Guide · 2026
Print my STL: how to get an STL file 3D printed
Where can I get my STL printed, and what should I check first?
To get an STL printed without your own printer, upload it to a 3D printing service or a maker network. On Fabrishare you see the part in 3D with its size, volume and an instant ballpark price, then post the project for free and get offers with price and lead time from makers within 24–48 hours. Before you send it, check three things: that the file is in millimetres and at the size you want, whether it's split into parts or already has supports, and that its licence lets someone else print it. As a guide, a small FDM part costs about €10 and a 28 mm resin miniature between €8 and €23, excluding VAT and shipping. You're not alone in having the file but not the machine: 97 of the 110 registered requests in the Fabrishare network between May and October 2026 came with the 3D file ready.
From STL to printed part
Getting an STL printed takes five steps, and only the last one involves waiting:
- 1
Upload the STL
The calculator reads the file in your browser and shows the part in 3D, with its dimensions in millimetres, its volume and its approximate weight.
- 2
Check the size
If the dimensions aren't the ones you want, write down the final size. This is the most common problem: a file exported in inches, or a model you want bigger or smaller than it was drawn.
- 3
Choose resin or FDM
Resin for fine detail (miniatures, figures, jewellery), FDM for functional, large or cheaper parts. If you're not sure, leave it to the maker.
- 4
Post the project
Add the quantity, the finish (raw, supports removed, primed or painted), what the part is for and when you need it. Posting is free.
- 5
Compare offers
Makers who can do it send their price and lead time within 24–48 hours. You choose one, and the part is printed and shipped to you.
What to check in your STL before you send it
A maker can fix small issues, but these are the things that change the price or the result:
Units and scale
STL files have no units: the number 25 can mean 25 mm or 25 inches. If the size shown isn't right, say the final size in millimetres.
Split parts
Many models come in several pieces to print and glue. Say how many parts there are, and whether you want them assembled or loose (loose is better if you'll paint them).
Supports
Some files are «pre-supported», with supports already added for resin. Say so: the maker can use them or add their own. You don't need to add supports yourself.
File errors
If your slicer warns about holes or open faces, mention it. Small errors are usually repaired by the maker; badly broken files may need redrawing.
Other formats
For an instant price you need an STL. 3MF, OBJ, STEP or several files in a ZIP also work: continue without an STL and paste a link (Drive, WeTransfer…) in the next step, and the maker prices it.
Licence
Many downloaded or Patreon files are for personal use, and some don't allow a third party to print them for you. Check before you order.
How file licences work
What sets the price of printing an STL
The calculator adds up the real cost of producing your part and applies a maker's usual markup, from ×1.5 to ×4 (×2.5 is typical). The cost is mostly labour, not material: preparing the file, washing, curing and removing supports take about 30 minutes per resin job and 15 per FDM job.
Three things in the file move the price most:
- Height, in resin: print time depends on how tall the part is, not on how many fit on the plate.
- Volume and weight, in FDM: every gram of filament adds print time.
- Quantity: preparation and cleaning are shared, so ten parts cost far less than ten separate jobs.
How much does it cost to print an STL?
Ballpark prices for the whole job, excluding VAT and shipping, from the Fabrishare calculator. Each maker sets the final price after seeing your file.
| Part | Technology | Range | Typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 mm miniature | Resin | €8 – €23 | — |
| 20 cm figure | Resin | €21 – €55 | €34 |
| Small spare part (bracket, clip) | FDM | €6 – €17 | €10 |
| Medium case or cover | FDM | €7 – €19 | €12 |
Your file stays yours
While you calculate, the STL is read in your browser and isn't uploaded anywhere. When you post the project, it's stored on the Fabrishare platform for as long as the project lasts.
Makers see a technical sheet and an image of the part, without your details and without being able to download the file. Only the maker whose offer you accept receives the file.
Get your STL printed
- 1Upload your STL to see the part in 3D and an instant ballpark price.
- 2Post the project for free with the size, quantity, finish and deadline.
- 3Get offers within 24–48 hours, compare price and lead time, and choose.
Questions about printing an STL
Where can I get my STL printed?
At any 3D printing service or with a maker. On Fabrishare you upload the STL, see an instant ballpark price, and post the project for free to get offers from makers in the network within 24–48 hours.
How much does it cost to print an STL?
It depends on the part. As a guide, a small FDM part costs about €10, a medium FDM case about €12, a 28 mm resin miniature between €8 and €23 and a 20 cm resin figure about €34, excluding VAT and shipping.
My STL shows the wrong size. What do I do?
Write the final size you want in millimetres when you post the project. STL files carry no units, so a model drawn in inches looks 25 times smaller; the maker rescales it to the size you give.
Do I need to add supports?
No. The maker adds them when preparing the print. If your file is pre-supported, say so: some makers prefer to use those supports.
Can I send a 3MF, OBJ or STEP instead?
Yes. For the instant price you need an STL, but you can continue without one and paste a link to any format or a ZIP; the maker prices it from there.
What if I don't have a file at all?
Send a photo, a sketch or a description. Some makers in the network design the part and quote the modelling separately from the printing.