Below is a list of the best websites with 3D printing STL files free, model repositories, and marketplaces where you can download 3D printing STL files free. Each allows you to browse a large selection of 3D printing designs for home printing.
Some of these websites also have storefronts to sell 3D printing designs. So, if you’re a 3D modeler looking to supplement your income, these are ideal platforms for displaying your work.
We use an equation that accounts for the total number of 3D printable models on a site to rank the 3D model repositories. This ranking, determined by some sneaky Googly magic and a little tie-breaker juice from the site’s popularity (as reported on Amazon’s Alexa Traffic Rank), should provide a reasonable estimate of a site’s usefulness as a source for printable models.
If we missed your favorite site for free STL file downloads, please let us know in the comments, and we’ll add it to our list for future updates.
Top Websites with the Best 3D Printing STL Files Free
Thingiverse
Thingiverse is one of the largest content repositories for 3D printer models on the internet. They are providing over 2.1 million STL files. MakerBot Industries, the Replicator and Method series of 3D printers, runs it.
Thingiverse underwent a significant redesign and speed boost in 2020. The site also has a large community of dedicated makers who offer free STL files to download in various categories and levels of complexity. After logging in, you can share tagged 3D printer models from your collection.
Check the 3D printed files free on Thingiverse
Top Websites with the Best 3D Printing STL Files Free
Cults
Cults3D, based in France, is a rapidly growing community and 3D printer file marketplace where makers can share or sell their STL files. Cults’ 379,000-plus 3D printer models are typical of high quality, with an equally impressive presentation being a big draw. According to the company, more than half of the files are available for free download.
Users can follow their favorite designers and receive instant notifications whenever a new creation is posted. Cults3D also provides curated collections based on well-known big-name brands (for example, IKEA hacks, Lego parts, GoPro, or drone accessories). A nice touch: the website is available in English, French, and Spanish.
Check the 3D printed files free on Cults.
Top Websites with the Best 3D Printing STL Files Free
CGTrader
CGTrader is a marketplace for purchasing and selling 3D designs. Not only does the site provide CAD files, but it also provides a selection of free 3D printer files that can be printed on any 3D printer. There are approximately 229,000 3D printable models among the staggering 1.1 million+ 3D models available. Many of them are free to download after registering for an account.
Check the 3D printed files free on CGTrader.
Top Websites with the Best 3D Printing STL Files Free
MyMiniFactory
MyMiniFactory is a community space and repository for over 139,000 3D printer files, focusing on gaming and geek culture. It is closely associated with iMakr, an online retailer of 3D printers and accessories.
The website provides both free and paid 3D printer files created by professional designers to assure that they have been quality tested. They also regularly issue challenges to 3D designers and host an extensive collection of free STL files with a cultural heritage theme called “Scan the World.” Since 2018, creators have promoted their work and earned money from MyMiniFactory’s premium store skills.
Check the 3D printed files free on MyMiniFactory.
Top Websites with the Best 3D Printing STL Files Free
PrusaPrinters
Josef Prusa established a new standard for FDM 3D printers with his iconic Prusa i3 design. He covers all bases by providing his open-source software – PrusaSlicer – his filament – Prusament, excellent documentation, a database of Prusa users… as well as a free and well-organized file repository.
Check the 3D printed files free on PrusaPrinters.
Top Websites with the Best 3D Printing STL Files Free
3DFindIt
This search engine indexes the 3D models in 2,400 CAD and BIM catalogs. 3DFindIt is intended for use by professionals and semi-professionals. What sets it apart is the ability to conduct sophisticated searches, including those based on geometries, color, or function similarities. You can also upload a 3D sketch and leave the rest to 3DFindIt.
Check the 3D printed files free on 3DFindIt
Top Websites with the Best 3D Printing STL Files Free
Pinshape
Pinshape, owned by 3D printer manufacturer Formlabs, bills itself as a 3D marketplace that “connects makers and designers.” Still, it also serves as a marketplace to buy and sell premium 3D printer models. There are plenty of free STL files to download among the 66,000 designs.
Suppose you’re looking for free STL files for toys and games, miniatures, jewelry and fashion, home appliances, gadgets, people and creatures, and art. In that case, this is an excellent place to start.
Check the 3D printed files free on Pinshape.
Top Websites with the Best 3D Printing STL Files Free
3DExport
3DExport is a marketplace for premium 3D printer models for professional designers and 3D artists. Aside from generic and low-poly 3D models, 3DExport has a good selection of over 28,000 3D printable designs. You can also narrow your search to find a small collection of free STL files for 3D printing, focusing on jewelry and ornaments.
Check the 3D printed files free on 3DExport
Top Websites with the Best 3D Printing STL Files Free
YouMagine
YouMagine is a community website and file repository run by Ultimaker, a seasoned 3D printer manufacturer and developer of the popular Cura slicing software.
Although Ultimaker’s focus has shifted from consumers to professionals in recent years, its maker-centric file repository remains popular. YouMagine provides some well-designed items for every FDM machine. You can search through over 18,000 free 3D printer models as well as some interesting handpicked collections.
Check the 3D printed files free on YouMagine.
Top Websites with the Best 3D Printing STL Files Free
NIH 3D Print Exchange
The National Institutes of Health (3D Print Exchange) is a fantastic and well-known resource for the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) community. It is a platform for sharing, distributing, and downloading scientifically accurate or medically applicable 3D printer files. There are approximately 10,400 free STL files for face shields, prostheses, neuroscience, a “heart library,” and a “molecule of the month” among the collections. It also has a section for 3D printable low-cost prosthetics and 3D models related to Covid.
Check the 3D printed files free on NIH 3D Print Exchange.
Top Websites with the Best 3D Printing STL Files Free
TurboSquid
TurboSquid, one of the oldest websites on this list, is simple to use and offers over 860,000 free and premium 3D models. There is still a limited selection of free 3D printable models available at TurboSquid, geared more toward digital content creation than 3D printing (think AR, VR, or games).
The ability to filter by file type aids in their discovery – select the STL checkbox to display the more than 52,000 3D printable designs.
Check the 3D printed files free on TurboSquid.
Top Websites with the Best 3D Printing STL Files Free
Threeding
Threeding is a website that offers 63,000 paid and free 3D printer models. Individuals and businesses can use the platform to buy, sell, or exchange 3D printing designs. There are over 9,900 STL files available for download. The website also provides a 3D printing service, allowing you to have your 3D printer models manufactured and shipped to you with the click of a button.
Check the 3D printed files free on Threeding.
Top Websites with the Best 3D Printing STL Files Free
Free3D
If you’re looking for royalty-free 3D models to use in CAD, 3D, or game design, Free3D is an excellent place to start. Along with an extensive collection of over 60,000 models, the website maintains a small pool (7,400+) of 3D printable STL files. From the looks of it, not every item in the section will 3D print easily with an FDM 3D printer, but there are some hidden gems.
Check the 3D printed files free on Free3D.
Top Websites with the Best 3D Printing STL Files Free
GrabCAD
GrabCAD’s goal is to “assist mechanical engineers in building great products faster.” The website provides tools to assist users in collaborating on developing their 4,640,000 designs, a small portion of which includes 3D printer models. However, while more than 7,300 models are labeled as 3D printable, none will print. GrabCAD is not necessarily the first port of call for a wide range of everyday printables. Still, it is helpful for complex parts created by designers and engineers flexing their modeling muscles.
Apart from free STL files, the website also provides the free 3D printing software GrabCAD Workbench and the professional 3D printing service GrabCAD Print.
Check the 3D printed files free on GrabCAD.
Top Websites with the Best 3D Printing STL Files Free
Redpah
Redpah is a 3D printing design store for makers and designers that offers a mix of paid and free 3D printer models. Over 4,800 premium and free 3D printer files to download from the repository. The ability to sort 3D printing designs based on the work of famous designers is a helpful feature.
Check the 3D printed files free on Redpah.
Top Websites with the Best 3D Printing STL Files Free
3DShook
3DShook’s business model is a subscription service for those who want a steady stream of high-quality 3D printer files. The majority of the roughly 6,000 3D printer models are excellent, and they have a small trial gallery of free STL files to download to persuade you before you sign up for a subscription. Individual models cost $1 to $5. In comparison, package deals cost $25 to $50, and there are monthly, educational, yearly, and commercial subscriptions for STL files available.
Check the 3D printed files free on 3DShook.
Top Websites with the Best 3D Printing STL Files Free
XYZprinting
XYZprinting, a Taiwanese manufacturer, has a dedicated 3D gallery of free STL files to download. There is no digital rights management that we could find, but to access the 3D printer models, you must first register with the site. Given the predominance of renderings over photos of physical objects, most of the items here – some 2,600+ models in total – do not appear to have been printed.
However, it’s comforting to see that they have dedicated repositories for stereolithography (SLA), dual-extrusion, and color 3D printing.
Check out the free 3D printed files on XYZprinting.
Top Websites with the Best 3D Printing STL Files Free
Zortrax library
Previously, the Zortrax library of free STL files was integrated into their Z-Suite software and thus only available to Zortrax 3D printer owners. The library has now been separated from the software and made freely available online by the company. This means that anyone can browse and download free STL files, which can be fabricated on any FDM machine. It’s also a clever move. Most of the 1,100+ 3D printer models are optimized for ABS filament; makers who would not usually use the material may be tempted to try it.
Check the 3D printed files free on Zortrax library.
Top Websites with the Best 3D Printing STL Files Free
Libre3D
If you are a fervent supporter of the open-source 3D printing movement, this is the place to be. Why? Because none other than the RepRap Project’s creator, Adrian Bowyer, sits on the board of directors. Libre3D is a dedicated resource for 3D printing help, offering over 480 free STL files to download, among other things. It also has an excellent SCAD to STL file converter.
Check the 3D printed files free on Libre3D.
Top Websites with the Best 3D Printing STL Files Free
Fab365
Fab365 is a 3D printer file product marketplace. Registered users can buy, sell, and download models to print on their 3D printers at home. These premium designs are organized into themes such as gadgets, art, home, and architecture. They all have a touch of sophistication and humor. Most of the designs are paid, but a small selection of 3D printer files is available for free.
Check the 3D printing files free on Fab365
Top Websites with the Best 3D Printing STL Files Free
NASA
Don’t be fooled by the site’s gray and dull appearance. This is a fascinating repository of 113 3D printer models created by NASA. Their STL files are made available for free for educational purposes, allowing you to build iconic space exploration objects such as the Apollo 11 landing site, the Curiosity Rover, and the Hubble Space Telescope.
Check the 3D printed files free on NASA.
Top Websites with the Best 3D Printing STL Files Free
Dremel Lesson Plans
To complement their Idea Builder line of 3D printers, Dremel has created a curated portal of lesson plans. Based on the premise that the Idea Builder can only 3D print in PLA filament, this collection of 3D printer files is designed to be user-friendly. The free STL files are ideal for classroom printing and come with teacher education materials. Please keep in mind that the curriculum is only available after you register.
Check the 3D printed files free on Dremel Lesson Plans.
Top Websites with the Best 3D Printing STL Files Free
Instructables
Instructables is a great and vibrant community portal where users can share their DIY projects, including 3D printed items. The tutorials and instructions for building each creation and the 3D printer files to download are featured on the project pages. Furthermore, most of the designers are willing to answer questions from the public.
Check the 3D printed files free on Instructables.
Top Websites with the Best 3D Printing STL Files Free
Yeggi
Yeggi is a search engine for 3D printer models that crawls popular 3D printing websites. You can also look at popular searches to see what topics the community is currently interested in. The user interface isn’t going to win any awards anytime soon. Still, it’s a fantastic tool for finding free STL files. There’s also a section with the most recent and popular free 3D printer files.
Check the 3D printed files free on Yeggi.
Top Websites with the Best 3D Printing STL Files Free
STLFinder
Isn’t the name pretty self-explanatory? STLFinder is another 3D printer file search engine that will crawl the internet and return-free STL and 3D printer models. After logging in, you can search through the millions of 3D printer models that have been cataloged. You can also set up an account to save your favorite 3D printer files for later use.
Check the 3D printed files free on STLFinder.
Top Websites with the Best 3D Printing STL Files Free
Thangs
Thangs may appear to be just another 3D model search engine, but it has exciting features. Geometrically related 3D models can be found using a sophisticated search algorithm. Any object can be rendered in a specific position with a single click of the mouse. Finally, you can invite friends and collaborators to work on projects with you.
Check the 3D printed files on Thangs
What is your favorite website with the best 3D printing STL files?
Let us know in the comments below or on our Facebook page to let us know your ideas, and we would appreciate seeing pictures of your works of art!
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