3D Printed Gift Ideas: 20 Personal Gifts People Actually Keep
Looking for a 3D printed gift that somebody will actually keep? In my experience the prints people get excited about are almost always the personal ones: a little figurine of them, their dog, their house or their D&D character. A random vase off a download site is nice, but it's not the thing they'll still have on the shelf in five years.
So here are 20 gift ideas sorted by who you're giving to, and how to make each one even if you've never designed anything in 3D before.
- Personal gifts work best, so start from a photo of the person, their pet, their house or their character.
- My favourites are a figurine from a photo, a couple figurine, a pet figurine, a lithophane and a holiday ornament.
- With a template, the model takes a few minutes. Printing takes 1 to 8 hours depending on the size.
- If you don't have a printer, download the STL and send it to a print service.
What makes a good 3D printed gift?
Something they couldn't have bought anywhere. Usually that means it's made from something personal, like a face, a pet, a wedding photo, a car or a drawing.
On top of that, it should look finished (a clean print on a base or a painted one), and the size should be right. For figurines, 8 to 12 cm is a good size for a shelf and still shows the face well. It also helps to pick designs that print reliably, with wide bases and compact poses, because thin swords and floating parts tend to break in the post.
3D printed gift ideas by recipient
| Who it's for | Gift idea | Template |
|---|---|---|
| Partner | Figurine of the two of you from a favourite photo | Couple & Family Figurine |
| Grandparents | A lithophane of the grandkids that glows when lit | Lithophane Maker |
| Parents | Their house as a miniature | House Miniature |
| Kids | Their own drawing as a real toy | Kid's Drawing to Toy |
| Pet lovers | Their dog or cat as a figurine | Pet Figurine |
| Car lovers | A scale model of their actual car | Car Scale Model |
| Friends | The whole group on one base | Friends Figurine |
| Coworkers | An action figure of them with their work gear | AI Action Figure |
| D&D players | Their character as a 32 mm miniature | D&D Character Miniature |
| Someone who lost a pet | A peaceful memorial figurine | Pet Memorial |
Gifts for your partner
1. A figurine of the two of you
Use a photo from a trip, your wedding or just a good day together. This is the classic anniversary gift and the Couple & Family Figurine template is made for it.
2. A cartoon version of them
The Cartoon Character of You template turns a photo into an animated movie style figure. It's cute without looking weird, so it's hard to go wrong with.
3. A bobblehead
Big head, small body, and it wobbles on the desk. The Custom Bobblehead template makes the model in one piece, so for a real bobble you cut it at the neck with Split for printing and glue a small spring in between.
4. A marble bust of them
It's a bit ridiculous, which is exactly why it's fun. The Marble Statue of You template turns a selfie into a classical bust, and printed in white or marble PLA it looks like something from a museum shop.
Gifts for parents and grandparents
5. A lithophane of the family
A lithophane looks like a plain white plate until you hold it up to a light and the photo shows up. Grandparents usually love these. I wrote a full guide on how to make a lithophane if you want the settings.
6. Their house as a miniature
This one is really nice when someone moves out of a house they lived in for years. Upload a photo of the front and the House Miniature template builds the roof, windows and porch.
7. A figurine of them
One photo and the Photo to Figurine template is all you need. I have a full guide to making a figurine of yourself with sizes and print settings, and it works the same for other people. You can also pick the style:
8. A relief plaque
A carved portrait of the family dog or the old family home, in a wood, stone or bronze look. The Relief Wall Art template makes it from a photo, and since it's mostly flat it prints fast and goes straight on the wall.
Gifts for kids
9. Their drawing as a real toy
Kids go crazy for this one. Take a photo of their drawing and the Kid's Drawing to Toy template keeps the wobbly lines and the colours. I have more ideas in my post on 3D printed toys.
10. Themselves as an action figure
Your kid as a superhero, in their football kit or as an astronaut, made with the AI Action Figure template.
11. A Halloween figurine
The Halloween Costume Figurine template turns a kid (or a pet) into a vampire, witch or skeleton. For Christmas there's the Christmas Elf of You template, which turns them into an elf with the pointy hat, ears and curly shoes. Kids love seeing themselves as one of Santa's helpers. If you only want the face, Elf Head of You makes just the head and neck as a small bust, which also prints a lot faster.
Gifts for pet lovers
12. A figurine of their pet
You only need one decent photo for the Pet Figurine template. For the amount of effort, I think this one gets the best reactions on the whole list.
13. A pet ornament for the tree
Same idea, but with a hanging loop. It's a sweet present for someone who just got a puppy.
My 3D printed Christmas ornaments guide covers sizes, loops and printing.
14. A memorial figurine
For someone who lost a pet, the Pet Memorial template shows the animal sleeping, with angel wings or on a rainbow. I'd give this one in person, not as a surprise package.
Gifts for gamers
15. Their D&D character as a miniature
If they play tabletop games, their own hero as a mini is hard to beat. I made a whole list of gifts for D&D players with more ideas.
16. A mimic chest
A treasure chest with teeth, made with the Mimic Chest template. The person who runs the game will love it.
17. A themed chess set
Six pieces in any theme, like pirates or robots. It's a bigger project, but the result is really impressive. Here's how to make a custom chess set.
18. A dragon for the shelf
Painted or left in grey, a dragon always goes down well with fantasy fans. Here's how to 3D print a dragon.
Gifts for friends and coworkers
19. The whole group on one base
Upload a photo of each friend and the Friends Figurine template puts everyone together on one base. Good for a farewell, a birthday or after a group trip.
20. One photo in different styles
The same photo can become an action figure, a cartoon figure or a fantasy hero mini. You can make a few versions and print the one that fits the person best.
How do you make a 3D printed gift from a photo?
- Pick a clear photo where the face is visible and the light is good. For a full figurine, the whole body should be in the picture.
- Open the matching template, like Photo to Figurine or Pet Figurine, and upload it.
- Pick a style if the template has one.
- After a few minutes you can spin the 3D model around in your browser and check the face.
- Download the STL or 3MF and open it in your slicer.
- Print it yourself or send the file to a print service.
How long does a 3D printed gift take?
| Gift | Size | Print time (FDM, 0.12 to 0.16 mm layers) |
|---|---|---|
| Ornament | 6 to 8 cm | 1 to 2 hours |
| Bobblehead | 10 cm | 3 to 5 hours |
| Figurine | 10 cm | 4 to 8 hours |
| Couple figurine | 12 cm | 6 to 10 hours |
| Lithophane | 10 x 15 cm | 3 to 6 hours |
| House miniature | 10 cm wide | 5 to 9 hours |
If you want to paint it, add a day or two. My guide on how to paint 3D prints walks through the whole thing.
Tips for gifting a 3D print
I always print a gift twice: the first one is a test, and the second one gets wrapped. If you have a resin printer, use it for anything with a face, because resin shows facial detail a lot better than FDM at small sizes. Silk or marble PLA hides layer lines nicely if you don't want to paint. And put it in a small box with some tissue paper, it makes a big difference to how the gift feels.
Getting started
Start with the photo. Once you have it, the right idea is usually pretty obvious, and then you can open the templates and pick the one that fits.
More guides
If you're shopping for a tabletop gamer, check out my gifts for D&D players. For more printer ideas in general, I also have a list of cool things to 3D print and one of 3D printed toys.
Happy gifting!
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FAQ
What are good 3D printed gifts?
Personal ones: a figurine of the person made from a photo, a couple figurine from their wedding photo, a figurine of their pet, a lithophane of a family photo, a miniature of their house or car, or their D&D character as a mini. People tend to keep the things they can't buy in a shop.
How do I make a personalized 3D printed gift?
Pick a photo and upload it to a template like Photo to Figurine, Couple & Family Figurine or Pet Figurine in 3D AI Studio. A few minutes later you have a 3D model, which you download as STL or 3MF and print at home or at a print service.
Can I make a 3D printed gift without a 3D printer?
Yes. Make the model, download the STL and order the print from a print service or a local makerspace. Many print shops can also print in colour or in resin, which looks more premium.
How long does it take to 3D print a gift?
Making the model takes a few minutes. Printing a 10 cm figurine takes about 4 to 8 hours on a typical FDM printer, a lithophane about 3 to 6 hours and a small ornament 1 to 2 hours. If you want to paint it, plan in a few extra days.
What is a good last minute 3D printed gift?
An ornament, a bobblehead or a small pet figurine, because they print in a couple of hours and are still personal. A lithophane is quick too and people are always surprised when they hold it up to the light.
What is a good 3D printed gift for him?
A scale model of his car, a bobblehead or action figure of him with his hobby gear, a marble bust as a joke gift, or his D&D character as a miniature. Gamers also like a themed chess set or a dice tray.
What is a good 3D printed gift for her?
A couple figurine from a favourite photo, a figurine of her pet, a lithophane of a family photo that glows in the light, or a character planter for her desk or windowsill.
What is a good 3D printed anniversary gift?
A couple figurine made from your wedding photo or a photo from your first trip together. A lithophane of the same photo is a nice smaller option, and both can be printed in a few hours.
How much does a 3D printed gift cost?
The filament for a 10 cm figurine costs well under 1 euro. If you order the print from a service, expect roughly 10 to 40 euros depending on size, material and whether it's printed in colour or resin.
Is it free?
You can try the templates for free when you sign up and see each model in 3D in the browser. Downloading the STL or 3MF to print is part of the paid plans.