3D printing business cards is a great way to make your business stand out amongst the crowd, giving you something wholly unique that will stick in your potential customer and clients’ minds.
While using a professional service to make these cards is a standard way to go, what you often get is a cut-and-paste of hundreds of other cards templates out there. 3D printed business cards give you an opportunity to genuinely stand out and make an impression.
In this guide I’ll share how you can get started 3D printing your business cards, along with a few of the coolest examples and STL files available for free today.
Coolest 3D Printed Business Cards
Examples of Great 3D Printed Business Cards – Types and Templates
From fun and practical, to straight-laced and traditional, here are a few business card templates and model ideas to give you a leg up.
Simple Customizable Business Card
- Download: Thingiverse
- Designer: TheCapitalDesign
- Price: Free
Sometimes simpler is better, as this customizable business card file proves.
An easy design that still stands out due to its hollow lettering, this 3D printed card will come in very handy as a final design or a first step if you want to add your own flare.
As a business card, it will do the job perfectly as it is once you add your own details. As a base, it works well as a template design ready for customization with your own personality.
Circuit Board Business Card
- Download: Thingiverse
- Designer: Devesha
- Price: Free
In tech or computer-related fields, this circuit board business card template stands out. Its unique design not only captures attention but also leaves a memorable impression.
The template is simple, with space for your professional details, making it both easy to find and an effective showcase of your expertise.
Cassette Tape Business Card
- Download: Thingiverse
- Designer: 4volt
- Price: Free
If you work in the music industry, then this cassette tape business card is a great way to get people in on your business. It looks cool and definitely stands out. No one’s going to be fishing through their wallet for long to find your details!
The only real downside to this example is that it’s a frame rather than an actual card. You will still need to print out your business card with the details in place to be visible under the tape itself.
For the best results, you’ll also need access to a laser cutter to complete the old-school look.
QR Code Business Card
- Download: Thingiverse
- Designer: samdoyle
- Price: Free
If you don’t mind a little extra work, then you can make this modern-day business card with a QR code that leads straight to your business’ website!
Being up to date with modern technology is an important look for almost every business.
Plenty of people will be impressed with a QR code that looks sleek on the card, and comes in extra handy when they want to get in touch immediately to request your services.
Please note, however, that you will need a multi-color or 3D printer with dual extruders to make the QR code contrast enough with the background to be easily recognizable to most devices.
Fun and Practical Business Cards
- Download: Cults3D
- Designer: trev502000
- Price: Free
Nothing makes a business stand out quite like a fun or practical business card that really makes people take notice.
If you’re shying away from the more traditional aesthetic, you can really get imaginative with your cards to let people know just how passionate you are.
Business cards that double as puzzles or games are always a good look for any business model. Like this card with a miniature model of a man you put together.
Truth be told, you can take just about any snap card like this catapult and add extra space for your details.
Additionally, you can make practical business cards from almost anything by customizing other 3D prints. You can either print or engrave your business details on things like this SD card holder
Putting a business’ logo and details onto other, more practical thing has been a staple in free advertising for a long time. By adding this information to something people use every day, you’ll find a lot more eyes being drawn to you than simple cards that spend most of their lives in wallets.
3D Printed Business Card Holders
There are plenty of public spaces like cafés and bars that allow people to advertise on their premises. This has been a valuable resource for freelancers for decades, and can really attract some attention to your business.
However, the eye-catching doesn’t have to end at the card itself. If you can find a particularly permissive place to leave your 3D printed business cards, you can make use of some cool 3D printed business card holders for any sort of job.
Simple Card Stand
- Download: Thingiverse
- Designer: 3DModularSystems
- Price: Free
This holder, for example, is a standard business card holder that has room on the front for a small company logo or emblem if you tweak it enough.
Card Dispensers
- Download: Cults3D
- Designer: MUZZ64
- Price: Free
There’s also this business card dispenser with a special design that makes it easier to remove just one card at a time, as opposed to more standard models that can take a little bit of fidgeting.
If you work in a multi-faceted business, or have partnered up with friends to offer a variety of services, then this multi-story card holder is perfect for you. It’s a good design that does the job well and lets you advertise multiple services at once.
Six-Slot Holder
- Download: Thingiverse
- Designer: MechTechy
- Price: Free
Bakers will love this holder above, while upholsterers and carpenters can advertise with this armchair holder for their cards.
That’s just a couple of designs! With a little searching and a touch of imagination, you can advertise your services easily before potential customers have even seen the card!
Fox Speech – A Personal Favorite
- Download: Thingiverse
- Designer: lokilaufeysen
- Price: Free
My personal favorite, however, is this fox speech bubble business card holder. It’s a cute, eye-catching beauty, and finally answers the age-old question of what does the fox say?
Why 3D Print Business Cards?
3D printing has been a handy resource for all kinds of businesses, including dentistry, toy making, and general online retailers and handymen. So it should come as no surprise that you can 3D print quality business cards to help advertise too!
Steve Wozniak’s metal business cards have become something of a legend in business – don’t you want to have the same effect when you hand your card to people?
In Japan, business cards are considered an extension of yourself, and are treated with care and respect, following their practice of meishi. In the same vein, the goal here is to create a unique and quality experience to make people remember the experience of meeting you in a positive and professional light.
Of course, there are many ways to to achieve that but one of the best ways is with an unforgettable business card.
Here are some of the top advantages of 3D printing your own business cards.
- It’s a cheaper process than going to a professional printer
- You can create something wholly unique to your business that you can display with pride
- It’s a great creative exercise and 3D printing is an excellent skill to learn
- It helps to save paper
- By saving the STL file once you’re happy with your final print, you can always create more whenever you need them instead of returning to a printer and paying more for the process
- Homemade business cards are more eye-catching more than the average format, drawing more attention to your business in often interesting ways
How to 3D Print a Business Card
Like most 3D printing projects, 3D printing a business card requires a little more imagination than just print and go.
Each business is unique, so while you can begin with a standard template as a blank canvas, you will need to do a lot of the design and image work yourself if you’re really set on creating something unique to you and your customers.
Don’t worry, though! It’s simpler than it sounds. With just a little bit of imagination, you can edit and print a card with enough detail to really catch someone’s eye.
Here are a few simple steps and tips to get you started.
Brainstorm Your Design
Starting any project from scratch seems daunting, but don’t worry, the answers to any creative problem are easier to find than you think. In general, it’s good to have the right method planned out before you get started.
A lot of why you’d want to 3D print your own business card is to show off your business your way. So it’s good to first figure out just how far you want to go.
Deciding what kind of business card you want to print is a good first step before you even put pen to paper. Whether you want something really outstanding or even practical, or want to stick to a more traditional design, it’s good to know which avenue you’re willing to take or what materials you plan to use before making any real first steps.
Start With Rough Drafts
It may be tempting to pick an image or two, hop onto your preferred design software and get going. But to make the process easier, I recommend beginning with a simple pencil and paper to sketch a basic idea, or using something like Adobe Illustrator if you prefer that you can just convert later when you’re ready.
Creating rough drafts of your idea to play around and experiment with, and of course, polish over time, is a great way to bring out your imagination, and is also a great way to learn. With enough creativity and tweaks, you’ll end up with a design that you can use as a blueprint when you get to the printing process.
Know What Equipment You’ll Need
Once you’ve got your STL file, your 3D printer will be able to do most of the remaining work, though the design you’ve created may need some extra help or materials to complete.
If the design you’ve finalized includes an intricate detail or graphic like a picture of your face, you may need to employ the use of a laser engraver.
This is good news if you already have an all-in-one machine, but otherwise you’ll need some extra equipment. Be sure you know exactly what you’ll need to make your own business card before getting started to avoid disappointment down the line.
Don’t Be Afraid to Redraft
As with any creative venture you start from scratch, trial and error is a natural and expected part of the process.
Don’t be discouraged if your first few attempts don’t turn out quite right, you can always make your tweaks and edit the file or settings later. Recognizing what works and what doesn’t can even fuel your creativity and lead to some awesome results!
FAQs
Can you 3D print a card?
Cards of all kinds can be 3D printed easily. Their standard shapes and a host of customizable templates online make 3D printing anything from greetings cards, wedding invitations, and business cards a snap.
How do you make 3D business cards?
Once you’ve got an idea of how you want your business card to look, you can either design a template from scratch or download a pre-made one ready for your professional details to be added. Once you’re happy with the design, you can 3D print as many business cards as you like.
Is 3D printing business cards worth it?
While taking more effort than simply ordering business cards from a company, 3D printed business cards are absolutely worth doing. Not only do they stand out more than standard cards, you can customize them exactly how you like and only print as many as you need to save money in the long run.
The best adverts are memorable, and few people are likely to forget a 3D printed business card.
How much does it cost to 3D print business cards?
Because business cards need to be small and flat enough to fit in an average wallet, a 3D printed business card doesn’t take much time nor use much material. You should only expect to spend around 50₵ per card, though it’s best to budget between 70₵ and $1.00 per card to account for potentially failed prints or particularly intricate designs.
Which filament is best to 3D print business cards?
Any FDM filament will work well for a 3D printed business card, so it’s more cost-effective to use cheaper filaments like PLA. The main thing to keep in mind is color selection for both the card and the information printed on it, which you’ll want to make as easy to read as possible.
Avoiding clear filaments or leaving the letters the same color as the background are just a couple of things to keep in mind when selecting the right filament for your business card to better attract your target audience.
