The best 3D printed fidget toys are print-in-place finger tracks, a mini hex fidget, a 12-in-1 fidget block and the viral Star Twist, according to Patrick Gibney, a YouTuber who makes 3D printing videos and picked ten fidgets he says are “actually worth your filament” because many others get boring fast (Patrick Gibney, “10 fidget toys that are actually worth your filament”).
Flexi animals and articulated dragons are the one-piece cousins of fidgets. Gibney called flexi animals the hardest category to beat, and creators like 3D Print Dood print large dragons in silk PLA for a color-shifting finish (3D Print Dood, “WATCH ME 3D Print this Articulated Dragon!”). Below are the top picks, print settings and printers that handle them.
Best 3D Printed Fidget Toys: Patrick Gibney’s List
Prices from Amazon at time of writing. I may earn a commission from links, at no cost to you.
| Fidget | Type | Gibney’s take |
|---|---|---|
| Finger tracks | Print-in-place | “Solid 10 out of 10”; swap in TPU treads |
| Mini hex fidget | Print-in-place, multicolor | Feels like a little bean bag; a staple |
| 12-in-1 fidget block | Joysticks, rings, clicky buttons | His personal favorite |
| Infinity cube | Folding cube | Printed extra large in wood-fill PLA |
| Ringachu spinner | Ring nunchuck | Upgraded with a print-in-place TPU chain |
| Carrot knife | Print-in-place flip toy | A fidget-community classic |
| Hinged poker chips | Chip-flipping trainer | Practice flips without losing chips |
| Star Twist | Nested chevrons | Thought it was a gag; “I was proven wrong” |
| Kinetic fidget | Gears and pattern discs | Needs assembly; borderline fidget |
| Long flexi snake | Flexi animal | Fun and wearable |
Finger Tracks, Hex and Multi-Fidgets
Finger tracks are “tank treads for your fingers,” and designers have released many tread styles you can mix and match, Gibney said. His favorite trick is printing the treads in TPU for a rubber-tire feel (Patrick Gibney, “10 fidget toys that are actually worth your filament”).
The mini hex fidget is a set of hexagons joined inside a larger hexagon. He printed it with a multicolor profile and said it conforms around your fingers almost like fabric. The 12-in-1 block packs joysticks, free-floating rings and clicky buttons into one handheld piece, and he printed it in two colors for contrast.
Infinity Cubes, Star Twists and Flip Toys
- Infinity cube: Gibney printed a bevel-edged version extra large in wood-fill PLA for a baseball-like feel. It folds over and over without end.
- Star Twist: nested 3D chevrons that close in on each other like Russian dolls. He printed it in dual-color silk PLA so it shifts color, and praised the sound it makes.
- Carrot knife: a print-in-place flip toy, his version customized as a small Bowie knife.
- Hinged poker chips: linked chips for practicing the chip flip from Casino Royale without sending chips flying.
TPU Fidget Parts: Easier Than They Used to Be
Gibney said TPU “used to be a total bear to work with. No longer.” He printed tiny, freely articulating print-in-place chain links in TPU for the Ringachu spinner, adding a rubbery feel (Patrick Gibney, “10 fidget toys that are actually worth your filament”). Print TPU slowly and keep it dry, the usual advice for flexible filament.
Flexi Animals and Articulated Dragons
Gibney called flexi animals the category that’s hardest to beat because their print-in-place joints take full advantage of 3D printing. His pick was an extremely long, tiny snake. He criticized the designer’s profile for printing the eyes with the AMS, which he called an enormous waste of filament; a single layer change and a dab of paint does the job (Patrick Gibney, “10 fidget toys that are actually worth your filament”).
3D Print Dood, a YouTube channel that documents prints on Bambu printers, chose a crystal dragon after sorting a model site by trending. At default size it sliced to 4 hours 42 minutes on a P1S; scaled to 130%, about as big as the plate allowed, it took about 5 hours 45 minutes in silk PLA (3D Print Dood, “WATCH ME 3D Print this Articulated Dragon!”).
How To by Lou, a channel that shares slicer settings, printed a multicolor dragon in Cura with three walls (1.2 mm), 20% cubic infill, a 200°C nozzle and a 60°C bed, and suggested leaving room around the model for the purge line and skirt (How To by Lou, “articulated dragon settings – how to print the 3d dragon”).
| Type | Typical print time | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Small fidget | Short | Tune tolerances if parts fuse |
| Flexi animal | Short to medium | Skip multicolor eyes; paint them |
| Articulated dragon | About 4.5–6 hours (3D Print Dood) | Silk or multicolor PLA; scale up if the bed allows |
| TPU fidget parts | Medium | Print TPU slowly; dry the filament |
Can You Sell 3D Printed Fidget Toys?
Gibney noted flexi animals can sell for about $40 at craft fairs while costing about a dollar in filament, in his telling (Patrick Gibney, “10 fidget toys that are actually worth your filament”). That is his observation, not a pricing guarantee. Etsy now requires 3D printed items to be your own original design, and generic dragons and fidgets are crowded. See my guide to the best things to 3D print and sell before you start.
Best Printers for 3D Printed Fidget Toys
| Printer | Price (Amazon, Oct 16, 2026) | Why it fits | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bambu Lab A1 | $299.99 | Reliable print-in-place results; big bed for dragons | Check price |
| Anycubic Kobra X | $299.99 | Native 4-color for multicolor fidgets and dragons | Check price |
| Bambu Lab A1 mini | $249.00 (LED lamp kit bundle) | Fine for small fidgets on a budget | Check price |
Video: Patrick Gibney, “10 fidget toys that are actually worth your filament”. Embedded with credit; the picks are the creator’s own.
Video: 3D Print Dood, “WATCH ME 3D Print this Articulated Dragon!”.
3D Printed Fidget Toys: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best 3D printed fidget toy to make first?
Finger tracks or an infinity cube. Both print in place and need no assembly.
Why do my print-in-place fidgets fuse together?
The gaps are too tight for your printer or filament. Try slower speeds, check flow calibration, or use a version with bigger tolerances.
What filament is best for 3D printed fidget toys?
PLA for most fidgets, silk PLA for color-shifting dragons and twists, and TPU for treads and chains.
How long does an articulated dragon take to print?
About 4 hours 42 minutes at default size and 5 hours 45 minutes at 130% on a P1S, per 3D Print Dood.
Are 3D printed fidgets safe for kids?
Larger one-piece fidgets are usually fine for older kids. Avoid small parts for young children.
Sources
- Patrick Gibney, “10 fidget toys that are actually worth your filament”
- 3D Print Dood, “WATCH ME 3D Print this Articulated Dragon!”
- How To by Lou, “articulated dragon settings – how to print the 3d dragon”
- Marc3DP, “Top 25 3D Printed FIDGET TOYS”
- Quantastic: “58 Insanely Satisfying 3D-Printed Fidgets”
- Amazon product listings for the printers linked above, October 16, 2026
Related: Best Budget Multicolor 3D Printer | Kobra X vs A1 | PLA vs PETG for Beginners
Notes and disclosure
Note: Printer prices come from Amazon listings on October 16, 2026 and change often. Picks, print times and settings come from the credited YouTube creators; I have not printed these models myself for this guide.