How to Start a 3D Printing Business From Home

I used to commute an hour each way to a job I didn't enjoy. Now I run a 3D printing business from my bedroom, with two printers set up outside, and in one 90-day stretch it made over $10,000. This is the short version of everything I cover in the video: the setup, finding products, pricing, selling on Etsy, shipping, and the honest downsides.

The quick version

• Plan for storage first. Filament, boxes and tape take over fast. Use shelves, or reuse filament boxes as organisers.
• Buy plain boxes in bulk in two or three sizes you can reorder. Avoid branded or random second-hand boxes.
• Two label printers: a thermal printer for domestic A6 labels (no ink, peel-and-stick) and an inkjet for international A4 labels.
• Use your shipping carrier's business account (I use MyPost Business with Australia Post) to unlock volume discounts that Etsy's built-in labels don't give you.
• Aim for 30-40% profit on every sale, after all costs.
• Turn on Etsy ads early and give them a few weeks to learn who to show your listings to.
• Use tracking on everything. It protects you with both Etsy and your carrier when parcels go missing.

Setting up your space

Before you list anything, your setup has to handle designing, printing, packing and shipping without taking over your home. Get shipping tape and a quiet tape gun, keep bubble wrap on standby, use small plastic bags for little items and inflatable air columns for big ones. A scale is essential: if the post office re-weighs a parcel and you've under-declared, you pay extra.

Buy filament in bulk when suppliers run deals (I've used Sunlu from day one), and track your spools so you never run out mid-orders. For a computer, look for a decent graphics card, at least 16 GB of RAM and, if you can, two monitors: the slicer on one, your store on the other.

For printers, I recommend Bambu Lab: reliable, fast and easy, which is why so many print farms use them. If you're starting out, the A1 has the same build volume as the P1S and can print with multiple spools.

What to sell

Don't grab a trending file like the articulated dragon and expect sales. Thousands of people already sell it. Sell something that fixes a problem or looks great, that not everyone is selling, and that you have the commercial rights to. I go deeper in How to Find Winning Products to 3D Print and Sell. Before committing, check the numbers with a tool like Sale Samurai.

Heads up: Etsy changed its policy so 3D-printed items must be your own original designs. Do your own research before selling someone else's design there.

Listings that sell on Etsy

• Fill every photo slot: angles, sizing guides, how it works. A phone, some lights, a tripod and a clean background are enough.
• Use all 13 tags. Sale Samurai shows the best-performing tags for a product.
• Write a clear description: hook first, then features, dimensions and instructions. Fill in every attribute so Etsy's search can work for you.
• Run an ongoing offer, like 20% off when buying two or more. You still make more per order.

Reviews, quality and customer service

Thank-you cards rarely earn reviews. Something useful does: a sticker with a QR code to a how-to page or a discount code. Check every print before it ships. When something goes wrong, see it as a chance to go above and beyond, and when replying to a bad review, write for the future buyers who'll read it. Put sizing information everywhere if your product has to fit something.

Connecting Etsy to Shopify

The easiest way I've found to connect your shipping carrier to Etsy is through Shopify on the basic tier. You can print labels, fulfil orders, track inventory and update prices everywhere from one place. Here's my walkthrough: How to Connect Etsy to Shopify.

The honest pros and cons

Cons: sales are unpredictable, there's no paid sick leave, it's hard to switch off, printers can be noisy (and don't print where you breathe all day), and space gets tight.

Pros: you're your own boss, overheads are low, and it's a low-risk way to test, learn and grow. I started with one printer and no clue; now two printers make over $4,000 a month.

Gear I use

• SimplyPrint: free filament management system
• PCBWay: get $5 credit for custom printed parts

Watch the full video above for the details, and if this helped, support the channel on Patreon.

More guides

How to Find Winning 3D Printed Products to Sell Starting a 3D Printing Business at Home: Lessons I Learned the Hard Way 3D Printing Business Desk Setup: How to Build a Productive Home Workspace

Common questions

Can you really make money 3D printing from home?

Yes. I run my business from my bedroom, with two printers set up outside, and in one 90-day stretch it made over $10,000. Now two printers make over $4,000 a month. Aim for 30-40% profit on every sale after all costs.

What 3D printer is best for starting a print business?

I recommend Bambu Lab: reliable, fast and easy, which is why so many print farms use them. If you're starting out, the A1 has the same build volume as the P1S and can print with multiple spools.

What should I sell as a 3D printing business?

Something that fixes a problem or looks great, that not everyone is selling, and that you have the commercial rights to. Avoid trending files like the articulated dragon that thousands of people already sell, and note that Etsy now requires 3D-printed items to be your own original designs.

How do I ship 3D prints cheaply?

Buy plain boxes in bulk in two or three sizes, print labels on a thermal label printer, and use your carrier's business account (I use MyPost Business with Australia Post) for volume discounts. Use tracking on everything.

Some links on this page are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This video was sponsored by PCBWay.