Updated 2026-09-05 · 6 min read
What file type do I need for 3D printing?
Quick answer
For us, you need an STL or a 3MF file. Those are the two file types our upload tool reads. If you downloaded a model from a site like Printables, MakerWorld, or Thingiverse, look for a download button offering .stl or .3mf. If your file ends in .step, .obj, .fbx, or something else, export it as an STL or 3MF first, or ask us for help.
Upload your file and get one printed for you.
You have a design and you want it printed, but the file on your computer might not be a file we can read yet. Here is what works today and what to do about the rest.
The two files we accept
Our upload tool reads STL and 3MF files. STL is the simple, classic format. 3MF is newer and can carry more information along with the shape. Read our STL versus 3MF guide for the full difference. Either one gets you a price in seconds.
File types we do not read yet
CAD and design programs save their own file types, and most of those are not something we can upload directly today. STEP files (.step or .stp) hold exact mathematical curves used by engineers. OBJ is common in 3D art and games. Program specific files, like SolidWorks .sldprt, Fusion 360 .f3d, or Blender .blend, only open in the program that made them.
None of those are wrong files to have. They just need one more step: exporting to STL or 3MF from inside the program that saved them.
| File ending | What it is | Works with our upload tool right now |
|---|---|---|
| .stl | The classic 3D printing file. Just the shape. | Yes |
| .3mf | A newer file that can hold shape, size, and color | Yes |
| .step or .stp | A CAD file used by engineers, holds exact curves | Not yet, export it as an STL or 3MF first |
| .obj | A file often used for 3D art and games | Not yet, export it as an STL or 3MF first |
| .f3d, .sldprt, .blend | Files saved by one specific design program | Not yet, export it as an STL or 3MF first |
Common 3D file types and whether our upload tool reads them today.
Turning a CAD file into a file we can read
Step 1
Open the model
Open your file in the program that made it, or in a free viewer that supports it.
Step 2
Find the export menu
Look for "Export" or "Save As" in the file menu. Most design programs have one.
Step 3
Choose STL or 3MF
Pick STL or 3MF as the file type when you export, then save it somewhere easy to find.
Step 4
Upload the new file
Drop that exported file into our upload tool and check the price and size that come back.
Worth knowing
What to know before you export
Not every export makes a clean file. If the exported model has thin walls, open holes, or shapes that overlap wrong, it may fail to price or fail to print, no matter what file type it is saved as. If your upload does not work, tell us what happened and we will look at it.
- What if my model site only offers one file type?
- Download whatever it offers. If it is an STL or 3MF, you are set. If it is something else, most model sites also list a free viewer or converter for it.
- Can I upload a photo of the part I need?
- Not through the file upload tool. If you have no file at all, tell us what you need instead and we will help you find or plan a solution.
- Does the file type change the price?
- No. Price comes from the size and material of the printed part, not from whether you sent an STL or a 3MF.
Common questions
- What if my model site only offers one file type?
- Download whatever it offers. If it is an STL or 3MF, you are set. If it is something else, most model sites also list a free viewer or converter for it.
- Can I upload a photo of the part I need?
- Not through the file upload tool. If you have no file at all, tell us what you need instead and we will help you find or plan a solution.
- Does the file type change the price?
- No. Price comes from the size and material of the printed part, not from whether you sent an STL or a 3MF.
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