10 Easy 3D Prints to Start With

Written By Haydn Jones

So, you’ve just unboxed your first 3D printer, dialed in your first layer, and… now what?
You don’t want boring calibration cubes or plain test prints. You want to print something that’s actually fun, useful, and looks awesome on your shelf!

Good news: beginner-friendly doesn’t have to mean boring.
Here are 10 easy 3D prints perfect for beginners — that still impress your friends, teach you useful skills, and look great.

Why start with these?

  • Print without complex supports

  • Learn bed leveling & first layer tuning

  • Use minimal filament / resin

  • Practice painting & finishing later

(All of these can usually be found on sites like Thingiverse, Printables, or MyMiniFactory. Always check licenses before selling!)

1. What Came Your Printer

Let’s start with the simple thing first. When you buy a printer it will almost definitely come with a ready to print file, for the Bambu Lab P1S, this is a Benchy but other’s will come with something like a cube or an astronaught! I would highly recommend this being your first print due to the simple matter of it will tell you if your printer is working correctly! It might not be flashy but its quite important!!

2. Benchy

The classic 3D printing benchmark boat. And quite an important classic!

  • Prints fast, shows off surface quality

  • Learn sanding & painting techniques

  • Fun to compare “before tuning” vs. “after tuning” Benchy

You’ll probably end up with quite a few of these because Benchy acts as a good benchmark for your printer calibration (That will be another blog post in the future!)

Benchy before printer calibration

Benchy after printer calibration!

3. Cute Flexi Animals (Shark, Dino, Cat, Axolotl...)

Similar to the dragon, but often smaller & quicker.

  • Great as desk toys or keychains

  • Print multiple at once to practice bed layout

  • Fun gifts for friends

  • Can serve as another calibration tool because if its not articulated then somethings not quite right!

Tip: Use different colors to learn about filament changes.

4. Customizable Coasters

Functional, fast, and they teach you basic design.

  • Flat prints → easier success

  • You can add your initials, favorite logo, or pattern

  • Great first project to design yourself in Tinkercad, Fusion 360, or Nomad Sculpt

Tip: Try filament swaps or paint details afterward.

5. Cable Clips & Desk Organizers

Practical prints that tidy your space.

  • Print in under an hour

  • Teaches you dimensional accuracy (prints need to fit your cables)

  • Helps you tune flow & first layer squish

Tip: PLA is usually fine, but PETG is better for flex.

6. Mini Retro Game Console Stands

Display your Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, or phone.

  • Teaches you about overhangs & orientation

  • Makes your setup look pro

  • Quick prints, easy to customize

Tip: Add rubber feet to prevent sliding.

7. Low-Poly Planters

Stylish geometric planters for succulents.

  • Minimal supports

  • Easy to scale up/down

  • Teaches you about infill % & wall settings

Tip: Seal inside with epoxy if you want to plant directly.

8. Dice Towers or Simple Tabletop Accessories

Perfect if you love D&D, Warhammer, or board games.

  • Even a basic tower impresses non-printers

  • Learn to print taller objects without wobble

  • Later, try painting for even cooler effects

Tip: Start with single-piece towers before moving to modular designs.

9. Personalized Keychains

Fast prints, fully customizable.

  • Great first step into 3D modeling (write your name!)

  • Teaches scaling & bridging

  • Awesome small gifts

Tip: Try TPU (flexible filament) for softer keychains.

10. Wall Hooks & Hangers

Simple designs that actually get used.

  • Test your printer’s strength & layer adhesion

  • Teach you about orientation (stronger printed on edge)

  • Print a matching set in different sizes

Tip: PETG or ABS is stronger if you’ll hang something heavy.

How to find these models:

  • Printables

  • Thingiverse

  • MyMiniFactory

  • Thangs

Use search terms like “easy print”, “beginner”, “no support”, “flexi”, “low-poly”, “functional print”.

Extra beginner tips:

  • Start with PLA → easiest to print & non-toxic

  • Use 0.2mm or 0.4mm layer height → good balance of speed & detail

  • Keep infill around 10–20% for toys, higher for functional parts

  • Check bed leveling every few prints

Printing is just the start!

Even simple prints can become amazing when you:

  • Sand & paint them

  • Use silk, rainbow, or gradient filaments

  • Mix colors or filament types

  • Design your own version in Nomad Sculpt, Fusion 360, or Tinkercad

Haydn Jones
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