Dads are notoriously hard to buy gifts for even in the best of times. In truth, however, they’ll appreciate anything that shows that you care, all the more so if you’ve taken the time to make it yourself.
A 3D printed gift is ideal for Father’s Day. It doesn’t have to be big or complicated. Plus, it comes with the added bonus that fathers love to show off what their kids have created for them!
We’ve compiled a list of 3D printed gift ideas that are fun, useful, or just plain from the heart. They’ll all show Dad how much he means to you.
If you see something you like but at the moment can’t do any of the 3D printing yourself, try a service like Craftcloud. Not only will you have a wide range of materials and finishes to choose from, but it will take the pressure off getting the perfect print for your Pop.
From the Heart
A gift doesn’t have to have a purpose other than the message behind the giving: It’s the thought that counts! The smallest, most heartfelt gifts often hold the greatest sentimental value. Hence, they’re truly appreciated, especially if you’ve made (or printed) them yourself.
Below, we’ve pulled together a few ideas that we think capture that spirit.
Interlocking Bear Family
Surprise the papa bear in your life with a thoughtful and personalized family portrait. Each family member is depicted by one of the bears, interlocking into a complete scene that will warm the heart of any father.
You’ll find models made for a variety of family sizes, from a pair of loving bears to a family of six. The designer of the models left some detailed instructions on how to easily edit the text on top of each model inside Bambu Studio. They are also responsive to questions in the comments, so this should be a breeze to print!
- Who designed it? BBNGrafx
- How printable/popular is it? The various sizes of bear families have a couple hundred downloads each, with several shared makes reported by MakerWorld of all configurations!
- Where to find it? MakerWorld
Gift Card Holder
This is a really great idea to add a little 3D printed magic to a gift card and make your gift more personal. It’s a simple and effective way to show that you’ve taken the time to make something, giving that extra effort that’s so appreciated.
You can find the STL files for this quick and easy print on Instructables. As an added bonus, you’ll also find designs for keychains, a tie clip, and cufflinks, too.
- Who designed it? CJA3D
- How printable/popular is it? This is a featured design on Instructables and has been printed by at least one other maker.
- Where to find it? Instructables
The Man, The Myth, The Legend Coaster
If you’re inspired by multicolor prints and want to try something a bit more ambitious, you can attempt the four colors of this ego-boosting coaster! The designer mentions that they used the M600 G-code to pause the print at set heights to switch colors, but since it’s not a very long print you could also just do it manually. Even just two colors would create a great effect!
Alternatively, to occupy a place of pride on a shelf or workbench, this simple, sweeping desk sign is a brilliant way of reminding Dad what you think of him every time he sees it. You can opt to print this exact version or, if you feel a little more ambitious, you can download the customizable design and change the message to whatever you want.
- Who designed it? tgsparky77
- How printable/popular is it? Your dad will surely be impressed by this multicolor make, which nearly 170 people have downloaded so far on Cults.
- Where to find it? Cults
Trophy Sculpture
This is something different and special. One comment from a maker sums it all up: “I gave this as a present for Father’s Day, it brought tears to his eyes!”
This beautiful sculpture is well-suited to “exotic” filament types, such as marble effect filaments. Alternatively, you might like to try post-processing techniques to add a polished, painted, or metallic finish, like in the picture above.
The design prints with no supports, but do make sure to follow the print instructions for strength, including 25% infill and at least a couple of walls.
- Who designed it? Khaled Alkayedd
- How printable/popular is it? Very popular on several sites, this design has been printed over 67 times, as seen by the makes shared on Thingiverse. You can also find a stunning matching sculpture for Mother’s Day by the same designer.
- Where to find it? Behance, Thingiverse, Cults
Love Dad to Puzzle Pieces
This is a fun and different way to send a special message to Dad. The interlocking jigsaw puzzle pieces can be printed in a single color, although they look even better printed in more than one.
To do so, you could change the filament after reaching the height of the letters. See our article that explains how to easily change filament mid-print. The process, however, may vary slightly depending on your printer.
- Who designed it? Lipscombcm
- How printable/popular is it? The print is easy and the design includes “Dad”, “Pop”, and blank (for customization) STL files. So far, there’s a posted make, while the files have been downloaded over 3,000 times.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
World's Best Dad
There is no better way to remind your dad that he’s the best than rewarding him with a trophy for his endless effort. This model also comes with a “World’s Best Mom” version, in case you are late on your Mother’s Day gift as well.
The model prints in two separate pieces, with the top insert printing in a single color and the base printing in two colors using a multicolor printer or a filament swap command. You could design your own inserts as well, using the same base and customizing the shape to be inspired by an actual photo of you and your dad!
- Who designed it? Kopp3D
- How printable/popular is it? This model is proven to be quite printable, with MakerWorld reporting around 530 makes.
- Where to find it? MakerWorld
Fun Stuff
Dads like to have fun. So, in this category, we’ve selected 3D prints to play with, to puzzle over, or simply those that might bring a smile to his face. They all have the added benefit of being great “talking points”, giving Dad an ideal opportunity to brag and show off what his kid has made!
Illuminated Moon
This amazing light-up model of the moon has a big wow factor. If your dad’s interested in space, or you think it’s just plain cool, this is the 3D printed gift for you.
The design comes complete with a display stand and alternative fittings for hanging it from the ceiling. Remember to use the specified infill settings as well as transparent, white, or light-colored filaments for this easy, but long, print.
- Who designed it? FrankDeschner
- How printable/popular is it? There are around 990 prints of this design shared on Printables, with some truly impressive results.
- Where to find it? Printables
Gear Box
Dads love to brag about their driving skills, even if we all know they aren’t actually that good. This project is a gearbox like those found in a car and it even includes the stick so you can see how the gears change inside your car and affect the speed and torque.
Be careful about layer resolution and materials, though, as gears can have a lot of wear and need precision when being assembled to ensure a smooth movement. To assemble, you can follow the creator’s video instructions.
- Who designed it? mijael08
- How printable/popular is it? All your dad’s engine-explaining dreams will come true with this popular model that has 35 makes.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Earth Puzzle
If your father enjoys traveling or puzzles, then this next print is a must. The earth puzzle is a magnetic print that challenges you to reassemble the globe from memory using 56 unique pieces. These pieces print easily with a multicolor printer, though you can also use a filament swap command to achieve the same effect.
Some assembly is required before this gift is ready to be handed off. You will need some magnets for the puzzle pieces and the same number of steel M3 nuts to embed inside the globe so that the magnets have something to stick to. Links to all of the materials needed can be found in the model description.
- Who designed it? PrintChallenge
- How printable/popular is it? Over 1,200 people have found this model interesting and downloaded it. The 19 makes show that it is quite printable.
- Where to find it? Printables
Customizable Cryptex Box
This stunning cryptex is part gift box and part puzzle. You can customize the secret code that unlocks it, and inside, there’s enough space to hold another gift or message. It’s also high in the league table of designs that are worthy of showing off to buddies and friends!
There are multiple parts to assemble, and a little filing and sanding may be required.
- Who designed it? Michaelmi782
- How printable/popular is it? The 77 shared makes of this design prove how makeable it is, showing a variety of filaments and colors to inspire you.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Rope Can Holder
What could be manlier than drinking from a cup that looks like it is made from rope? This cup holder is capable of housing any typical canned beverage, with an insert available to accommodate shorter cans as well. If you’re feeling cheeky, you can even use it to hold some pencils and pens.
No support is required for this model. This is a remix, and you can find the original model on Thangs, where the designer has plenty of other original rope-themed prints that you can add to your Father’s Day gifts, including a vase and a bowl.
- Who designed it? jofoeus
- How printable/popular is it? Eight people have shared their makes of this rope cup, with some recommending the use of fuzzy skin for that added rope texture.
- Where to find it? Printables
Minigolf Set
Spending a lot of time in the same place can be taxing, whether you are stuck at home or stuck at work. Minigolf is a fun way to have an active pause, play a new competitive game with your kids, or maybe even just clear your head.
And for some reason, dads always seem to have some knowledge of golf. So why not gift your father a 3D printed mini-golf set, complete with holes and flags (cat not included)?
- Who designed it? occupied_brain
- How printable/popular is it? 108 people have downloaded it. In addition to the printed parts, you’ll need a foam ball and a broomstick for the club.
- Where to find it? Printables
Motorized Mini Escalator
This is a great option for a kinetic desk toy that you just look at and feel entranced. With this toy, your dad can watch the perpetual movement of escalators going up. And with a sophisticated design, it will look store-bought.
Fathers love toys; even better if they have mechanical components! If you want to attempt this more challenging gift, you’ll only need your usual 3D printing skills and very basic electronic abilities to connect the wires, battery, and motor.
- Who designed it? _AlexY
- How printable/popular is it? This design has already found eight makes. You’ll need some additional components such as bolts, batteries, and a small electric motor.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Sabre Glider
It’s fast, it flies, and it’s great fun: This model is a brilliant “let’s get out and bond” gift, bringing fathers and their kids together for an aerial activity. This is an updated design of an earlier, very popular 3D printed glider. It performs fantastically well, as you can see from this video of it in action.
The model is easy to print but does require assembly. You should follow the print instructions about infill as well as avoid filaments that are known to be brittle (ABS and PETG will probably fare better than PLA).
You’ll also find designs for (optional) jigs to help glue the tail sections as well as handles to hold the rubber bands required for launch.
- Who designed it? exosequitur
- How printable/popular is it? Over 80 makes can be found on Thingiverse.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Diver's Watch Clock
This is a desk clock like no other: a diver’s watch upscaled to dinner plate proportions. It’s an epic talking point, print, and project; an epic gesture to make on Father’s Day. It also made us smile that, despite being the largest item on our list, it can be found at MyMiniFactory!
As you might imagine, this project isn’t for the faint of heart. The instructions are very good but with 131 parts, and many need to be printed at smaller than 0.16-mm resolution, you’ll use half a spool of filament and a fair bit of time for assembly.
You’ll also need a battery clock mechanism, a sheet of clear plastic, and super glue. If you’re still reading, you’re among the few who know this is worth the effort and will look absolutely awesome when complete!
- Who designed it? francfalco
- How printable/popular is it? This impressive design has been downloaded hundreds of times. There are encouraging comments but, so far, no one has posted pictures of their own print. Perhaps you could be the first?
- Where to find it? MyMiniFactory
Fidget Cube
For those who have fathers who like mechanical things and don’t mind a challenging print, this fidget cube – also known as “the Infernal Machine” – is a very cool gift to make.
The endlessly moving and whirring mechanism of interlocking gears is mesmerizing, and it looks way more complex than it really is. If you’d like to see in advance what’s involved in making it, check out the build video on YouTube.
It’s worth noting that there are a few parts to print and these are best done at higher quality resolutions – you might want to make sure your printer’s well calibrated before you get started.
- Who designed it? Nop21
- How printable/popular is it? You can find over 24 posted makes of this design on Thingiverse.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Useful Stuff
A practical gift is always a hit. It can be used time and time again or will simply look good in an office, on a desk, or adorning a wall. Here, we present 3D prints that can act as reminders throughout the year of what Dad means to you.
Mechanical Phone Holder
This design is practical, looks great, and uses a fascinating and simple quick-grab mechanism. As such, it ticks all the boxes for a gift that’s sure to impress. What’s not to love?
It’s not hard to print or put together, but it needs a small spring to complete. You can print it all in a single color or get more creative like in the example shown above.
- Who designed it? arron_mollet22
- How printable/popular is it? This design is nearing 40,000 downloads and has over 30 posted prints.
- Where to find it? Cults
Impossible Dovetail Box
Dads can never have enough containers for their stuff. This one doubles not just as a handy box but also as a great talking point given its “impossible” design, which cleverly twists to open.
It looks great in wood filament and can be scaled up too. It also comes with an option to embed small magnets for holding the lid more firmly in place. If you opt for the version with magnets, make sure they’re pulling towards each other and not pushing away from each other before you fit them!
- Who designed it? AidanRose
- How printable/popular is it? There have been five makes posted on Thingiverse, and they all look very neatly printed.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Expecto Patronum!
Fans of Harry Potter will know about the symbolism of a deer to represent the special relationship between father and son! This brilliant 2D sculpture is a great way of recognizing that and looks incredible, too.
The simple and striking design can hang on a wall or be framed. It also works well with various forms of post-processing, including painting. You could try a metallic, wooden, or another finishing effect.
It’s straightforward to print and can be produced quickly using larger layer heights. Printers with large bed areas are better suited for this print. If you’d like something larger, consider splitting the model into parts first.
Finally, if you aren’t quite convinced about a deer, the designer has many other 2D designs, from cityscapes to Albert Einstein.
- Who designed it? UnpredictableLab
- How printable/popular is it? This design has been printed more than 37 times.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Swiss Army Keyholder
For some secret reason, fathers tend to have a lot of keys. Enter: the perfect gift. Your father’s keys won’t become a jumbled mess, impossible to find the right one, and cause havoc in his pocket. This Swiss Army-style keyholder essentially acts like a cardholder, but for keys.
It’s printed in two separate parts that don’t need support and it can be assembled with some nuts and bolts. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can try metallic or multicolored filament, although keep in mind that the designer recommends either PETG or ABS over PLA.
- Who designed it? ProteanMan
- How printable/popular is it? This model is very popular with 121 makes! You’ll need some additional materials such as 3-mm nuts and bolts.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Poker Set
A very useful print for your dad to host a night with friends, and it comes with a case so the pieces won’t get lost and can be sorted by type. The design also makes it very portable, so your dad can take it for game nights in the office.
It’s overall a very easy print because you will only need to print the same parts over and over again, and the result will be a great gift for dad.
- Who designed it? dusdlgh
- How printable/popular is it? No one has shared the makes of this model yet, but it is receiving some love with 212 likes. You could be the first to share your creation!
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Measuring Tool
Quality-of-life upgrades are always a welcome gift for any occasion. If your father likes to be handy around the house, this tool will be a game changer. It allows you to easily measure the distance between two holes before drilling into your wall, preventing disaster (i.e. crooked photo frames).
The tool itself is a simple print consisting of only a few different pieces. A marker or pencil is recommended to highlight the detail marks on the measuring side. The model comes in three sizes, 10, 15, and 20 cm, because you shouldn’t scale the model yourself given the built-in ruler.
- Who designed it? Niiskar
- How printable/popular is it? Already, this tool has amassed over 2,250 downloads and 29 posted makes, many of which praise the ease of use of the tool.
- Where to find it? Printables
Beer Crate Battery Holder
3D printing can make just about anything fun, even battery storage. If your father is a tinkerer or enjoys hobbies that require a lot of batteries, these crates are a quirky way to help him keep all of his batteries in one place.
The crates themselves are very quick prints, with minimal detail, allowing you to increase your layer height without a noticeable drop in print quality should you need to get these out fast. They’re small enough that several could fit on your build plate, but having them in a variety of colors is also a fun look. In addition to the crates, there’s a file for an optional stacking rim that can be added to the holders, allowing them to stay securely aligned when placed on top of each other.
- Who designed it? Marzochi
- How printable/popular is it? You’ll find that these crates have over 120 shared makes, showing it’s quite a popular model.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Smart Wallet
This popular design perhaps points to the future for wallets. It’s practical, looks great, and is sure to be appreciated. Here’s a video of it in action.
The designer has also shared the CAD files so that those familiar with Autodesk Fusion can customize the wallet and make their gift a bit more special. Alternatively, many have already posted remixes of the basic design to suit various preferences.
Note, however, that this isn’t really intended as a “back-pocket” wallet; there’s a limit to how many times PLA can be sat upon!
- Who designed it? b03tz
- How printable/popular is it? You’ll find 90 makes and almost 30 remixes of this design on Thingiverse. Printing is straightforward although a little filing may be needed for the fastener.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Crankbait Lures
Any fishing dad will tell you that they can never have too many lures. In fact, some collect lures for no other reason than they like the look of them!
This is an improved version of a previously popular lure, designed by a fishing enthusiast with a great reputation. They’re easy to print, but the real fun lies in painting and finishing them.
Choose a 25% infill for a floating lure and at least 80% for one that sinks slowly. You’ll also need hooks, paint, and clear lacquer to complete. Whether intended for real use or as part of a great-looking display, these are sure to be appreciated.
- Who designed it? sthone
- How printable/popular is it? These designs have been viewed thousands of times and one user posted a picture of their successful print.
- Where to find it? Cults
License: The text of "Father’s Day 3D Print: Top 25 3D Printed Gifts for Dad" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.