Written by Harry S.
Quick answer: The quickest Christmas wins are flat snowflakes, flexi ornaments, vase mode baubles and small print-in-place gifts. Print them in Silk PLA for shine, PLA Glitter for sparkle, Glow in the Dark PLA for a night-time surprise, or PLA Marble for a carved look. All 15 models below are free to download from Printables or MakerWorld.
A few evenings of printing in November can fill a tree and a pile of stockings, and effect filaments make quick prints look special without painting. Every model below is a free download we checked on Printables or MakerWorld. Where a model page lists a print time or filament weight we include it, but those figures come from the designer's own printer and settings, so treat them as a guide.
Choose your effect filament
| Filament | Look | Nozzle / bed / speed | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silk PLA | High-gloss finish | 200–230°C / 25–60°C / 40–60 mm/s | Slower speed range than the other PLAs here |
| Silk Fusion PLA and Tri-Colour Silk PLA | Two or three colours that change with angle | 200–230°C / 25–60°C / 40–60 mm/s | Orientation changes which colour shows where |
| PLA Glitter | Fine sparkle that disguises layer lines | 190–220°C / 25–60°C / 60–90 mm/s | Use a 0.4 mm nozzle or larger |
| Glow in the Dark PLA | Glows after charging in light | 190–220°C / 25–60°C / 60–90 mm/s | Hardened steel nozzle required |
| PLA Marble | Matte stone finish with fine flecks | 190–220°C / 25–60°C / 60–90 mm/s | Slightly heavier parts |
| PLA Rainbow | Colours that change along the roll | 190–220°C / 25–60°C / 60–90 mm/s | 0.4 mm nozzle or larger for Crystal Sparkle Rainbow |
| PLA Chameleon | Colour shift with light and viewing angle | 190–220°C / 25–60°C / 60–90 mm/s | Shows best on curved shapes |
Settings are from our product pages. The glow page explains that its phosphorescent powder wears standard brass nozzles quickly, which is why a hardened steel nozzle is required.
Tree ornaments in silk and sparkle
1. Spiral Christmas Tree Ornament
This spiral ornament on MakerWorld has a hollow body and a cap that pushes in without glue, and it needs no supports. The designer's main profile lists 29 minutes for the body at 0.2 mm layers with a single wall, plus 9 minutes for the cap. Print it in Tri-Colour Silk PLA: a single wall that keeps turning brings all three colours to the surface.
2. Christmas Tree Ornament Set (Vase Mode Prints)
This set of six vase mode ornaments on Printables is designed to print cleanly in vase mode. The designer used standard vase mode settings in PrusaSlicer with the extrusion width raised from 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm, then snapped the top off with pliers and fitted an ornament cap. PLA Chameleon suits them well, because a seamless single wall lets the colour shift run without interruption. Our chameleon and colour-change guide explains why.
3. Snowflake Ornament Collection
The Snowflake Ornament Collection on Printables has 18 flat snowflakes, each about 50 × 50 × 2 mm, for the tree, a window or a wrapped present. The designer prints them flat at 0.2 mm with no supports and suggests white, glitter, translucent or metallic PLA. Silk PLA in Silver or White gives flat shapes more shine than a matte finish.
4. Star Christmas Tree Topper
This five-pointed star topper on Printables was printed by its designer in gold silk PLA at 0.2 mm layers and 100% infill, with supports touching the build plate for the lower points. Silk PLA in Gold or Bright Gold gives the same look.
5. Christmas Wreath Ornament
The Christmas Wreath Ornament on Printables lists separate settings for the bow (0.12 mm layers, solid) and the wreath (0.2 mm layers, two walls, 5% infill), with no supports. The designer notes that its triangular surface looks best in dual-colour or specialty filament, so try Silk Fusion PLA in Black-Green or Yellow-Green.
6. Christmas Spinning Ornaments
These print-in-place spinning ornaments on Printables come in three designs: a snowman, a snowflake and an ornament. The designer used two perimeters and 15% infill at 0.20 mm, and warns that the snowman's arms get delicate if you scale it down. PLA Glitter in Grey or Blue catches the light as the centre turns.
7. Collapsible, Self-Inflating Christmas Ornament
This collapsible ornament on Printables prints as one piece with no supports. Thread a line through the top hole and pull firmly to separate the top and bottom, and it opens out under its own weight; lay it down and it collapses again. The designer recommends 0.15 mm layers or lower, 100% infill and a slower speed for the thin walls. PLA Rainbow gives every copy a different colour pattern, because the colour sequence runs along the roll.
Glow in the dark decorations
8. Flexi Christmas Trees
The Flexi Christmas Trees on Printables are flexible, print-in-place trees in three styles that need no assembly, with a hole in each star for hanging them on twine. The model page lists 2 h 22 min and 21 g across its three print files at 0.20 mm layers. The designer recommends a slow first layer of about 15 mm/s. Glow in the Dark PLA in Green or Galaxy Green makes them glow on the tree after the lights go off.
9. Flexi Snowflake Bauble Ornament
This Flexi Snowflake Bauble on Printables is a support-free, print-in-place bauble with flexible segments, snowflake details and a built-in hanging loop. It doubles as a fidget toy, and the download includes a pre-painted 3MF file set up for a single filament change, so no AMS is needed. Use Glow in the Dark PLA (Colours in Daylight) for a bauble that shows its colour by day and glows at night.
10. Melted Snowman Christmas Ornament
The Melted Snowman Christmas Ornament on MakerWorld is designed to print with no supports. The designer's profile lists 2.8 hours at 0.2 mm layers, three walls and 15% infill. Glow in the Dark PLA in Sky Blue or Blue makes a snowman that keeps glowing after dark.
Stone-look pieces in PLA Marble
11. Nativity Christmas Ornament
This Nativity Christmas Ornament on Printables is a hollow sphere with spiral arms and a small nativity scene inside, and it also hangs well in a window. It needs supports from the build plate only. The designer's print came out at about 28 g, so hang it from a strong branch. PLA Marble in the natural Marble shade gives it a carved stone look.
12. Christmas Articulated Reindeer
The Christmas Articulated Reindeer on MakerWorld is a poseable reindeer with flexible limbs that prints on a single plate without supports. The designer's profile lists 1.5 hours at 0.2 mm layers, two walls and 10% infill. Print it in PLA Marble in Marble Brown.
Small gifts and stocking fillers
13. Flexi Candy Cane Christmas Tree Ornament
This flexi candy cane on Printables is articulated, needs no supports or assembly, and comes with or without a hanging hook. The model page lists 1 h 17 min and 9 g. PLA Glitter in Glitter Red makes it a stocking filler as well as an ornament.
14. Gift Card Gift Box
The Gift Card Gift Box on MakerWorld is a print-in-place puzzle box that folds up after it comes off the plate and opens by pulling the handles upward. The designer says it is the perfect size for a gift card or cash. The standard profile lists 1.1 hours at 0.2 mm layers, two walls and 15% infill. Silk Fusion PLA in Gold-Rose makes the box part of the present.
15. Mini LED Christmas Tree (Vase Mode)
The Mini-LED-Christmas-Tree on MakerWorld is a small vase mode tree that sits over an LED tealight on a printed base. The tree profile lists 33 minutes at 0.08 mm layers, and the bases list 39 to 47 minutes. The standard base fits a 36 mm tealight with an 18 mm high base, with extra bases for three other tealight sizes. Silk PLA in Green suits the tree. Use LED tealights only, as our PLA filaments list a heat deflection temperature of 53°C.
All 15 prints at a glance
| # | Model | Site | Time or weight listed on the page | Filament |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spiral Christmas Tree Ornament | MakerWorld | 29 min body, 9 min cap | Tri-Colour Silk PLA |
| 2 | Christmas Tree Ornament Set | Printables | Not listed | PLA Chameleon |
| 3 | Snowflake Ornament Collection | Printables | Not listed | Silk PLA |
| 4 | Star Christmas Tree Topper | Printables | Not listed | Silk PLA |
| 5 | Christmas Wreath Ornament | Printables | Not listed | Silk Fusion PLA |
| 6 | Christmas Spinning Ornaments | Printables | Not listed | PLA Glitter |
| 7 | Collapsible Christmas Ornament | Printables | Not listed | PLA Rainbow |
| 8 | Flexi Christmas Trees | Printables | 2 h 22 min, 21 g | Glow in the Dark PLA |
| 9 | Flexi Snowflake Bauble Ornament | Printables | Not listed | Glow in the Dark PLA (Colours in Daylight) |
| 10 | Melted Snowman Christmas Ornament | MakerWorld | 2.8 h | Glow in the Dark PLA |
| 11 | Nativity Christmas Ornament | Printables | About 28 g | PLA Marble |
| 12 | Christmas Articulated Reindeer | MakerWorld | 1.5 h | PLA Marble |
| 13 | Flexi Candy Cane Ornament | Printables | 1 h 17 min, 9 g | PLA Glitter |
| 14 | Gift Card Gift Box | MakerWorld | 1.1 h | Silk Fusion PLA |
| 15 | Mini LED Christmas Tree | MakerWorld | 33 min tree, 39–47 min base | Silk PLA |
Tips for a Christmas print run
- Batch small parts. Snowflakes, candy canes and flexi trees can share a plate, but vase mode prints one object at a time.
- Get the most from glow. Our Glow in the Dark PLA page recommends thicker walls and higher infill for a stronger glow, and the print needs a charge from sunlight or strong indoor light before dark.
- Slow down for silk. Keep silk filaments inside their 40–60 mm/s range for an even shine.
- Plan for summer heat. The PLA filaments above list a heat deflection temperature of 53°C, so keep decorations out of hot cars and direct sun behind glass. For outdoor pieces, ASA Sparkling lists an HDT of 88°C, but it prints at 240–260°C with a 100–120°C bed and suits an enclosed printer.
- No printer, or no time? Our seasonal print-to-order range has finished Christmas ornaments, keychains and cookie cutters.
Shop the materials in this guide
- 1.75 mm Silk PLA Filament - 1 KG: gold, silver and green shine for stars, snowflakes and trees.
- 1.75 mm PLA Glitter Filament - 1 KG: sparkle for candy canes and spinners.
- 1.75 mm Glow in the Dark PLA Filament - 1 KG: decorations that glow after the tree lights go off.
- 1.75 mm PLA Marble Filament - 1 KG: a carved stone look for the nativity and reindeer.
- 1.75 mm Silk Fusion PLA Filament - 1 KG: dual-colour silk for wreaths and gift boxes.
- 3D Print to Order Products - Seasonal: finished Christmas pieces if you run out of printing time.
Frequently asked questions
Which of these Christmas prints is the quickest?
Of the pages that list a time, the Spiral Christmas Tree Ornament (29 minutes plus 9 for the cap) and the Mini LED Christmas Tree (33 minutes for the tree) are the fastest. Your times will vary with your printer and settings.
Will PLA decorations survive an Australian Christmas?
Indoors, yes. Keep them out of parked cars and sunny windows, and use ASA Sparkling for decorations that live outside.
Can I sell prints of these free models?
Only if the licence allows it. Printables and MakerWorld show the licence on each model page, and many free models are licensed for personal use only.
