How to get something 3D printed in the UK
Send a 3D print service a file of the object, get a price, then collect the part or have it posted. At fairfab you upload the file, see the price in seconds, choose the material and how fast you need it, and pay online. You then collect from our workshop in Dalston, East London, or we post it anywhere in the UK.
The four steps
- Get a 3D file of the object: an STL, 3MF or STEP file. Download one from a model site, or export your own design.
- Upload it to our quote page. Parts up to 180 mm in each direction get a price straight away.
- Choose the material, colour, number of copies and turnaround. The price updates as you go.
- Pay, then collect or get it posted. Collection from Dalston is free; UK delivery starts from £3.65.
You don't need an account, and you don't need to talk to anyone first. If you'd rather ask a question before you order, message us on WhatsApp.
Where can you get something 3D printed?
- An online print service. You upload a file, pay, and the part arrives by post. It's the easiest option if you just want the part.
- A local print workshop, like ours in Dalston. It works the same way online, but you can collect the part yourself and see it before you take it away.
- A library or makerspace. Some UK libraries and makerspaces have 3D printers and sometimes offer prints.
Step 1: get a 3D file
A print service prints from a 3D file, not from a photo or a drawing. Most people download one:
- Thingiverse: almost every model there comes as STL files. Download the files and upload the STL for each part you want printed.
- Printables: models come as STL or 3MF; either works. All four example parts on our prices page are Printables models, priced exactly as if you'd uploaded them.
- MakerWorld: models come as 3MF files with Bambu Studio print settings. Upload the 3MF as it is. A MakerWorld 3MF often holds several objects or plates, and we price everything in one file together as one item. If you only want some of the parts, or want them in different colours, download the STL files instead and upload each part separately.
- Your own design: export it from your CAD program as STEP if you can. It's the most accurate file we can price.
Most models on these sites are free for personal use. If you plan to sell the prints, check the model's licence first. Not sure which file you've got? Our STL, STEP and 3MF guide explains each one, and our free STL viewer and cost calculator shows a file in 3D with its size and price before you order.
Step 2: upload it and get a price
Upload your file on the quote page. We take STL, 3MF, STEP and OBJ files up to 100 MB, and you can upload several at once. We measure the part, work out how much plastic and printer time it needs, and show the price in seconds. Parts up to 180 mm in each direction get an instant price, and we try turning a part diagonally on the print bed if that helps it fit.
How much does it cost to get something 3D printed?
One copy of a cable clip costs £9.81, and a small box with lid (about the size of a phone) costs £23.30. These are today's prices from the same engine as the quote page:
| Part | 1 copy | 10 copies |
|---|---|---|
| Cable clipmatchbox-sized (41 × 25 × 15 mm) | £9.81 | £28.30 |
| Flexi Rex keyringfits in your palm (60 × 49 × 18 mm) | £16.93 | £92.40 |
| 3DBenchy boatfits in your palm (60 × 31 × 48 mm) | £16.69 | £90.20 |
| Small box with lidabout the size of a phone (71 × 116 × 27 mm) | £23.30 | £149.70 |
PLA or PETG, 3–4 day turnaround, collected from Dalston.
- Each different part has a £7.50 setup fee, charged once however many copies you order. That's why extra copies cost much less than the first.
- Each checkout needs £30 of printed parts (£75 with 24-hour turnaround). There's no minimum quantity, so one copy is fine, but every part in the table above costs less than that on its own. Add copies, or other parts you need, to the same basket.
- Delivery by Royal Mail starts from £3.65; collection is free.
Our prices page breaks this down by size, material and turnaround.
Step 3: choose the material and turnaround
We print in two plastics. PLA gives crisp detail for models, prototypes and display pieces. PETG is tougher and copes better with heat, so it suits brackets, clips and parts used outdoors. Both come in a choice of colours.
Then choose how fast you need it. The printing cost changes with speed; the setup fee doesn't:
- 24 hours: 2.5 × the printing cost, orders from £75
- 1-2 days: 1.5 × the printing cost
- 3-4 days: the standard price
- 5-6 days: 20% off the printing cost
Need it tomorrow? See 24-hour 3D printing in London.
Step 4: collect it in Dalston, or have it posted
- Collection from our workshop at 10–16 Ashwin Street, Dalston, London E8 3DL is free, by appointment. We email you when your parts are ready.
- Delivery anywhere in the UK by Royal Mail: Royal Mail 24 (1-2 working days) from £4.65 or Royal Mail 48 (2-3 working days) from £3.65. You see the exact price before you pay, and the delivery time starts once your parts are printed.
What if my part is bigger than 180 mm?
Upload it anyway. Parts between 180 mm and 330 mm in any direction don't get an instant price; request a manual quote from the quote page and we'll email you a price.
What if I don't have a 3D file?
We print from a 3D file, so you'll need one first:
- Search the model sites. Many replacement parts, such as knobs, clips, brackets and battery covers, are already on Printables, Thingiverse or MakerWorld. Search for the make and model number of the thing it belongs to.
- Draw it yourself. Simple parts are quick to draw in a free program such as Tinkercad, which runs in your browser and exports STL. Measure the original with a ruler or calipers first.
- Ask us. If you're stuck, message us with photos and measurements, and we'll tell you whether we can help.
Questions
How do I get something 3D printed in the UK?
Send a 3D print service a file of the object: an STL, 3MF or STEP file. At fairfab you upload it at fairfab.org/quote and see a price in seconds, choose the material, colour and turnaround, then pay and either collect from our workshop in Dalston, East London, or have it posted anywhere in the UK by Royal Mail.
Where can I get something 3D printed in London?
fairfab prints PLA and PETG parts at 10–16 Ashwin Street, Dalston, London E8 3DL. Order online, then collect by appointment, free of charge; 24-hour turnaround is available. We also post to anywhere in the UK.
Can you print a model from Thingiverse, Printables or MakerWorld for me?
Yes. Download the model's STL or 3MF file and upload it to our quote page; you don't need to create an account with us. Most models on those sites are free for personal use; if you plan to sell the prints, check the model's licence first.
Can I just send you my STL file to print?
Yes. Upload it at fairfab.org/quote for an instant price. We also take 3MF, STEP and OBJ files, up to 100 MB each, and parts up to 180 mm in each direction get an instant price.
How much does it cost to get something 3D printed?
At fairfab in London, one copy of a cable clip costs £9.81 and a small box with lid (about the size of a phone) costs £23.30, in PLA with a 3–4 day turnaround. Each checkout needs at least £30 of printed parts. Collection from Dalston is free, and UK delivery starts from £3.65. Upload your file to see its exact price in seconds.
Can I order just one print?
Yes, there is no minimum quantity. Each checkout needs £30 of printed parts (£75 with 24-hour turnaround), and most small parts cost less than that on their own, so add copies or other parts to the same basket.
I don't have a 3D file. Can you still help?
We print from a 3D file. Search Printables, Thingiverse or MakerWorld first, including the make and model number for a replacement part, or draw a simple part in a free program such as Tinkercad. If you're stuck, message us with photos and measurements and we'll tell you whether we can help.