WHERE TO DOWNLOAD 3D PRINTABLE STL FILES?

There are many STL file repositories, 3D model marketplaces, and 3D design search engines available online. Makers needs 3D printable models (preferably in STL format, the most common format in 3D printing) before starting to 3D print.

The odds of finding something inspiring on one of these websites are pretty high! Most of the 3D model repositories in our list are completely or partially free, so no need to spend a lot of money to get amazing 3D models.

We created this list of the** best websites to download STL files** for 3D printers to you make the most out of your 3D printer and unleash your creativity.

THE BEST WEBSITES TO DOWNLOAD 3D PRINTABLE FILES AND 3D MODELS

Free/paid

• Free: the 3D file repository is entirely free.
• Free/paid: the STL file marketplace offers a mix of free and paid 3D designs.
• Paid: the 3D models marketplace is an online store where users must pay to download a 3D file.

Category

We classify the sites to download STL files in three categories:

• Repository: a repository is a database regrouping free 3D models only. Most STL files websites are repositories.
• Marketplace: a marketplace is a website containing both paid and free STL files.
• Search engine: 3D model search engines index thousands of 3D files from other websites to save time for users.

3D printable files

The sites with an “X” in the “3D printable files” column are either 100% 3D printable files or have an option to filter on 3D printable designs only.

WHERE CAN I FIND FREE STL FILES FOR 3D PRINTERS?

For 3D file repositories, size matters. The more 3D printing files, usually the more interesting the database. However, user experience is also an important factor: filters, 3D visualizer, active community, etc.

Only a handful of them match those criteria, and most sites have the same 3D models appear on a regular basis.

Here is a shortlist of the most popular and best free STL file websites with fresh content:
* Thingiverse
* Cults
* MyMiniFactory
* Pinshape

In our table, these 3D model repositories have a trophy emoji. All of them are 100% dedicated to 3D printing. They offer a wide choice of downloadable 3D models ready to 3D print, and a good user experience.

OVERVIEW OF THE BEST WEBSITES TO DOWNLOAD STL FILES AND 3D DESIGNS FOR 3D PRINTING

Thingiverse

Thingiverse was launched in 2008 by MakerBot and has grown today into one of the biggest 3D printing communities in the world. Users of all levels can upload, share, and download 3D printable models for free. Thingiverse also hosts 3D design challenges quite often.

Furthermore, this 3D file repository has a very active community interacting in the many discussion groups of the platform. The conversation topics vary from specific 3D printer models, to Furthermore, this 3D file repository has a very active community interacting in the many discussion groups of the platform. The conversation topics vary from specific 3D printer models, to Star Wars, RepRap, and more., RepRap, and more.

YouMagine

YouMagine was created in 2013 by Ultimaker and has over 15,000 open source 3D designs. Users may upload, share, and download 3D models.

The 3D designs are free and 3D printable on any 3D printer. This STL file repository features various collections to help users find inspiration and the right 3D design.

Pinshape

Pinshape was launched in 2014 and offers free and premium (paid) models for 3D printing. The site supports STL and OBJ formats and ZIP files containing STL or OBJ files.

Pinshape was acquired by resin 3D printer manufacturer Formlabs in 2016 after announcing they had run out of funds. Close call, for the greater good of the 3D printing community!

They offer an interesting file streaming option, allowing users to edit, slice and 3D print a 3D model directly from Pinshape without downloading the 3D model file.

Cults

Cults is a French 3D printing marketplace launched in 2014. This 3D printer file marketplace is available in English, French, and Spanish and offers both free and paid 3D models.

Users can interact with each other, ask questions, and save their favorite 3D designs for a later 3D print. Cults also introduced an on-demand 3D design feature where users can request a custom 3D design, which a professional designer then creates for a fee.

MyMiniFactory

MyMiniFactory was launched in 2013 and is an STL file repository entirely dedicated to 3D printable designs. With the help of its community, MyMiniFactory tests every 3D model. Hence, the platform guarantees that any 3D design in its repository is 100% 3D printable.

The website is** available in English, French, Italian, Spanish, German, and Chinese**. MyMiniFactory regularly hosts contests.

Yeggi

Yeggi is a popular search engine for 3D printable files that launched in 2013. They aggregate 3D models from many 3D communities and marketplaces to offer a large choice of files for 3D printing. Yeggi’s homepage highlights the most searched and clicked 3D models.

It is also possible to use some basic filters to narrow the search. On the Yeggi STL file search engine, users may create an account to save their favorite 3D models and get notifications on new releases.

Shapetizer

Shapetizer is a digital marketplace for STL files and 3D printable models that launched in 2015. Designers from all over the world are uploading, sharing and selling their 3D designs here.

Shapetizer does the manufacturing, shipping, and marketing, and gives part of the revenue to the 3D designer. Registered users can 3D print models for free, or not, depending on the 3D design.

To protect designers’ intellectual property on 3D designs, some 3D models are only are available via a streaming option and not for download.

Threeding

Threeding is an online 3D printing marketplace, founded in 2013, offering free and paid 3D printable models. You can upload, share or sell and download 3D models.

All the 3D designs are classified into categories to help with the research process. In addition, there are filters to refine the search (price, file format, and texture). Threeding also provides a 3D printing service, so users who don’t have access to a 3D printer may order their favorite 3D models.

Bonus: nerd corner!

• NASA offers a STL file repository from which users can download 3D printable models to make many 3D prints of space-related items such as satellites, planets or spaceships. A must for space geeks

• Africanfossils.org is a 3D file database where there are many free 3D models of African fossils, from animals to ancient tools.

I AM A 3D DESIGNER, WHERE CAN I SELL MY 3D MODELS OR STL FILES?

Whether for 3D design wizards or hobbyists with good 3D modeling skills, many 3D file marketplaces allow users to put their 3D models up for sale. The principle is simple: when a user downloads a 3D model, the designer receives earnings (minus the marketplace’s commission).

For example, the designer Agustin Flowalistik offers his 3D designs for free on Cults., Thingiverse, YouMagine, and MyMiniFactory but accepts support on Patreon.

The best websites and marketplaces to sell 3D models

Here are a few of our favorite 3D print file marketplaces.

Cults

Commission rate: 20% of the selling price (excluding VAT)

Pinshape

Commission rate: 30% of the selling price (including VAT)

Threeding

Commission rate: the standard commission fee rate is 8.5% of the sale price including VAT, but minimum USD 0.45/ EUR 0.45. However, this commission may be lower for non-profit organizations such as museums, schools, foundations, private collectors, etc. The commission may be higher if Threeding helps prepare the models in a 3D-printing-friendly format.

Embodi3D

Commission rate: 15% of the sale price, plus $0.10 per sale (transaction fee). This website is specialized in medical STL models.

What are the most common file formats for 3D printing?

STL

The STL format is the most common file format in 3D printing. STL stands for stereolithography and is originally a 3D Systems creation. It is the main 3D file format used for FFF and FDM desktop 3D printers.

This format approximates the surfaces of a solid model with triangles: the more triangles, the more accurate the 3D design.

OBJ

OBJ is an open file format that Wavefront’s Advanced Visualizer uses for polygonal or free-form objects. Many design software can export to OBJ and this format is also common in 3D printing.

VRML

VRML stands for “Virtual Reality Modeling Language”. VRML is a 3D digital file format that supports color. Therefore, full-color 3D printers or dual extruder 3D printers may use this format.

AMF

AMF stands for Additive Manufacturing File Format and is becoming more and more standard in 3D printing. AMF supports color. Most of all, it is possible to compress AMF files to about half the size of an STL file.

G-Code

G-Code is a numerical language used to instruct CNC (computer numerical control) machines, including 3D printers. In the case of 3D printers, the G-Code is the actual file that the 3D printer reads.

The G-Code file contains the instructions for the 3D printer to build the object layer by layer (starting point, the direction and the speed of the nozzle, etc.). It is possible to generate G-Code files from STL files or other formats using a slicer software.

Slicing software converts 3D drawings into horizontal layers with instructions for the 3D printer.