3D printing casings for DIY smart home devices
A good casing turns a bare ESP32, sensor or circuit board into something that looks like a finished product. Find a design, pick the right filament and avoid the common mistakes.
Updated November 2026
A good casing turns a bare ESP32, sensor or circuit board into something that looks like a finished product. Find a design, pick the right filament and avoid the common mistakes.
Updated November 2026
You rarely need to start from scratch: thousands of enclosures for popular boards and sensors are free to download.
| Website | Best for |
|---|---|
| Printables | Well-curated community designs, electronics enclosures and mounts |
| MakerWorld | Ready-to-print models, often with printer profiles included |
| Thingiverse | The largest archive of free printable enclosures |
| Thangs | Searching and discovering 3D models across sources |
| Yeggi | A search engine across many 3D model websites |
| Instructables | Complete projects: electronics, casing design and assembly |
Useful searches: ESP32 enclosure LD2410 case ESPHome sensor housing Zigbee sensor case WLED controller enclosure DIN rail ESP32 enclosure
What each type is for, with an example design. All designs belong to their makers; check the license on the model page before you print or share. The drawings show the type of casing, not the example design.
For temperature, humidity, CO₂ and air-quality sensors. Slots let air reach the sensor; keep it away from the warm processor.
Find more designs →Opens without tools, compact and quick to assemble.
ExampleESP32-WROOM-32 (USB-C) Box with Lid on Printables
Find more designs →For dashboards, scene controllers and touchscreens.
ExampleXiaomi Redmi Pad SE Wall Mount Clean / Smart Home on MakerWorld
Find more designs →For WLED controllers, with screw mounts and venting.
ExampleQuinLED-Dig-Uno enclosure on MakerWorld
Find more designs →For compact mmWave sensors. Keep the front clear of metal and thick walls so the radar can see the room.
ExamplemmWave sensor LD2450 + D1 mini ESP32 on Printables
Find more designs →For weather, soil and garden sensors. Needs seals and drainage, not just a printed box.
ExampleWater Resistant 3D Printed Enclosures, by ProgressTH on Hackaday.io
Find more designs →| Material | Best for | Our advice |
|---|---|---|
| PLA | Indoor prototypes and cool-running sensors | Easiest to print; softens in heat and direct sun |
| PETG | Most everyday smart home casings | Best all-round choice for indoor electronics |
| ASA | Outdoor sensors in the sun | Best UV and heat resistance; print with good ventilation |
| TPU | Flexible feet, seals and bumpers | Useful second material, not for the whole casing |
| ABS | Tough technical enclosures | Harder to print; needs an enclosed printer and ventilation |
PETG is a strong default for indoor electronics. For anything in the sun, ASA holds up much better, but it needs more careful printing and a well-ventilated room. See the Prusa material guide for print settings.
These are starting points: your printer’s calibration and the filament you use change the final fit.
A 3D-printed casing is not waterproof by itself. Use gaskets, cable glands and a drainage hole, and don’t claim an IP rating you haven’t tested. For anything connected to mains power, use a certified enclosure and have it installed by a qualified electrician; a printed box is not a safe replacement.
| Tool | What it’s for |
|---|---|
| Tinkercad | Beginner-friendly enclosure design in the browser |
| FreeCAD | Free parametric design |
| Fusion | More advanced mechanical design |
| OpenSCAD | Customisable casings generated from code |
| PrusaSlicer | Prepare models for printing |
| OrcaSlicer | Slicing, calibration and print settings |
On the workbench: digital calipers, a deburring tool, small files, an assortment of M2 and M3 screws, and heat-set inserts with a soldering iron to press them in.