How to Design Your First 3D Print

Last updated October 2026

You can design something to 3D print for free in under an hour using Tinkercad. It runs in your browser, needs no download and is made for beginners. Here’s how.

Guide

1. Open Tinkercad
Go to Tinkercad and sign up for free.

2. Start a new design
Click create, then 3D Design. You’ll see a flat blue grid. That’s the print bed.

3. Drag in shapes
Pull boxes, cylinders and other shapes onto the grid. Most designs are quite simple.

4. Make holes
Change any shape to hole, place it where you want a gap, select both shapes and click group. The hole gets cut out.

5. Set the size
Click a shape and type the exact size in millimetres (we recommend you do not use inches, as it can mess up our quote).

6. Export your file
Click export and choose STL.

7. Upload it to us
Drop the STL into our quote tool and see your price instantly.

Tips for your first design

• Keep walls at least 1.2mm thick so they don’t break
• Avoid big overhangs, as parts sticking out over nothing need supports
• Flat bottoms print best
• Start small. A keyring or a name tag is a perfect first project

Want something more advanced? Fusion 360 and Onshape are free for non businesses, and better for precise engineering parts.

Get your price now.