks, and artificial plants if you want it to be exactly like the picture.
Difficulty: Moderate
Made by: provotector
24. Earth Desk Lamp
Brighten up your desk space with something out of this world – well, technically it is the world. To construct this lovely lamp, you’ll need a lamp socket and a bulb. Opt for a multicoloured LED bulb to get the best look. Note: The components are compatible only with a specific Lamp Socket available on eBay.
Difficulty: Hard
Made by: Ri0m0
25. Floating Shelves
It’s the flowerpots all over again! Sure, shelves are another common print, but you can’t deny these contoured floating shelves are pretty. The biggest factor appearance-wise is going to be material and colour, so think carefully about what would complement your room.
Difficulty: Moderate
Made by: Triple G Workshop
26. iPhone 14 Pro Case
3D print marketplaces are littered with phone case designs, however it can be tough to find a reliable choice for the newer handsets. If you’re rocking an iPhone 14 Pro, you absolutely need to protect it. After scouring the comments, this one seems to be your best bet.
Difficulty: Easy
Made by: rapnit
27. WiFi QR Code Sign
Sick of friends asking for the WiFi code as soon as they step through your front door? Point them to this sign instead. Use Tinkercad to generate a QR code linked to your WiFi details and prepare for printing. Radiojack has supplied a thorough set of instructions to guide you through the process.
Difficulty: Moderate
Made by: radiojack
28. Tie-Back Curtain
This life hack is also one of the lowest-effort things to print. Keep your curtains neat and let the summer sun beam in uninterrupted. A great fix, especially for anyone who doesn’t have traditional curtains.
Difficulty: Easy
Made by: der_drucker
29. Charger Cable Organiser
An improved version of DFV Tech’s hugely successful charger cable organiser, this new design has hundreds of raving reviews. No more tangled cables, an ideal 3D print both for around the home and on the move. It’s recommended to print in PLA or PETG.
Difficulty: Moderate
Made by: DFV Tech
30. Dome Cat House
Everything else mentioned on this list was created with the goal of making human lives slightly easier. I thought it was time for us to stop being selfish, so, here’s a dome cat house. It’s actually a remix of a popular design by Abby575.
Difficulty: Hard
Made by: DeanR96
5 Bonus Cool Things to 3D Print
1. Minichess Set
Shockingly, minichess is just like chess, but mini! It’s played on a smaller 5×5 board, with less pieces, making it great for speedy games and taking away on vacation. This print is intended to be magnetized in order to hold pieces in place. The link above is for the board only, with the chess pieces available separately.
Difficulty: Moderate
Made by: DANIELBEAVER
2. Black Widow Guitar
There are plenty of guitar designs out there, there’s a special story behind the Black Widow though. It was created by U.S. army veteran Jessie Sasser, who wrote that 3D printing renewed his sense of purpose in life. The total expected print time is around 100 hours, so this is not a project to take on lightly – it would be amazing to pull off though!
Difficulty: Hard
Made by: TechSupportGo
3. Collapsing Lightsaber
Again, there’s no shortage of options when it comes to Lightsaber models. However, not many feature a collapsing (and removable) blade. There is a print in place version too for those of you hoping to keep things a tad more straightforward.
Difficulty: Hard
Made by: 3DPRINTINGWORLD
4. Catapult
Want to add a splash of whimsy to your workdays? How does a desktop micro catapult sound? This basic 3D print can launch paper and other chunks of rubble up to 2 metres and is impressively resilient. Maybe avoid hitting the HR officer though!
Difficulty: Easy
Made by: LukeTansell
5. PiKon Telescope
Initially conceived for Sheffield University’s ‘Festival of the Mind’, the PiKon Telescope is a 3D printed, Raspberry Pi fuelled Astro-cam. You’ll have to read through the detailed instructions to decide whether you think it’s doable, but it would feel incredible to make your own, working telescope.
Difficulty: Hard
Made by: Markwrig
Read more: 5 High-Paying 3D Printing Side Hustles (No Printer Required)