Printables: downloaded models and getting them printed to order
Printables is a website with a database of free 3D models, run by Prusa Research. Models are shared under various licences and most of them can be downloaded for free.
No model? No problem, pick a ready one
These sites have thousands of free models. Download an STL or 3MF and upload it here. If you sell it or use it for business, check the model licence. How to pick a model and licence
Contents
What is on Printables
The database is run by the Czech company Prusa Research and you will find thousands of models from ordinary people and designers: spare parts, organisers, toys or tools. Each model has a page with a description, photos and files. Most often it is STL, sometimes 3MF or STEP as well.
If it is a 3MF, it may include colour and settings, but those relate to the author's printer, not ours.
Licences: what you can and cannot do
Every model has a licence set by its author. Most often these are Creative Commons licences. You will find an overview on the Creative Commons page. Watch out mainly for BY-NC: such a model must not be used commercially, for example by selling the printed pieces or giving them out as corporate gifts. Private use is fine.
We do not check the licences of downloaded models. The responsibility lies with you as the customer.
How to order a model from Printables
Download the file, upload it to our calculator and choose the material (PLA or PETG), the strength and the quantity. You see the price per piece and the lead time straight away. Check whether the model's description recommends a material. For example, if it is meant for heat or outdoor use, PETG may be better.
The maximum size of a single part is 246 × 246 × 256 mm. Larger models have to be split, more in the entry on splitting a model.
What to watch for
Authors often add source files too: STEP or a file from a CAD program. If you want to change the model, for example the size of a hole, download these files and edit them in FreeCAD or Fusion. The licence usually says whether you may also use the modified model, and under what conditions.
Some models are designed for the settings of the author's own printer, for example with very tight tolerances or print-in-place joints. With those, read the comments on whether others managed to print them without problems. If you are not sure, order one piece first.
Common questions
Can I order a model from Printables for commercial use?
It depends on the licence. With BY-NC commercial use is forbidden, with other licences you have to follow the author's terms.
Do you check the licences of models?
No, the customer is responsible for complying with the licence.
Which format should I download?
STL is enough for a single-colour model. If a 3MF with colours is available, use it for a multicolour one.
Related terms
STL
STL is the most common file format for 3D printing. It describes only the surface of a model as a mesh of triangles, with no colours, material or units.
3MF
3MF is a 3D printing file format that carries units, colours, materials and several parts as well as the shape of the model. It succeeds STL and is the best choice for multicolour printing.
Creative Commons licences
Creative Commons is a set of licences by which an author allows others to use their work under stated conditions. For 3D models it decides whether you may print them to sell and modify them.
BY-NC licence
CC BY-NC is a Creative Commons licence that allows a model to be used and modified only non-commercially and with credit to the author. Without the author's consent it does not suit sales or business use.
MakerWorld
MakerWorld is a website with a database of 3D models, run by Bambu Lab. Many models come with a ready-made 3MF project with colours and settings for Bambu printers.
Thingiverse
Thingiverse is one of the oldest and largest websites with a database of free 3D models. You will find hundreds of thousands of files in it, from useful parts to toys.
SourcesSources checked 1 November 2026, 2
- Prusa Research, Wikipedia, checked 2026-11-01
- Creative Commons licences, Creative Commons, checked 2026-11-01
We will print it for you
Upload a model and see the price per piece, the total with shipping and the date at once. We print in Košice, Slovakia, from PLA and PETG.
No model? No problem, pick a ready one
These sites have thousands of free models. Download an STL or 3MF and upload it here. If you sell it or use it for business, check the model licence. How to pick a model and licence