Easy 3D Printing Projects You Can Make This Weekend

Got a 3D printer and a free weekend? Awesome – let’s make something fun without the usual design headaches! Think of this as a relaxed weekend chat: “Hey, that printer’s been idle all week, why not use it?” There are lots of easy 3D printing projects you can tackle in just a few hours. These aren’t complex designer feats – they’re genuinely cool things to 3D print that give you quick satisfaction. Whether you want a handy gadget for your desk or a personalized gift, you can print something useful (and awesome) over a Saturday-Sunday hack session. Grab your favorite filament and let’s get started!

Phone Stand

A 3D-printed phone stand is a must-have and super easy. It’s basically a little angled cradle for your smartphone – perfect for hands-free video calls or watching Netflix in bed. Beginners love this project because it’s nearly foolproof: most designs are simple, require no support material, and print in about 2–3 hours. The result? A sturdy stand you can customize with a name or logo. (Pro tip: try a bold color PLA so your stand really pops on your desk.) Many free designs already exist online, so you can literally download, hit print, and end up with one of the coolest things to 3D print for your workspace.

Cable Holders & Organizers

Tangled cords will be a thing of the past! 3D-printed cable holders or clips are quick to print (often around 1 hour) and really handy. These little gadgets wrap or clip around your USB and charging cables to keep them neat and kink-free. You can print simple clips, cable bobbins, or even wall-mounted hooks. Since cables wear out where they bend, a printed cable guard (like a TPU or sturdy PLA coil) can actually extend a cord’s life. Make a few in bright colors or print your initials on them – suddenly your messy cables look intentional. These organizers are cool things to 3D print that literally save you desk clutter and frustration.

Custom Keychains

Personalized keychains are both fun and functional. With a 3D printer, you can design (or download) simple keychain shapes stamped with names, initials, or cool patterns. They’re small prints – usually under an hour – so you can whip out a bunch for friends or family. A simple engraved keychain is a classic beginner project: it’s truly a “choose-your-own-adventure” print. You might make a keychain in the shape of someone’s favorite animal, or just their name in block letters. Experiment with color too: use a bright filament or even two-tone prints by pausing the print and swapping colors. A personalized keychain makes a great gift or giveaway, and it’s definitely one of those cool things to 3D print that people admire as a small but meaningful keepsake.

Mini Planters

Add some green to your desk with tiny 3D-printed planters. These are usually little pots just big enough for a succulent or cactus. The shapes can be as simple or wild as you like – geometric pots, faces that hold plants like “hair,” or animal-shaped planters all work. Most mini planters take about 1–2 hours to print, depending on size. They’re useful (houseplants love company) and super customizable. You could print one in a marble-looking PLA, or in a bold neon filament for a pop of color. Some come with drainage holes or matching trays. These adorable planters are literally one of the cool things to 3D print to brighten up your space, and they teach you about making bigger hollow objects without supports. (Pro tip: PLA is perfect here – it’s easy and holds water well enough for dry-friendly plants.)

Next time you bake, use a 3D-printed cookie cutter to spice things up! You can print custom shapes – like a pet’s silhouette, a favorite cartoon character, or any fun shape you imagine. Cookie cutters are quick prints (often under an hour) and make holiday or party baking extra special. For example, a star or heart shape is simple to print and very usable. We’ve even seen folks design cookie cutters in the shape of their company logo or initials. To personalize, just load a name into the design or print in your best festive color. Since these are food-related, stick with PLA filament – it’s food-safe enough for this purpose and prints at low temperature. Custom cookie cutters are an easy 3D printing project that turns baking into a creative adventure, and they’re definitely cool to show off at your next cookie exchange party.

Storage Organizers

3D printers can help tame your junk drawer. Print storage organizers like drawer dividers, pen holders, or desk trays to fit exactly what you need. For example, a simple pen holder (a printed cup or cage) takes only 1–2 hours and instantly cleans up a messy desk. Or grab a design for adjustable drawer organizers to sort screws, makeup, or office supplies – they really bring order to your life. These prints are very practical: you can make them in any width/height, so they fit your exact drawers. Plus, it’s fun to match them to your room’s colors. (Pro tip: for anything load-bearing, use PLA+ or even PETG, but for a quick weekend run PLA is usually fine.) Storage organizers are surprisingly satisfying prints – you’ll love seeing your own creativity turn chaos into neat compartments in just a couple hours.

Quirky Desk Toys and Decor

Want something whimsical? There are tons of fun desk toys you can print. For instance, a fidget spinner is an instant classic: it’s literally built as a printed gadget, takes about an hour, and you can add metal bearings at the end. Or try the famous Flexi Rex (a flexible 3D dinosaur): it’s printed as one piece and bends like a chainmail toy. Both are great for beginners and provide a playful stress-reliever on your desk – definitely some of the cool things to 3D print. Snapmaker even highlights a “cute bunny egg holder” that’s perfect for holidays or as a desktop trinket. In fact, one of the easiest projects is this egg-holding bunny – print it in 1–2 hours and you get a delightful spring-themed decoration. Other fun ideas include interlocking puzzle cubes or spherical puzzles (brain-teasers that work with snap-fit pieces). You can personalize these too – try printing your name on a desk toy or mixing filament colors for a psychedelic look. All these playful prints keep you busy (and entertained) for a few hours, and they’re legitimately cool things to 3D print that add personality to your workspace.

Pro Tips: A couple of quick tips before you fire up the printer – check your layer height setting (a smaller layer height means smoother surfaces, great for phone stands or planters) and use PLA filament for most quick projects. PLA is beginner-friendly and sturdy enough for things like phone stands, planters, and toys. Level your bed and calibrate the first layer, and you’ll avoid failed prints. Oh, and don’t hesitate to remix a design: many Thingiverse or MyMiniFactory files are open-source, so you can tweak the model, resize it, or add text in Tinkercad. Adding a friend’s name to a keychain or a goofy face to a pen holder is what makes these projects your own.

Ready to get started? Pick one of these easy 3D printing projects now and crank up that nozzle temperature. In just a few hours you’ll turn a digital idea into something tangible – and it’s so satisfying. Imagine showing your new phone stand or custom cookie cutter to your friends by Sunday afternoon! Easy projects like these are perfect for dipping your toes into the 3D-printing world without stress. So grab a cup of coffee, fire up the printer, and let’s make something awesome this weekend.