A 3D printed Raspberry Pi case stays cooler with small feet, side air intakes and a simple design, according to Slant 3D, a YouTube channel run by a print-farm engineer who critiqued popular community cases.
For a custom fit, Product Design Online, a Fusion 360 tutorial channel, designs a snap-fit Pi case from a CAD model of the board. On the Raspberry Pi forums, one designer raised a vented Pi 5 case on standoffs for extra airflow.
Here is how to pick a case that keeps your Pi cool, which filament to use, and design tips from creators.
Types of 3D Printed Raspberry Pi Cases
Prices checked on Amazon Oct 16, 2026. I may earn a commission from links, at no cost to you.
| Type | Good for |
|---|---|
| Vented case | Light workloads |
| Fan case (fits the official Active Cooler or a 30 mm fan) | Pi 5 and heavy workloads |
| Screen case | Dashboards, home control |
| NAS / drive case | Home servers |
| VESA or DIN mount | Behind a monitor or in a cabinet |
Keep Your Pi Cool
- A case makes a Pi run hotter unless air can flow; Raspberry Pi’s own white paper says fan-assisted cooling can cut temperatures by 10 to 20 °C
- The Pi starts throttling at about 80 °C, with a hard limit at 85 °C
- Add feet or raise the base so air can enter underneath
PLA or PETG for a Pi Case?
PLA is fine for a Pi with a fan or light workloads. Reddit users switch to PETG for passively cooled Pi 4 and Pi 5 boards that stay warm, because PLA softens at around 60 °C.
Design Tips
- Use the official board drawing for hole and port positions
- M2.5 screws and standoffs fit the Pi mounting holes
- Snap-fit lids avoid screws entirely
- Print a thin fit-test of the port side first
Best Printers for Pi Cases
| Printer | Price (Amazon, Oct 16, 2026) | Why it fits | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bambu Lab A1 | $299.99 | Accurate, quiet, great for small cases | Check price |
| Bambu Lab A1 mini | $249.00 (LED lamp kit bundle) | Cases fit easily on the small bed | Check price |
| Bambu Lab P1S Combo | $549.00 | Enclosed for PETG and ASA | Check price |
What YouTube Creators Found About 3D Printed Raspberry Pi Case
These are findings from popular YouTube videos, paraphrased from their transcripts and credited. They are the creators’ experiences and claims, not my test results.
- Slant 3D (Slant 3D: “3D Printing Engineer Reacts To Raspberry Pi Cases”) critiqued popular community cases. He says to keep parts simple, add small feet so the case does not sit flat (better airflow), and bring air in from the sides. Instead of splitting a box into two halves, he suggests designing the lid to print together with about 0.1 mm of clearance.
- Product Design Online (Product Design Online: “Fusion 360 Snap Fit Cases | 3D-Printable Raspberry Pi Case”) walks through designing a snap-fit Pi case in Fusion 360 from a downloaded CAD model of the board, with a trick to keep the halves aligned.
- On the Raspberry Pi forums, a designer shared a vented Pi 5 case printed at 10 to 15% infill in PLA, raised on standoffs for extra airflow.
Design a Snap-Fit Pi Case
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PLA OK for a Raspberry Pi case?
Yes with a fan or light loads. Use PETG for a hot, passively cooled Pi 5.
Does a Pi 5 need a fan in a printed case?
For heavy workloads, yes. Pick a case that fits the official Active Cooler.
What screws fit a Raspberry Pi?
M2.5 screws and standoffs.
Where can I find Pi case files?
MakerWorld, Printables and Thingiverse.
Sources
- Slant 3D: “3D Printing Engineer Reacts To Raspberry Pi Cases”
- Product Design Online: “Fusion 360 Snap Fit Cases”
- Raspberry Pi Forums: Case for Raspberry Pi 5
- r/3Dprinting: Raspberry 3 case (PLA vs PETG)
- Raspberry Pi Ltd: Thermal performance white paper
- Amazon product listings for the printers linked above, October 16, 2026
Related: 3D Printed Cable Clips | PLA vs PETG for Beginners | Bambu Lab A1 vs A1 mini | Useful Things to 3D Print for Your Home
Notes and disclosure
Note: Printer prices come from Amazon listings on October 16, 2026 and change often. The ideas below come from popular YouTube creators and Reddit threads, credited where used. My own hands-on results will be added after my planned test prints.
Affiliate Disclosure: If you purchase an item through the links on this page, I may receive a commission, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the channel.